If you wanted to summarize the Toronto Raptors postseason struggles of the past in one game, Tuesday’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers would be the perfect example. The Raptors had trouble defending LeBron James in the pick-and-roll, failed to close out on shooters, and floundered offensively in the final minutes. Sound familiar?
The game started off well for Toronto. The Raptors held a 12 point lead after the opening quarter, thanks in large part to the efforts of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. DeRozan and Lowry scored 19 points in the first quarter, the same as the entire Cavaliers team.