Playoff Live Thread: Cavs vs. Raptors, Game 1 (#TimeToWakeUp)

[Yawn…] …is it the second round yet? Seems like the Cavs have been off and resting for a month now. It’s actually been eight days, but that’s technically more time off then they’ve had collectively since October. They had similar downtime for the All Star Break, although both LeBron and Kyrie were working that weekend. Given how much this team was in need of some extra time to rest, recuperate and actually have a practice or three together, you’d have to believe the extended break was a positive development for the Cavs (especially given the number of vets they number on the north side of 30, not to mention Kyrie’s achy knee).

They may need all of that rest for the road ahead as well. Even though they swept their way through the first round against the Pacers, the games were all fairly close. And, their round two opponent is (on paper anyway) an improved version of the team they faced in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. The only team, by the way, to take a game off of them before the Finals. This is not to sound the alarm, however. The Raptors earned a few days of rest themselves by finally dispatching the upstart Milwaukee Bucks in six games instead of seven. Maybe even time enough to help Kyle Lowry get his wrist healthy. Yet, though they’ve added Serge Ibaka and PJ Tucker to help with their scoring punch and defense respectively, they’ll still need transcendent games from their two All-Stars and some luck to even extend this series as far as last year’s.

Both teams struggled with holding leads against their first round foes… the Cavs due to defensive holes and the Raps due to stretches of stagnant offense. The Cavs averaged a franchise post-season record 112.5 points per game against Indiana, but gave up almost 109 points per game on the other end. Toronto’s series against the Bucks was much lower scoring, with the Raps averaging barely more points (93.8) than they allowed (93.2). So, the real difference in this series is likely to come down to whether or not the Cavs can elevate their defense, or the Raptors can get their offense going. Which is why the key matchup might actually be between shooting guards J.R. Smith and DeMar DeRozan.

As far as Game 1 goes, though, Toronto typically has a hard time winning them. The Raps are just 1-11 in series openers in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Cavs are 15-1 at home in the playoffs since 2015 (the only loss coming to the Bulls in Game 1 of the Conference Semi-Finals that year). As long as the Cavs don’t decide to sleepwalk through this first game, the odds are significantly in their favor.

Probable starters: Cavs: LeBron James, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, Kyrie Irving. Raptors: DeMarre Carroll, Serge Ibaka, Jonas Valanciunas, DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry.

Prediction: The Cavs answer the bell, stay woke and run away with a 115-105 Game 1 victory.

Catch all of the action starting at 7pm (EST) on ESPN, and chime in here…