Recap: Cavs 104, Raptors 117 (or, No Gas, No Breaks)

The Cavs’ bench collapsed in the first quarter, and they never recovered as the Cavs had nothing for the Raptors 104-117. The Cavs lost the hustle (outrebounded by four) and unselfishness (out-assisted by two) stats, and their defense was pathetic posting a 128.6 defensive rating. Let’s dive right in…

1. No Gas, No Breaks

This game was probably the most concerning game of the season for Cavs’ fans. Why? Because the good vibes are  gone. The defense was a complete no show, which has been the rock upon which the Cavs have built their identity this season. Yes, the losses of Ricky Rubio and Jarrett Allen are substantial especially on the defensive end, but there wasn’t one Cav on Thursday night that played acceptable NBA defense. They looked like a team whose fate was already decided. Further, the Toronto offense is probably one of the easier offenses to defend because they’re so isolation dependent.

Rubio’s absence was never more apparent than the first quarter when the bench subs came in. The offense completely cratered, the Raps took advantage and never trailed after that. Caris LeVert has been a complete disaster on defense, it’s so bad that one has to wonder if he’s being coached poorly. Kevin Love is lost without his Minnesota running mate, and Lamar Stevens is being stretched to his limits as a guy who started the season as a garbage time only player. It appears as though the Cavs have lost the NBA war of attrition.

2. Why so testy, J.B.?

This was a weird exchange, as captured by Evan Dammarell of LockedOnCavs:

"Evan's going to do what our team needs to win. Evan's not going to worry about shots. I know he's going to do what it takes to win and he's done it all year. I have faith in him."#Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff on whether or not Evan Mobley should take more shots.

— Evan Dammarell (@AmNotEvan) March 25, 2022

The reason why this question was asked was because Evan Mobley went 5-7 from the field, and was one of the few Cavs’ players who looked prepared to play. So, the play-calling or decision making was clearly the problem, neither of which Coach J.B. Bickerstaff wanted to admit.

Further, given the tragic nature of the Cavs’ defense against Toronto, why no Moses Brown? Ed Davis? Brandon Goodwin? Dylan Windler? Instead, J.B. decided to rely on the veterans LeVert and Cedi Osman but neither guy was interested in playing any defense. From the outside, it’s a joke that there are guys such as Goodwin, Davis, Brown, and Windler who’ve been there and productive in their minutes yet get passed over for minutes to guys who are clearly not producing well enough to be so secure in their roles/jobs.

3. So what now?

Expect #Cavs to give their starters — and usuals — HEAVY minutes tonight, from what I'm hearing. They want this one. Bad. The math would REALLY favorable for them getting into top 6 in the East with a win.

— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) March 24, 2022

This was a game the Cavs went all out to get and fell flat on their face, so what now? Unfortunately, the Cavs will have to endure these losses down the stretch as opportunities for growth. The Cavs’ rotation has only two guys with any playoff experience to speak of, and most of it resides with KLOVE. Darius Garland, Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley, Isaac Okoro are all experiencing success for the first time in their professional careers, so growing pains have to be expected. Luckily, the play-in is guaranteed at this point. If the Cavs maintain a top eight seed, then they’ll get two play-in games. That experience is going to be massive for the team’s growth. But it’s hard not to be greedy and hope for the grind of a proper seven game series for these guys. It’s easy to see how that experience is paying off now for teams such as the Celtics, Sixers, and Bucks.

4. Quick note on the Raptors

After a mediocre start to the season, the Raptors have really hit their stride since the beginning of February and are now playing some of their best basketball. Scottie Barnes is 100% a legitimate threat to take Rookie of the Year honors. Pascal Siakam looks to have regained some of his lost form during their championship run a few years back. Fred Van Vleet was as solid as ever. This is a team that will be a very annoying out in the play-in or the first round of the playoffs. The Cavs have the tiebreaker over them, but they could render that fact moot if they keep winning.

5. Next up, another biggest game of the year

Luckily for the Cavs, there’s another team who has decided to hop on the struggle bus, the Chicago Bulls. They are experiencing a massive collapse that is somewhat analogous to the Cavs’ collapse. Lonzo Ball may need surgery for a torn meniscus. Zach LaVine’s knee sounds like it’s in bad shape and he could possibly leave in free agency this summer. The Nikola Vučević trade has blown up in their faces, with Franz Wagner looking like another Rookie of the Year candidate and Wendell Carter Jr. finding his game. Both teams are struggling and are desperate for a win. The Cavs will have the chance to even up the season series at home. With a Cavs’ win, there could possibly be a three-way tie for the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. So buckle up, stay tuned, and Go Cavs!