The 4-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30) will take on the 5-seeded Toronto Raptors (46-36) in the first round of the NBA playoffs. 

Season Series

These two teams met three times in the regular season, with the Raptors winning all three games. Cleveland is favored to win the series, and many consider the Raptors to be heavy underdogs.

Matchup

The Raptors match up well with Cleveland offensively, due to their size advantage at the guard and wing positions, with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. Cleveland’s interior size with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen will pose a problem for Toronto; it will be difficult for Colin Murray-Boyles and Jakob Poeltl to keep up. 

This series is a mismatch nightmare for both teams. The Cavs’ identity is their strong small guards combined with their two 7 ft forwards, whereas the Raptors identity is their big wing play. Brandon Ingram will be able to hunt the matchup with the Cavs wings all night long. The Raptors intense defense will challenge Harden and Mitchell offensively; Mobley and Allen must step up for Cleveland. 

Keys to the Series

Toronto’s identity all season has been its aggressive defense, and its weakness has been its shooting. This is beneficial for Cleveland because they are one of the worst teams in the league in terms of giving up 3s. The Cavs strategy must be to force Toronto to beat them from beyond the three-point line and move the ball out of Brandon Ingram’s and Scottie Barnes’ hands.