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Toronto Raptors: 5 Keys To Playing The Cleveland Cavaliers

By Justin Rowan

May 11, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) celebrates his basket with point guard Cory Joseph (6) and point guard Kyle Lowry (7) against the Miami Heat in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Heat 99-91. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) celebrates his basket with point guard Cory Joseph (6) and point guard Kyle Lowry (7) against the Miami Heat in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Heat 99-91. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Raptors have made it further than ever before and their reward is playing the 8-0 Cleveland Cavaliers. Here are the five keys to a competitive series.

May 15, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo (8) celebrates scoring a basket with forward Patrick Patterson (54) during the fourth quarter in game seven of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 116-89. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo (8) celebrates scoring a basket with forward Patrick Patterson (54) during the fourth quarter in game seven of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 116-89. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

Perhaps only the Golden State Warriors have faced more adversity than the Toronto Raptors in these playoffs and managed to advance.

An elbow injury to Kyle Lowry, a bad thumb on DeMar DeRozan‘s shooting hand and losing Jonas Valanciunas to an ankle injury were devastating blows to this team.

But the Raptors have managed to overcome all of these obstacles and have made it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in team history.

The challenge that the Raptors will face in the conference finals is significantly greater than anything they’ve faced before.

Related Story: 25 Best Players to Play for the Toronto Raptors

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a different animal in the playoffs than they are in the regular season and with no return for Valanciunas in sight, the Raptors will be short-handed going against a team that has legitimate championship aspirations.

While few would pick the Raptors to advance to the NBA Finals, they have the ability to make this a competitive series and show that they can compete on the big stage.

It won’t be easy and they will need to play dramatically better than they have in the first two rounds, but if they play to their potential they can push the Cavaliers. Here are some of the keys to a tightly contested series:

Next: Defend the three point line

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