Toronto Raptors: 3 takeaways from Game 1 vs. Cavaliers
By Chris Conner
1. Raptors miss big opportunity
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t grab their first lead until overtime.
Let that sink in. For every chance they gave the Cavs Tuesday night, there was an opportunity for the Raptors to close the door. But just as past Raptors teams did, they missed their spot in Game 1.
"This is only the 2nd time in 20 years a team has lost a playoff game without ever trailing in regulation. And the Raptors gotta sit on that." — @getnickwright pic.twitter.com/Tt0Hle2isW
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) May 2, 2018
DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry both were average after the first quarter, and Fred VanVleet still isn’t himself, nursing a shoulder injury. Those are a couple excuses fans may go to, but the Raptors don’t have the luxury of explaining much that doesn’t end up in victory anymore.
This team is miles better than the Cavaliers. Its play down the stretch can’t unfold as it did Tuesday, which included Toronto missing 15 out of 16 shots at one point between the fourth quarter and overtime. The Raptors now find themselves without home-court advantage looking to dig themselves out of a Cavalier hole once again.
And oh, LeBron James thinks Game 1 was one of his worst games of the season.
Not a good sign for the Raptors. pic.twitter.com/xtrgwNlsgO
— theScore (@theScore) May 2, 2018
If it wasn’t for James, it sure felt as if it was for Toronto’s time. It’s been said the Raptors will never have another opportunity like the one 2018 presents.
Next: Full two-round 2018 NBA Mock Draft
They picked the wrong time to miss a Game 1 opportunity.