DeMar DeRozan is going need to do more if Toronto hopes to beat the Cavs in this series.
The USC product averaged 27.6 points in the last three games in the first round series against Milwaukee, but he only managed 19 points on 7-for-16 shooting with four turnovers in Monday night’s 116-105 loss at Cleveland—which dropped the Raps to 1-12 in playoff openers and their fourth-straight blowout at The Q.
Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka did finish with 20 and 15 points, respectively, helping Toronto stay within striking distance for the most part. The former added 11 dimes and a pair of treys to his name.
However, the Raptors usually become vulnerable when DeRozan, their leading regular-season scorer, doesn’t produce enough.
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving connected for an epic off-the-backboard alley-oop in the opening period, which already gave us a hint of what was an eventual wire-to-wire victory for the Cavaliers in Game 1 versus Toronto.
James topped all scorers with 35 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, while passing Kobe Bryant in all-time postseason wins. Irving added 24 points and dished out 10 assists to his name. They were also joined by Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson, who pitched in 18 and 11 points, respectively.
It’s clear that the Raptors don’t really have anyone who can individually contain James or Irving. The two are averaging nearly 60 points combined this postseason, and you can expect another Cleveland victory in Game 2 if both continue to score at will.
