The Toronto Raptors might look like one of the worst matchups for the Cleveland Cavaliers based on the sweep they conducted, but there are a lot of asterisks at play.
For one, the starting lineups they used in those games aren’t exactly the ones we’ll be seeing when the series starts next week.
The main talking point is that the Cavaliers were sending out makeshift lineups against Toronto. However, something that is not attached to this sentiment, as far as I have seen, is that this was going to be brought up no matter who Cleveland’s first-round opponent was.
The Cavaliers have donned 41 unique lineups in 82 games this season. These changes weren’t inspired by testing out different methodology. The Cavaliers have been snake bitten by the injury bug for the entirety of the regular season. Even on the opening tip in October, they started the season without Darius Garland and Max Strus.
The wave of injuries continued throughout the whole season. Mitchell is the Cavaliers’ so-called “iron man” with 70 games played. The fluctuation has impacted this roster from top to bottom.
The greater point is less about the Cavaliers against the Raptors individually as there is no basis to go off of, and more so how that the Cavaliers are arguably the biggest question mark of any team in the postseason.
It is hard to figure out what a fully healthy version of the Cavaliers looks like. Especially one that has undergone the personnel changes the Cavaliers did at the deadline. Whether it’s swapping James Harden in for Garland, Dennis Schroeder and Keon Ellis for Lonzo Ball and De’Andre Hunter, or even Jaylon Tyson or Max Strus at the three, the Cavaliers have a ton of open-ended questions that were never cemented in certainty.
The postseason is usually when a team commits to what has worked and sticks true to this identity made over 82 games. The Cavs don’t have that luxury.
The Cavaliers had just two five-man lineups that played at least 80 minutes together. One of them involves two players not currently with the team. Even the most used lineup isn’t available for the playoffs.
It makes the Cavaliers a blank canvas, unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years. Usually, it is that a team is hampered by injuries by the time the postseason rolls around. Look at the Lakers, they are starting a series possibly without two of their best three players on the team in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The Cavaliers are actually at their healthiest at the most optimal time; we just don’t know how good they can be.
We’ll soon find out whether they can reach their ceiling as title contenders or if their lack of continuity will cause them to falter.
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