"The Cleveland Cavaliers are, I think, a bad defensive team since Harden arrived. They are by the numbers, at least. When you look at a backcourt of Mitchell & Harden, most teams see a lot of opportunity offensively - perhaps led by one of their lead ball handlers."
"RJ Barrett will find his way into usage and probably average north of 20 points per game in this series. He'll cut, he'll run second side pick n' rolls, he'll drive the ball. He'll put pressure on the Cavaliers back court."
"If the Cavs want to slice this thing up, but if they opt for Dean Wade at the 3 spot, they'd be leaning defense. In fact, the Harden-Mitchell-Wade-Mobley-Allen lineup has played to the tune of an 85 defensive rating, per cleaning the glass."
"The Raptors will have to figure out how to include the Cavs backcourt in as many actions as possible. In doing this, they'll be partaking in the classic playoff gambit of searching for mismatches."
The Cavaliers have struggled defensively since James Harden's arrival, particularly with a backcourt of Mitchell and Harden. The Raptors are uncertain about Immanuel Quickley's starting status, which impacts their strategy. RJ Barrett is expected to play a significant role, potentially averaging over 20 points per game. The Cavaliers may opt for a defensive lineup with Dean Wade, which has shown strong defensive ratings. The Raptors need to play fast and create mismatches against the Cavaliers' backcourt to succeed in the series.
Read at Raptors Republic
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