The Cleveland Cavaliers go to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday with the luxurious of having the ability to experiment with strikes they hope will result in a protracted playoff run.
“It is just a little bit my DNA,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson mentioned after his staff’s 128-107 dwelling win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. “I like altering defenses. I like giving totally different appears to be like. I believe with this staff, they had been sort of a fundamental protection staff final 12 months, and I simply really feel like you have to apply (modifications) in dwell play.
“I really like the Ty Lue (line), ‘You’re employed on a playoff adjustment a day. You are all the time engaged on one thing since you by no means know when you are going to want it.’ However I actually consider you have to do it in dwell play, not simply in apply.”
The Cavaliers, who lead the Japanese Convention by 5 1/2 video games, have gained their first three conferences with the Raptors this season.
Toronto ended a four-game dropping streak on Tuesday when it accomplished a three-game street journey with a 106-103 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 33 factors and 10 rebounds.
Communication on the courtroom is one factor requiring the Cavaliers’ consideration as they search for their fourth straight win on Wednesday.
“It is as a result of we’re doing so many alternative issues,” mentioned Donovan Mitchell, who logged 23 factors and eight assists towards Minnesota. “I believe the most important factor to problem now, and I challenged everyone similar to, ‘We’ve got to speak.’
“That is what we’re utilizing the common season for. Clearly, we’re taking part in to win, however we’re taking part in to determine issues out and develop. When you have not carried out one thing, we do not apply as a lot, so we now have to determine methods to attempt it.”
The Cavaliers hope the current addition of De’Andre Hunter will enhance their protection.
“We’re eighth now (in defensive rating),” Atkinson mentioned. “I believe the gamers discuss high 5. I do know that was their message. These guys need suggestions. ‘The place are we? What’s our grade?’ And we’re eighth.
“We’re good, however we’re not nice. De’Andre was a part of that thought course of. Are you able to assist us? Can his measurement, physicality, positional measurement, switchability — all of the little cliches which might be true — can he assist push us to the following degree?”
Hunter had 12 factors in 23 minutes throughout his first recreation with Cleveland on Monday.
The Raptors adopted up Tuesday on one in every of their trade-deadline strikes from final week, signing Brandon Ingram to a three-year, $120 million contract extension.
Ingram arrived from the New Orleans Pelicans on Feb. 6 for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk and two draft picks.
Ingram stays out as a result of a left ankle sprain that has saved him sidelined since early December. RJ Barrett (return to competitors situation) and Jakob Poeltl (hip) additionally didn’t play at Philadelphia.
Toronto led 26-18 after one quarter, which made a distinction.
“Our staff within the first quarter was excellent defensively,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic mentioned. “I believe that set a tone for us due to nice defensive effort, we had been in a position to get stops and get rebounds that allowed us to run and discover our rhythm early within the recreation.”
Barnes had one in every of his higher video games.
“I assumed Scottie throughout the entire recreation was actually, actually aggressive, taking part in with loads of power going downhill, having the ability to end on the rim and on the identical time attending to the free-throw line fairly a bit and playmaking,” Rajakovic mentioned.
–Area Degree Media
