3 things to watch in Cavs-Raptors Game 6
The well being of Scottie Barnes (proper) and the playmaking of James Harden are among the many key components to watch in Game 6.
The high half of the Eastern Conference bracket feels fairly vast open proper now. The No. 8 seed Orlando Magic are one win from upsetting the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. And in the No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed seriesthe cumulative rating by 5 video games is Cleveland 559, Toronto 557.
More necessary than the purpose differential is that the Cavs survived a scare on Wednesday and gained Game 5 at dwelling. They regarded to be in management of this collection after the primary two video games, however they struggled to rating in the 2 video games in Toronto and this abruptly turned a decent collection.
The Cavs discovered their offense once more in Game 5, however we’ll see in the event that they packed it for an additional journey throughout the border.
Here are three things to watch in Game 6 on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video):
1. Injury issues for the Raptors
The Raptors have completed nicely in this collection, given the continued absence of Immanuel Quickley, (*3*) in the common season. Even with Quickley, they have been one in every of three playoff groups that ranked in the underside 10 in each 3-point share (35.4%, 21st) and 3-point price (36.3% of their pictures, 25th). Through 5 video games in this collection, they have been outscored by 54 factors from past the arc.
Brandon Ingram left in the second quarter of Game 5 with heel irritation and is listed as questionable for Game 6. He’s shot simply (*6*) (33%) in this collection and is not going to be significantly environment friendly over a big pattern dimension, however is actually able to turning a sport the Raptors’ manner if he can get scorching.
Most necessary for Toronto is the well being of Scottie Barnes, who suffered a quad contusion in the second quarter of Game 5. After scoring 14 factors on 6-for-10 capturing in the primary half, Barnes had simply three factors and missed all six of his pictures after halftime.
Barnes has been the Raptors’ most necessary participant on each ends of the ground. On offense, he is averaging 24 points and eight assistswith some terrific reads included. On protection, he is spent most of his time defending James Harden (primarily) and Donovan Mitchell, additionally offering some assist in the paint.
If his quad continues to be bothering him and he is restricted in any manner on Friday, the Raptors might be in bother.
2. The possession sport
The workforce that gained the possession sport was the workforce that gained Games 1-4. Over the primary two video games, the Cavs acquired 9 extra shot alternatives (area purpose makes an attempt or journeys to the road) than the Raptors. And over Games 3 and 4, the Raptors acquired 21 extra shot alternatives than the Cavs.
But Game 5 went the opposite manner. Cleveland gained regardless of getting so much fewer pictures. Turnovers have been even, however the Raptors dominated the glass. The subject was that the Raptors’ 15 offensive rebounds resulted in solely 13 second-chance factors. The Cavs shot a lot better in the paint, from 3-point vary, and on the free-throw line.
Still, the Cavs took management of Game 5 after they stopped turning the ball over. Cleveland had 9 live-ball turnovers by the primary 29 minutes, which led immediately to 22 Toronto factors. Over the final 19 minutes, the Cavs did not have a single live-ball turnover, and the Raptors’ offense dried up.
The Raptors’ half-court offense is just not nice. They want these steals to get transition factors, and so they want offensive rebounds for second-chance alternatives.
The Cavs are the perfect capturing workforce. And in the event that they’re additionally the workforce that will get extra pictures, they need to be in nice form.
3. Bench minutes
The Raptors staggered the minutes of Barnes and RJ Barrett in Game 5, in order that at the least one of many two was at all times on the ground. But the rating in the 19 minutes was Cavs 64, Raptors 50 when solely one of many two was on the ground. Cleveland scored these 64 factors on simply 40 offensive possessions (1.60 per).
The Cavs additionally acquired an enormous fourth quarter from Dennis Schröder. In 48 minutes in the collection with Harden and Jarrett Allen on the ground with out Mitchell and Evan Mobley, they’ve outscored the Raptors by 21 factors (19.8 per 100 possessions).
The Mitchell-and-Mobley minutes with out Harden and Allen have not been so good. In reality, the Cavs used Thomas Bryant in the primary half of Game 5 in order that Mobley did not have to be the lone massive on the ground for all of that stretch. But Bryant wasn’t wanted in the second half, when the Cavs took management of the sport with Mobley because the lone massive for a stretch spanning the third and fourth quarters.
The Raptors do not essentially want to win the bench minutes on Friday, however they cannot get destroyed when Barnes and/or Barrett are off the ground, like they did in Game 5.
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John Schuhmann has lined the NBA for greater than 20 years. You can e mail him herediscover his archive here and follow him on Bluesky.
