The well being of Scottie Barnes (proper) and the playmaking of James Harden are amontg the important thing elements to observe in Sport 6.
The highest half of the Japanese Convention bracket feels fairly broad open proper now. The No. 8 seed Orlando Magic are one win from upsetting the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. And within the No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed sequence, the cumulative rating via 5 video games is Cleveland 559, Toronto 557.
Extra vital than the purpose differential is that the Cavs survived a scare on Wednesday and received Sport 5 at dwelling. They accountable for this sequence after the primary two video games, however they struggled to attain within the two video games in Toronto and this abruptly turned a good sequence.
The Cavs discovered their offense once more in Sport 5, however we’ll see in the event that they packed it for an additional journey throughout the border.
Listed below are three issues to observe in Sport 6 on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video):
1. Damage considerations for the Raptors
The Raptors have performed properly on this sequence, given the continued absence of Immanuel Quickley, their most prolific 3-point shooter within the common season. Even with Quickley, they had been one among three playoff groups that ranked within the backside 10 in each 3-point share (35.4%, twenty first) and 3-point fee (36.3% of their pictures, twenty fifth). By 5 video games on this sequence, they’ve been outscored by 54 factors from past the arc.
Brandon Ingram left within the second quarter of Sport 5 with heel irritation and is listed as questionable for Sport 6. He’s shot simply 19-for-58 (33%) on this sequence and isn’t going to be significantly environment friendly over a big pattern measurement, however is definitely able to turning a recreation the Raptors’ approach if he can get sizzling.
Most vital for Toronto is the well being of Scottie Barnes, who suffered a quad contusion within the second quarter of Sport 5. After scoring 14 factors on 6-for-10 capturing within the first half, Barnes had simply three factors and missed all six of his pictures after halftime.
Barnes has been the Raptors’ most vital participant on each ends of the ground. On offense, he’s averaging 24 factors and eight assists, with some terrific reads included. On protection, he’s spent most of his time defending James Harden (primarily) and Donovan Mitchell, additionally offering some assist in the paint.
If his quad remains to be bothering him and he’s restricted in any approach on Friday, the Raptors may very well be in bother.
2. The possession recreation
The group that received the possession recreation was the group that received Video games 1-4. Over the primary two video games, the Cavs bought 9 extra shot alternatives (discipline purpose makes an attempt or journeys to the road) than the Raptors. And over Video games 3 and 4, the Raptors bought 21 extra shot alternatives than the Cavs.
However Sport 5 went the opposite approach. Cleveland received regardless of getting so much fewer pictures. Turnovers had been even, however the Raptors dominated the glass. The problem was that the Raptors’ 15 offensive rebounds resulted in solely 13 second-chance factors. The Cavs shot significantly better within the paint, from 3-point vary, and on the free-throw line.
Nonetheless, the Cavs took management of Sport 5 once they stopped turning the ball over. Cleveland had 9 live-ball turnovers via the primary 29 minutes, which led on to 22 Toronto factors. During the last 19 minutes, the Cavs didn’t have a single live-ball turnover, and the Raptors’ offense dried up.
The Raptors’ half-court offense isn’t nice. They want these steals to get transition factors, and so they want offensive rebounds for second-chance alternatives.
The Cavs are the higher capturing group. And in the event that they’re additionally the group 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 Sport 5, in order that no less than one of many two was at all times on the ground. However the rating within 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 bought an enormous fourth quarter from Dennis Schröder. In 48 minutes within the sequence 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 haven’t been so good. In reality, the Cavs used Thomas Bryant within the first half of Sport 5 in order that Mobley didn’t need to be the lone large on the ground for all of that stretch. However Bryant wasn’t wanted within the second half, when the Cavs took management of the sport with Mobley because the lone large for a stretch spanning the third and fourth quarters.
The Raptors don’t essentially have to win the bench minutes on Friday, however they’ll’t get destroyed when Barnes and/or Barrett are off the ground, like they did in Sport 5.
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John Schuhmann has coated the NBA for greater than 20 years. You’ll be able to e-mail him right here, discover his archive right here and follow him on Bluesky.