Cleveland never gave up, but Toronto wouldn’t relinquish the lead built during the 2nd quarter.

Stat recap:

Player of the game:

Cedi Osman: 17 points on 65% true shooting, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists, 3 turnovers.

3 observations

Very few 3-point attempts created

The Cavaliers finished with 19 3-point attempts out of 85 total field goal attempts for a 0.224 3-point attempt rate. That’s the second-lowest mark for them over the last two seasons. They lack the interior threats that force the defense to collapse, allowing perimeter players to remain glued to their assignments rather than scrambling in help rotations.

Getting to the line consistently

The Cavaliers had a 0.345 free throw rate in this game, an 85th percentile mark for them over the last two seasons. Kevin Love led the way, getting to the line 14 times, and four other players attempted at least four free throws. Finding a way to get easy points from the line will be critical to the Cavaliers’ hopes of being in the playoff hunt.

Lack of defensive cohesiveness

Miscommunication and blown rotations were rampant as the Raptors carved up the Cavalier defense to the tune of 21 assists against just 10 turnovers. Most of that damage was done early, as Toronto eased up on the gas pedal later on. The Raptors got the shots they wanted all night long, and as a result scored efficiently from everywhere. Developing cohesiveness takes time, but this group has several returning players and I expect better from them even when facing a superior opponent.

2 questions

Will Collin Sexton learn to be more disciplined?

Sexton is a dynamic player with a high motor and intensity. In this game, however, his motor outpaced his mind as he charged into trouble, mistimed passes and blew rotation after rotation on defense. To be clear, this is normal for a rookie playing in their first NBA game. The question is whether this will be the low water mark of the season, with the tide gradually rising as we move forward, or if this will be a nagging problem?

Will transition defense continue to be a thorn in Cleveland’s side?

Toronto was able to get out in transition after 46 percent of their live rebounds, compared to 36 percent for Cleveland. Far too often Cleveland had three or four bodies below the free throw line after a field goal attempt, leaving them behind the play consistently. This has been a problem the last few years, and doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon.

1 prediction

It’s going to get worse before it gets better

The Cavaliers visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. While Cleveland has the shorter flight (from Toronto compared to San Antonio), Minnesota will have the home crowd behind them and are simply a better team that’s well equipped to expose the weaknesses of this Cavalier squad. There are better times ahead, but Cavalier fans will need to exercise patience early in the year. Maintain focus on the process rather than the results, drawing hope as young players like Sexton and Osman show flashes of the players they will become.

Header photo: Getty Images North America

Statistics: Cleaning the Glass