PLAYOFFS

NBA playoff preview: Cavaliers-Raptors schedule, lineups, keys to victory

Michael Singer
USA TODAY
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket as Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll (5) tries to defend during the third quarter of game six of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs.

Despite their seed, the Cleveland Cavs looked every bit the team to beat in the East while sweeping the Indiana Pacers into the offseason. One of the many benefits of a clean sweep? Rest.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors earned another notch on their playoff belt. They beat the Milwaukee Bucks in six, the first time ever that the Raptors hadn’t needed the maximum amount of games to knock out an opponent

*If necessary. All times Eastern.

  • Game 1 - Monday, May 1 at Cleveland, 7 p.m. on TNT
  • Game 2 - Wednesday, May 3 at Cleveland, 7 p.m. on TNT
  • Game 3 - Friday, May 5 at Toronto, 7 p.m. on ESPN
  • Game 4 - Sunday, May 7 at Toronto, 3:30 p.m. on ABC
  • Game 5 - Tuesday, May 9 in Cleveland on TNT
  • Game 6 -Thursday, May 11 in Toronto on ESPN
  • Game 7 - Sunday, May 14 in Cleveland on TNT

Season series - Cavs lead 3-1

Starting lineups: 

(First-round statistics)

  • Cavs – Kyrie Irving (25.3 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.3 rpg), LeBron James (32.8 ppg, 9.0 apg, 9.8 rpg), Kevin Love (15.5 ppg, 2.0 apg, 9.3 rpg), J.R. Smith (6.8 ppg, .8 apg, 1.8 rpg), Tristan Thompson (6.8 ppg, .8 apg, 11.0 rpg)
  • Raptors – Kyle Lowry (14.3 ppg, 5.2 apg, 3.2 rpg in postseason), DeMar DeRozan (23.5 ppg, 3 apg, 5.5 rpg), Serge Ibaka (12.8 ppg, 1.7 apg, 8.2 rpg), DeMarre Carroll (6.2 ppg, .5 apg, 3.2 rpg), Norman Powell (12.4 ppg, 1.8 apg, 2.8 rpg)

Cavs win if – Their offense continues to churn. Before resting their starters in the final matchup vs. the Raptors during the regular season, the Cavs were averaging over 110 points in three games against Toronto. They averaged 112.8 in their first-round sweep of the Pacers.

Raptors win if – They exploit the post. Toronto went small to end their first-round series, subbing in Norman Powell for big man Jonas Valanciunas. Don’t expect to see the same vs. the Cavs, where Toronto’s interior size and versatility, with Valanciunas and Serge Ibaka, could give the Raptors an advantage. Valanciunas was limited in last year’s postseason meeting with an ankle injury. They should also do their best to throw different looks at James, whether it be Powell, Ibaka or DeMarre Carroll trying to stop the freight train on the defensive end.

Need to know:

  • Cavs - Coming off a franchise record for made three-pointers, the Cavs made 13.5 three-pointers vs. the Pacers in the first round, the most of any playoff team.
  • Raptors - The Raptors conceded a postseason-worst 41.2% on three-pointers in the first round.

Photos: Best of the playoffs