The Toronto Raptors jumped over the Atlanta Hawks on the last day of the regular season, which means they will be the Cleveland Cavaliers first round match up in this year’s playoffs. The Cavs are 3-0 against the Raptors all time in the playoffs, but all of those matchups occurred with a prime LeBron James on the team. The Raptors have had the Cavs' number this season, and I’m sure they’re ready to avenge those previous playoff losses.

Regular Season Results

Cleveland played Toronto three times in the regular season, and the Raptors won all three games by double digits. Toronto does match up very well with the Cavs, but all three of these games took place within the first month of the season when Cleveland was dealing with the Darius Garland injury. The Cavs are a much different roster heading into the playoffs than they were at the beginning of the year, but the problems that Toronto presents for them will be the same.

Toronto’s Advantage on the Wing

The Raptors are led by three wings in scoring, and the Cavaliers just don’t have very many big perimeter defenders to match up with those guys. Brandon Ingram averaged 22.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in the three matchups with Cleveland this year. Scottie Barnes put up 20 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in those same games, and RJ Barrett added in 16 points per game as well. Dean Wade and Jaylon Tyson are really the only two guys on the roster that match up with the size of these guys, so their perimeter defense will be very important in this series. Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett are both inefficient three point shooters, so keeping those guys out of the paint and limiting transition opportunities is the top priority defensively for Cleveland.

The Cavaliers' Advantages

Cleveland is more talented than Toronto at every other spot on the floor. Immanuel Quickley is a good guard for the Raptors, but he’s nowhere near the level of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. Toronto just doesn’t have the guards to slow down either of Cleveland’s superstars. James Harden only played against the Raptors once this year, but he put up 31 points and 10 rebounds in that game. Harden should be able to control the game in this series, and if he does, the Cavaliers offense should roll. At center, Toronto will start Jakob Poeltl, and they’ll bring Sandro Mamukelashvili off the bench as a stretch big. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley have both been playing at a very high level to end the regular season, and if they’re able to maintain that going into the postseason, then Cleveland should be just fine in this series.

Series Prediction

I believe that the Cavaliers will win this series in six games. Toronto’s wings will give Cleveland some problems in transition, but in their half court offense they won’t be able to score as easily with Mobley and Allen protecting the rim. As long as Cleveland limits their turnovers and doesn’t go too cold from three, they will win this series. It certainly won’t be a walk in the park for the Cavs, but they are the better team in this matchup, and I fully expect them to be in the second round against the Detroit Pistons in a few weeks.