{"id":711935,"date":"2026-04-16T19:22:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T19:22:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/711935\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T19:22:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T19:22:16","slug":"can-the-cavs-set-their-playoff-tone-against-the-raptors-the-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/711935\/","title":{"rendered":"Can the Cavs Set Their Playoff Tone Against the Raptors? \u2013 The Lead"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2026 NBA playoffs have taken shape, and the Cleveland Cavaliers look to right the wrongs of years past. This year, the wine and gold will face an old playoff foe in the Toronto Raptors<\/a>, a team the franchise has familiarity with from its days with LeBron James<\/a> leading the charge.<\/p>\n

However, this is a different Cavaliers team, even different from the team that the Raptors swept months ago.<\/a><\/p>\n

TORONTO KEEPS ON WINNING \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n

Brandon Ingram leads the way for the Raptors as they defeat the Cavs for their 8th straight victory!<\/p>\n

37 points 15-of-30 FG
7 rebounds 5-of-11 3PT pic.twitter.com\/fg9tz88ivE<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 25, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

At the time, the Cavs had players such as Lonzo Ball<\/a> and DeAndre Hunter playing key roles and contributing significant minutes. Ball even started the final matchup<\/a> against the Raptors and played a total of 34 minutes. Both Ball<\/a> and Hunter<\/a> would later be dealt at the NBA trade deadline, paving the way for a big, bearded change to the Cavaliers\u2019 playing structure.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Beard<\/p>\n

The Cavaliers shook up the very structure of their roster at the 2026 NBA deadline, trading homegrown<\/a> Darius Garland<\/a> in exchange for veteran star James Harden<\/a>. Since that trade, the Cavaliers changed their offense from what the Raptors were able to stifle back in November.<\/p>\n

Little thing from Cleveland, have Merrill screen for James Harden to get Jalen Brunson to switch. It’s not for the 1v1 it’s to make sure Brunson\/KAT are involved in P&R. Allen screens, KAT in a drop, Harden gets to his runner with space. pic.twitter.com\/wLUKhRV6zH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Steve Jones (@stevejones20) February 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Since Harden\u2019s arrival, the Cavs have updated their offense to run more isolation pick-and-roll, James Harden<\/a>\u2018s specialty. This change has played to the Cavaliers\u2019 favor as they are 19-7 in games where James Harden plays<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This isolation pick-and-roll has made the bigs in Cleveland better as well. Jarrett Allen<\/a> had a productive stretch<\/a> playing with Harden before he got hurt. The same can be said for Mobley, as more recently he exploded for 34 points against the Jazz<\/a>, thanks in part to Harden\u2019s passing ability.<\/p>\n

Harden has fit in Cleveland like a glove. He will play a major role in why this playoff series can look completely different from the regular season one versus Toronto.<\/p>\n

The Cavs\u2019 Narrative<\/p>\n

The Cavs understand the stakes of not just this series, but this playoff run as a whole. There is a narrative around this Cavaliers team, and rightfully so, that they\u2019re soft.<\/p>\n

People see the Cavaliers as soft because of their recent playoff track record<\/a>. A first-round exit versus the Knicks in 2023, a second-round beatdown to the Celtics in 2024, and another early exit in the second round against the Pacers in 2025 all contribute to this narrative.<\/p>\n

This is the season. This is the playoff run, for better or for worse, that the Cavaliers need to show up and break the soft narrative. That is why the team moved their chips all in on an aging star like Harden \u2014 to get over the hump and win now.<\/p>\n

The Cavs\u2019 Stakes<\/p>\n

The Cavs can set the tone for their entire playoff run by taking care of a lengthy, strong Raptors team quickly, in four or five games. They have the star talent to do it with names like Donovan Mitchell<\/a> and Harden. They have the personal storyline to do it. After all, Scottie Barnes<\/a> beat out Evan Mobley<\/a> for rookie of the year<\/a> during their first seasons.<\/p>\n

It all comes down to getting over \u201cthe hump,\u201d but that hump has been a thorn in the side of the Koby Altman-built Cavs since the GM took over in 2017<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Will the Cavs make a deep run this year or won\u2019t they? That\u2019s what the NBA playoffs are all about. If they don\u2019t, Altman and company may very well be on the hot seat. If they do, Altman is a roster-building genius with security for many years to come.<\/p>\n

But it all starts with their first test against the Toronto Raptors.<\/p>\n