In order to succeed in their first-round series, the Cavaliers will need their best lineup on the court as much as feasible. Minutes matter, but so does staying ahead of a stingy Raptors team.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Cleveland hopes to jump ahead of Toronto in Game 1, they\u2019ll need to ensure their starting lineup and rotation are as refined as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here are a few important rotational aspects the Cavaliers should focus on\u2014and potential changes they may need to make against the Raptors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What\u2019s Changing Against Toronto<\/p>\n
It\u2019s no secret that Cleveland boasts one of the NBA\u2019s biggest lineups in terms of player size\u2014especially with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley anchoring the frontcourt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mobley could be a key factor in Cleveland\u2019s playoff run<\/a> and will need to play some of his best basketball in this series. Jarrett Allen has no trouble doing that, but switching to a bigger starting lineup overall would give the Cavaliers the edge over Toronto.\u00a0<\/p>\n Having Dean Wade in the starting lineup should be heavily considered. While he hasn\u2019t put up the numbers you\u2019d like from a starter, his size and defensive ability make him a key asset for Cleveland.\u00a0<\/p>\n As of Friday, he\u2019ll be a game-time decision, but if he\u2019s good to go, he\u2019ll be leaned on for a larger role.\u00a0<\/p>\n If Wade isn\u2019t able to play, Cleveland\u2019s down a few other potential rotational players who are also game-time decisions. Dennis Schr\u00f6der, Keon Ellis, Thomas Bryant, and Sam Merrill could be at risk of missing Saturday\u2019s game.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the event that none of those players suit up for Game 1, Cleveland will be forced to include the recently returning Max Strus in the starting lineup<\/a>\u2014which could be a plus from an offensive standpoint.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cavaliers Bench Minutes May Take a Hit<\/p>\n With all the players at risk of missing Game 1, head coach Kenny Atkinson may be forced to rely on his starters to carry the bulk of the minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Having a star-studded lineup of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley all playing 30+ minutes would work, but it still puts them at risk for the long series ahead.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cleveland will still have at least its top seven or eight players available, which could mean increased minutes for players like Jaylon Tyson, Nae\u2019Qwan Tomlin, and Craig Porter Jr.\u00a0<\/p>\n Who Cleveland Can Count On<\/p>\n Tomlin has been a nice addition to Cleveland\u2019s rotation this season, and his size and versatility as a forward make him an intriguing piece of this Cavaliers lineup. It may be a smart idea to focus on matchup-based substitutions to mirror Toronto\u2019s lineup.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Raptors also boast an aggressive, big lineup, so the Cavaliers cannot fall victim to Toronto\u2019s bigs bullying their smaller guards in the paint.\u00a0<\/p>\n Even though the narrative has been that James Harden disappears in the playoffs, he\u2019ll be expected to put those storylines to rest<\/a> with his offensive playmaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n This may be the best lineup Cleveland has entered the playoffs within recent seasons. Even though their bench may be a concern in Game 1, this team is tough and gritty\u2014and that shouldn\u2019t be a problem going forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Cavaliers hold the advantage playing at home to start the first round, with the expectation that fans will pack Rocket Arena for their early-afternoon showdown. Tipoff against Toronto is currently set for 1:00 p.m. <\/p>\n
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