LeBron James and the Cavaliers completed the sweep to eliminate the Toronto Raptors from the NBA playoffs on Sunday, securing a 109-102 Game 4 win. Toronto got off to a fast start, fell behind, then launched a valiant comeback as the relentless Cavs continued to punish the shorthanded Raptors, who were playing without All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry for the second straight game.
Here are a few takeaways from Game 4, and the series in general.
The switch has been flipped
Remember when the Cavs sputtered through the second half of the season and people were questioning whether the defending champs would be able to just "turn it on" once the playoffs started? We have our answer. Cleveland's defense, which looked nearly unfixable toward the end of the regular season, has lowered it's defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) from 108 to 105, fourth best in the playoffs so far.
Kyrie and LeBron carry Cleveland
LeBron James has been magnificent against the Raptors all series, and Game 4 was no different. Kyrie Irving also had a big-time game. In fact, the two superstars appeared to be involved in nearly every Cleveland basket. In a game where the Cavs scored 109 points, James provided 35 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Irving added 27 points, nine assists and five rebounds.
3-point barrage
Look at the stats from the series and one jumps out more than all the others -- 3-pointers. Entering Game 4 the Cavs had made 45 3-pointers compared to the Raptors' 17, and it was more of the same on Sunday. The Cavs saw a big boost from bench shooters like Channing Frye and Kyle Korver, while the Raptors just weren't able to keep pace.
Cavs continue early-round dominance
The Cavaliers are 16-0 in first- and second-round games in the last two seasons, proving they're just a level above any of their competition in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors were expected to at least give the Cavs a run for their money, but instead all four games were blowouts. Cleveland awaits the winner of the Celtics-Wizards series, but it remains to be seen whether either of them can provide more of a challenge.
Raptors have decisions to make
Toronto went all in, acquiring Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker at the trade deadline in an effort to challenge Cleveland in the playoffs. Well, that didn't work. This summer will be a pivotal one for the franchise, with decisions to be made on free agents Lowry, Ibaka, Tucker and Patrick Patterson. After being eliminated by the Cavs in relatively painful fashion in each of the last two seasons, Toronto has to decide whether it wants to continue with this group moving forward.
