Written by Jon Krawczynski at BusinessInsiders.com
Long after the Cleveland Cavaliers fired coach David Blatt in an attempt to stabilize a team that just couldn’t get on the same page, many of the same issues continue to plague them under new coach Tyronn Lue.
And while the Cavs try to figure out how to use Kevin Love, try to shore up their defense and find the consistency they need to make a real run at a title, the Toronto Raptors have put themselves right in Cleveland’s rearview mirror as the playoffs approach.
The Raptors (48-21) have won four straight games and seven of their last eight and are just one game back of the Cavs for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors have weathered injuries to key players like Jonas Valanciunas, DeMarre Carroll and James Johnson, all the while relying on their continuity to get them through.
“It hasn’t been easy at all, dealing with injuries, key players being out,” All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan said last month. “It’s definitely been tough. Just to get through it, stay afloat after that, it’s an accomplishment.”
The Raptors are doing more than just stay afloat. With DeRozan and Kyle Lowry forming one of the league’s best backcourts, and coach Dwane Casey and the rest of the staff plugging in Luis Scola, Bismack Biyombo and Patrick Patterson to help overcome the injuries, the Raptors have been in the No. 2 spot for most of the season.
“We’ve always been a team to overcome adversity,” DeRozan said. “That’s what the coaching staff has always preached. We’ve got guys that don’t complain. We take what’s given to us and make the most out of it.”
DeRozan and Lowry have set an aggressive tone for the Raptors offense, with DeRozan leading the league in points off drives to the basket, and the two are averaging more than 15 free-throw attempts per game.
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