Cavs know what to expect from Raptors: ‘We just have to play our game’

The Cavaliers didn’t have to wait long to learn their playoff fate.

After Sunday’s regular-season finale, players and coaches gathered in the locker room at Rocket Arena, eyes on the TV as the Celtics and Magic wrapped up the East bracket.

A Boston win meant one thing — the Cavs would face the Raptors. That’s exactly how it played out, setting up a first-round series that begins Saturday afternoon.

And if there’s one thing the Cavs aren’t doing, it’s taking Toronto lightly.

“We know that’s no picnic, right?” coach Kenny Atkinson said after Sunday’s win. “They lowkey dominated us for the games we played them this year. Have a lot of respect. Toronto’s a great challenge for us. Really good team.”

He’s not wrong. The Raptors took all three meetings during the regular season, outscoring Cleveland by a combined 35 points.

That said, it all happened before Thanksgiving and this isn’t quite the same Cavs team.

“We’re a better team than we were pre-trade deadline,” Atkinson said. “The front office did an amazing job adding the pieces we added. We’re a better team, so therefore it gives us a better chance to improve on what we did last year and what we’ve done the last three years.

“Adding James Harden helps a lot with that confidence, quite honestly. … His addition has given us a confidence. We’re a more mature ballclub. I keep saying that. Maturity and poise I think wins in the playoffs. And then IQ, I think we’re a higher IQ team. To me, that bodes well for improving our playoff performances.”

So, yes, there’s belief there. But there’s also awareness of what’s coming.

“Their speed, and then they turn you over, so really good at that,” Atkinson said. “They’ve done it as a group this year. A lot of respect for what they’ve done. I think they deserve to be where they are. This is going to be a big challenge for us.”

Second-year forward Jaylon Tyson echoed that sentiment.

“It’s another opportunity,” Tyson said. “Got a week to prepare for them. Obviously, we played them early. They got a really good squad. Got some length. Going into this week with a mindset that we’re gonna go get them and that’s all you can do.”

Tyson also pointed to last year’s playoff experience as something the Cavs can lean on.

“We’ve got experience in that now. We understand what it is,” he said. “I think that’s going to prepare us for this year. Going into it, we didn’t really know. We knew the Pacers were fast paced, but we didn’t know — we didn’t understand it. So now we understand it, and I feel that that’s going to help us this time around.”

Reserve forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin kept it simple.

“We were ready for whoever,” Tomlin said. “They have good size and guys that defend. We’ve just got to play our game.”

Fair enough. It wasn’t always a work of basketball art, but the Cavs did close the regular season strong, winning five of the last six and going 22-9 down the stretch.

Now comes the part that matters.

And the Cavs already know. This one won’t be easy.