Raptors' Game 1 struggles weren't entirely unexpected for one simple reason

""We played out of character, which is kind of to be expected from a young team, a lot of guys playing in the playoffs for the first time.""

""The Raptors aren't a great 3-point shooting team. They also don't thrive in the halfcourt. Instead, they create their best offense when they can push the pace off forced turnovers or rebounds.""

""This roster doesn't feature a ton of playoff experience. The only players in the Raptors' main rotation who have won a playoff series before are Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Jakob Poeltl.""

The Raptors performed well in the first half of Game 1 against the Cavaliers, trailing by only seven points. However, they faltered in the third quarter, unable to recover from the Cavs' lead. Darko Rajaković noted the team's lack of playoff experience contributed to their struggles. The Raptors did not play their typical fast-paced game, managing only three steals and three fastbreak points. Most of the roster lacks playoff experience, with only a few players having previously won a playoff series.

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