In the immediate aftermath of Toronto's Game 5 loss to the host Cavs, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic succinctly and perfectly summed up his team's predicament.
"Our back is against the wall," he began. "It's Game 6. They're going to try to close the series and we're going to do everything possible (to extend it). First of all, we have to find enough healthy guys to go out there and then to compete to the last second."
To recap, the Raptors haven't had and will continue to be without starting point guard Immanuel Quickley (hamstring strain). Brandon Ingram left Wednesday's game in the opening half because of a heel contusion, while Scottie Barnes tried to persevere through a quad contusion after colliding with Cavs big man Thomas Bryant on a drive in the second quarter.
The Raptors, at least according to the odds-makers, who are often more right than wrong, weren't expected to challenge the win-now Cavs. Here they are as the Raptors regroup, well aware of the magnitude of Friday night's Game 6, which will tip off at 7:30 p.m., an elimination game as Toronto attempts to push the opening-round series to a Game 7 back at Rocket Arena.
The following are five questions the Raptors must answer or at least try to manage.
1. Can a Hobbled Barnes Still Be Effective?
Quad contusions, or in layman's terms a bruise, can linger. Barnes will play, that much is known because he's a gamer and team leader, but his effectiveness in pushing the ball up the floor will be compromised. Barnes has played with force since Game 1 when he got into early foul trouble. RJ Barrett has been just as good in imposing his will, bringing a physical dimension that was evident when he took exception to James Harden attempting to grab the ball near Toronto's bench. Barrett is more than capable of pushing the pace, which will allow Barnes to play more in the mid-post area. A bruised quad shouldn't have any bearing on Barnes' ability to pass the ball. In this scenario with Barnes embracing the role of facilitator, it will be incumbent on his teammates to make shots.
2. What to Make of Ingram?
While he's been a major disappointment, his presence would have helped in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's loss when the Raptors managed 17 points. One made shot was all that was required from Ingram when the Raptors managed to survive the brick-fest that was Game 4. Even when he's not operating with any level of efficiency, and make no mistake he hasn't this series, the Cavs must still account for Ingram. The same isn't true for any player not named Scottie Barnes. With so much at stake Friday night, it's hard not to see Ingram on the court. He hasn't been good, but all Ingram needs to be is average.
3. How Will the Young Guns React in an Elimination Game?
Win or lose, the Raptors should be very encouraged at the way Jamal Shead, Ja'Kobe Walter, and Collin Murray-Boyles have performed in their post-season debuts, three building blocks as the franchise moves forward. A tweak to the starting group is in order for Game 6, one that should see Shead among the five-man unit knowing an extra ball handler and someone who will dictate a quicker pace will be on the floor to take pressure off Barnes. In this scenario, Walter comes off the bench as the sixth man. Shead and Walter were making shots in Game 5 until the fourth quarter. The two combined to heave 24 of the team's 38 shots from distance during the game, which is far from ideal. At least they weren't afraid to take them. Toronto needs both to play well Friday and it also needs CMB to bring his solid defence and ability to score around the rim. More than anyone, all three players will benefit the most from this playoff experience, a much-needed learning opportunity that will serve each well as their careers evolve.
4. Has Jakob Poeltl Finally Arrived?
There's no masking his defensive limitations on the perimeter, no sugar-coating the inflated contract he was given, which at the same time seemed like a bargain by many, but Jakob Poeltl needs to have an impact on Game 6. He played fewer than 21 minutes in Game 5, but he missed only one attempt from the field en route to a 14-point night, while recording nine rebounds. He had one block and Poeltl did emerge with a team-best plus-6 rating. Poeltl needs to be more involved offensively Friday night and he needs to be on the floor more than the 20 minutes and 49 seconds he played in Game 5. Sandro Mamukelashvili has been a nice story, but when he's not making shots, which he wasn't in Game 5, he's limited. It's time for the Raptors' centre to be the centre of attention or at worst put Poeltl in a position where he's more of an offensive option.
5. Can the Raptors Extend This to a Game 7?
There's plenty of fight in this resilient group, that much is true. By any measurement, this series, regardless of whether it ends Friday, has opened many eyes. Being home will help in a series where no road team has won. Jamison Battle had his moment in Game 3, much like Dennis Schroder had his in Game 5, but someone needs to have his moment Friday. What the Raptors must do is continue to neutralize Donovan Mitchell, who hasn't done much anything since the opening two games. The fear, if you're a fan of the Raptors, is Mitchell goes off Friday night, which he's more than capable of doing. The Cavs have not played well since the series shifted to Toronto. The Raptors had them on the ropes in Game 5, but a scoreless stretch bridging the third and fourth quarters ultimately led to Toronto's demise, besides the injury component. Game 5 was the best game of the series. In Game 6, the Raptors need to be at their absolute best knowing what is on the line.
