Is the Cleveland Cavaliers-Toronto Raptors Series Already Over?

CLEVELAND — After just one game, the Eastern Conference Finals may already be decided.

The Cleveland Cavaliers destroyed the Toronto Raptors, 115-84, in the opener of their best-of-seven series Tuesday. The manner in which they performed the execution pointed toward a potential third straight Cavaliers sweep.

After dismantling the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks during the minimum eight games required to open the playoffs, the Cavs are already the only NBA team yet to lose this postseason—a streak that now looks like it could continue all the way into the NBA Finals.

We the Disadvantaged

While Cleveland enjoyed over a week off leading up to this series, Toronto had just a single day to rest following its Game 7 win over the Miami Heat.

As Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan put it, "They’ve been off their feet, and we've been battling for weeks."

Coming into Game 1, Toronto had played 14 games, totaling 687 minutes. Cleveland entered with just eight games and 384 minutes. DeRozan and Kyle Lowry lead all postseason players in court time, combining for 1,075 minutes overall. The Cavs' trio of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love needed just 874 between the three of them to advance to this point.

The tread on the Cavaliers' tires is still mighty deep, while the Raptors are beginning to run bare.

Cleveland very much looked like the fresher team—a trend that should continue throughout the series. When asked about the difference in rest, James was quick to point out the Cavs weren't exactly on vacation.

"We didn't rest," James insisted. "We just didn't have a game. Coach Lue gave us one day off; other than that, we were in the gym working. Keeping our rhythm, keeping our legs ready. We didn't rest, we just didn't have a game in front of cameras."

Perhaps the only thing that can stop James at this point is his own body. With fresh legs and an aggressive spirit, Toronto's collection of weary bodies may not stand a chance of slowing James.

Different Style of W

Cleveland set a four-game series record by racking up 77 three-pointers against the Hawks. Despite this, James has claimed the Cavaliers aren't a three-point shooting team.

"We want to push the tempo; we want to move the ball from side to side and attack," James said. "They wanted us to be in the paint, and we just tried to take advantage of that. As I keep telling you guys every single day, we're not a jump-shooting team. We're a balanced team, and whatever the game dictates, we adjust to that."

The Cavaliers made just seven of 20 three-pointers to open this new series, yet they feasted on Toronto's depleted frontcourt. With Raptors starting center Jonas Valanciunas sidelined by an ankle injury, Cleveland scored 56 points in the paint—its highest total of the postseason.

James was particularly effective, taking 12 of his 13 shots in the restricted area, making 11 of them for 24 points. His 84.6 percent shooting was the highest of his postseason career.

"He was aggressive tonight," said DeMarre Carroll, James' primary defender. "He's a small forward, but he can play center. He can play anything. He's as big as a center."

James might as well have been a big man, as he used his size and strength to bully Carroll in the post. This is a huge problem for Toronto moving forward, as Carroll represents Toronto's best chance at limiting Cleveland's best player.

"I don't predetermine what is going on or how they're going to defend me. I read and react," James said. "They played me straight up in the post. I just tried to make quick, solid moves to get into the paint. If they brought help, I was still going to be able to find my guys. I've seen every coverage."

Cleveland Can Get Better

Jason Miller/Getty Images

With a 31-point margin of victory, the Cavs set a new franchise record Tuesday, besting their previous high of 30 set all the way back in Game 2 against the Hawks less than two weeks ago.

The scary part for Toronto? Cleveland appeared to be nowhere near its peak in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Love had a relatively quiet night with 14 points and four rebounds. As long as Valanciunas is out, he should find paint touches and baskets more prevalent as the series progresses. J.R. Smith made just one shot in his 27-plus minutes, and Tristan Thompson managed a mere six points and seven rebounds—a very modest night on the glass for him.

Defensively, the Cavs also proved they can handle Lowry, who torched them in the regular season. Toronto's All-Star point guard managed just eight points on 4-of-14 shooting, including 0-of-7 from deep.

For the Raptors, a 31-point loss, combined with Cleveland's room for improvement, should be incredibly discouraging. The Cavaliers are steamrolling through the East, with Toronto looking like just another bump in the road.

"We have a goal, and our goal is not nine wins," James said. "It's just not. It's not my focus. I've won nine games in the postseason before. I've won 14 games in the postseason before. It's not my goal, and as the leader of this team, I need to continue to make sure these guys know what our goal is."

Although just one game has passed, the Eastern Conference Finals may already be over.

Greg Swartz is the Cleveland Cavaliers Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @CavsGregBR.

Quotes obtained firsthand. Stats via Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.