The set-up: The Raptors and Cavs meet for the second straight postseason. The teams met in the Eastern Conference finals last year, with Cleveland winning in six games. However, many (most) will remember that the Cavs totally dominated the Raptors in their four victories, winning by 31, 21, 38 and 26 points. The Raptors will get get another crack at the defending champs one round earlier this spring. The second-seeded Cavaliers completed a four-game sweep of the Indiana Pacers in the first round while the third-seeded Raptors had their troubles with the Bucks (tied 2-1), before winning Games 4, 5 and 6.

Toronto: The Raptors developed a stronger defensive identity with the acquisitions of P.J. Tucker and Serge Ibaka during the regular season and limited the Bucks to an average of 86 points while winning the final three games of their first-round series. Those additions will give Toronto better defensive options against LBJ and Kevin Love this time around. Offensively, the Raptors will need more from PG Kyle Lowry, who was held to an average of 14.3 PPG in the first round (averaged 22.4 in the regular season), while shooting just 28.1 percent on threes. Center Jonas Valanciunas came off the bench in the final three games against the Bucks and while Toronto won all of those games he didn't start by going with a three-guard lineup (Powell averaged 15.0 PPG in the three consecutive wins), he figures to return to the starting lineup against the Cavs.

Cleveland: The Cavaliers went 10-14 down the stretch in the regular season (going back to March 1) and defense was the team's problem. The team's defensive woes continued against the Pacers, as Cleveland became the first team since the 1995 Houston Rockets to sweep a first-round series while allowing its opponent to score 100 or more points in each game. LBJ is logging more minutes than ever and averaged 43.8 in the first round. "King James" was his royal self against the Pacers, averaging 32.8-9.8-9.0, with Kyrie chipping in 25.3 PPG and Love 15.5 & 9.3. No other player averaged in double digits (Frye was the highest at 8.5 PPG).

The pick: Toronto and Cleveland finished the regular season with identical 51-31 records but no one sees this as an "even" series. After all, the Raptors are 1-11 all time in Game 1 of playoff series, while the Cavs have gone15-1 against Eastern playoff teams at home dating back to the 2015 playoffs. It's true that Toronto has the best defensive numbers of the first round, holding Milwaukee to a league-low 93.2 PPG, by keeping the Bucks under 100 points four times in five contests. However, the Cavs are NOT the Bucks. Cleveland averaged 112.5 PPG against the Pacers (a franchise record for a playoff series) and averaged 13.5 three-pointers per game, even though neither Kyle Korver (5.3 PPG) nor J.R. Smith (6.8 PPG) got untracked from the perimeter. The defending champs haven't played in seven days and are rested, healthy and confident coming in. However, Cleveland ranked 22nd in defensive efficiency during the season and allowed 111 points per 100 possessions to Indiana, which was even worse than the Cavs' regular-season average. make the Over a 10* play.