Cavaliers, Kenny Atkinson survive first round of NBA playoffs

May 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A general view of Rocket Arena before game seven between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

May 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Toronto Raptors players warm up before game seven between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs Game 7 photos

May 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A general view of Rocket Arena before game seven between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs Game 7 photos

May 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A general view of Rocket Arena before game seven between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs Game 7 photos

May 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Toronto Raptors players warm up before game seven between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Cavaliers playoff history with Donovan Mitchell, Kenny Atkinson

Last year, the Cavs crushed the Heat in the first round, not only sweeping Miami but setting NBA playoff records for point disparity. Then came the Indiana Pacers in the next round, and the rest is history.

This time around, the Cavs barely survived the push from the Raptors. But in taking punches and counterpunches, they feel that perhaps they're more prepared for whatever is thrown at them next.

"One hundred percent. I think this series galvanized us," Atkinson said. "When you have to — their physicality, their speed, their athleticism, things weren't perfect. And we kind of know the difference. Last year we had an easier series. These types of series, they build you up. And I'm glad we went through it."

Another factor in the Raptors series that gives the Cavs some confidence moving forward is the degree to which they're still learning about their own squad, and how advancing only gives them more time to dig deeper. Because of a roster-shaking trade deadline that brought in James Harden, Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, along with a series of injury situations — namely Max Strus and then Jarrett Allen — the Cavs had little time to gel on the court with the rotation completely intact.

In fact, Atkinson said after Game 7 they were inserting lineups with virtually no previous data on them before the playoffs. It's not the most ideal situation to be in, but it does point to the idea that advancing at all costs is all that really matters. If the Cavs could just get through a tough first-round series, they feel they're better set up for the rest of the road.

"That was a tough thing about preparing for this series, we're throwing out some lineups that we'd never seen before," Atkinson said. "And that's not easy, not easy for the coaching staff, but we got some reps under our belt now."

The number of moving parts, the new scenarios being faced and the urgency of the playoffs all seem to have mixed together, leading to more communication. Donovan Mitchell and Schroder, on multiple occasions during Game 7, were breaking down plays with one another. During halftime of Game 7, Evan Mobley noted that virtually everyone in the locker room was discussing something at the same time in a number of conversations, all trying to work out smaller issues.

"It's still somewhat of a new team," Strus said. "We got James late, you got me late, Dennis, Keon, we still are somewhat of a new group going through tough things, going through adversity, coming out on top of it. You learn a lot about each other. You learn about how we're going to deal with that in the room and we need from people."

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, right, hugs center Jarrett Allen after Game 7 against the Toronto Raptors in a first-round NBA playoff series May 3, 2026, in Cleveland.

Cavs beat Raptors, prepare for Pistons in NBA playoffs

Of course, while what the Cavs are saying about being "cleansed" in advancing to a new series is true to a degree — certain mistakes or shortcomings can be forgiven in the name of winning — there are still some major concerns heading into the second-round tilt with the Pistons.

The Cavs looked like a different team at home versus on the road, and they don't have home court against Detroit. Mitchell and Harden haven't quite gotten it going. They've had turnover issues. They've had physicality issues, both inside the paint and with screens at the top of the key.

But there are lessons the Cavs can take out of the Raptors series. And it's a much different scenario if those lessons send you home at the end of the series. The Cavs survived to tell the tale.

"Game 3 … tough loss. And Game 4, same thing, tough loss," Mitchell said. "Game 5, we win at home. Game 6, we don't really shoot it great. … Ball goes in the air, tough loss. But there's always a composure amongst the group."

It's difficult to quantity just how different the organization might have looked had the Game 7 result against the Raptors been flipped. After racing to a 64-win season and the No. 1 seed in the East a year ago, that would have been followed by early playoff exits in the second and then the first round.

And with the Cavs already facing a sense of urgency with their contention window, all of it was accelerated with the Harden-Darius Garland swap. Considering a few contract situations — namely that Mitchell has a player option after next season — the Cavs know they might only have this year and next with this core of players, and then it's impossible to say which direction they take.

A different result in Game 7, warranted or not, might have led to an overhaul in several respects out of sheer urgency, and potentially not just with the roster. It's impossible to say for sure, but it's entirely possible the franchise might have entered meltdown mode as it searched for immediate answers after a stunning first-round exit.

But as Atkinson noted, the Game 7 win cleanses the Cavs, at least for a day or two. And now it's on to round two, no matter how Cleveland got there.

Ryan Lewis covers the Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs learn lessons from tough Raptors series to take into Pistons clash