Cavs Going All-In on Conditioning Before Raptors Playoff Clash

James Harden and Evan Mobley expect to run a lot when the Cleveland Cavaliers face the Toronto Raptors in the NBA playoffs.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 9:27pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the action of a basketball game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant colors.The Cavaliers' intense conditioning regimen aims to prepare them for the physical and fast-paced challenge posed by the Raptors in the NBA playoffs.Cleveland Today

The Cleveland Cavaliers are preparing for a grueling first-round playoff series against the Toronto Raptors by focusing heavily on conditioning and endurance. Players like James Harden and Evan Mobley have been putting in extra cardio work to get ready for the Raptors' fast-paced style of play.

Why it matters

The Cavaliers know they will need to match the Raptors' intensity and physicality to have a chance of advancing in the playoffs. Their recent conditioning efforts show they are taking this challenge seriously and are determined to be in top shape for the demanding postseason.

The details

Over the past two days, the Cavaliers have been doing extensive conditioning drills, including versa climber workouts that have left players 'dead tired' according to Evan Mobley. James Harden, who missed the team's last regular season game, has also been participating in the extra conditioning sessions. Head coach Kenny Atkinson said the team has been preparing for the playoff intensity since last year's early exit, and he's pleased with their focus and readiness heading into the series.

  • On Tuesday, the Cavaliers had a rigorous workout to start the week.
  • On Wednesday, the team continued its conditioning efforts in practice.

The players

James Harden

A veteran guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers who is preparing for his first playoff run with the team.

Evan Mobley

A young forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers who is expected to play a key role in the team's playoff push.

Donovan Mitchell

An All-Star guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers who posted a glimpse of the team's intense conditioning workouts on social media.

Kenny Atkinson

The head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who has been focused on preparing his team for the increased demands of the playoffs.

Scottie Barnes

A talented forward for the Toronto Raptors, who the Cavaliers will have to contend with in the first round.

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What they’re saying

“We conditioned yesterday, we're conditioning today, we're gonna condition tomorrow. Even me not playing last game, I've been doing conditioning as well.”

— James Harden, Cleveland Cavaliers Guard

“Kind of like team bonding, team building. We did some versa climber and stuff. It was pretty hard, honestly.”

— Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers Forward

“Guys were dead tired after. That's part of the playoffs. Sometimes you're going to be laid out like that after a game in the locker room, so you've got to be prepared for all that. I think we're getting prepared.”

— Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers Forward

“We've been getting after it. I wasn't here last year, but I just know, for me, being in this postseason for a little bit of time now, [there's a] different level we need to be at. Me, personally, just making sure I'm prepared is very important.”

— James Harden, Cleveland Cavaliers Guard

“We know what we're facing. Toronto is a really good team. They've been all year long, probably one of the teams that the league hasn't really been talking about. But defensively, [they] really get after it.”

— James Harden, Cleveland Cavaliers Guard

What’s next

The Cavaliers will continue to focus on tactics and strategy in the next couple of days as they prepare to face the Raptors in the first round of the playoffs.

The takeaway

The Cavaliers' intense conditioning efforts show they are taking the challenge of facing the Raptors very seriously. They know they will need to match Toronto's physicality and pace to have a chance of advancing, and their willingness to 'suffer a little' in practice indicates their commitment to being in peak shape for the playoffs.