CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Larry Drew thinks the Cavaliers are just scratching the surface.

LeBron James still doesn't know what this team is capable of in the playoffs, even after nine wins in the last 10 games.

Rodney Hood says they're jelling.

Somewhere in there is the truth.

"I still say we're only scratching the surface, I really do," said Drew after the Cavs beat the Raptors 112-106 on Tuesday. "I still think we can get our young guys, our new guys, they're still kind of feeling their way through this. I can look at their face and tell that they're just thinking, they're just trying to think of what to do. They're not letting their natural basketball instincts take over. And when they get past that point, I think it takes us to another level."

The Cavs are both three-time defending champs in the East, and a new team. And this week is a measuring-stick week, with players coming back from injury and games against playoff teams with seeding on the line.

Next up are the Washington Wizards Thursday, who could wind up being a first-round matchup.

So after each one, with the playoffs a week and a half away, it's natural to ask: "What does it mean?"

"That's to be seen," James said. "But mentally, I'm sharp and I'm focused on what we need to do in order to close out this regular season, but more importantly with Thursday with Washington coming into our building.

"But, I'm mentally sharp and I'm fresh minded so we'll give ourselves a good chance."

James finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds against the Raptors, giving him 13 double doubles in the last 15 games.

Only four players remain from the Cavs' 2016 championship team. Rodney Hood, George Hill, Larry Nance Jr., and Jordan Clarkson were all added via trade on Feb. 8.

Hill is out with a sprained ankle. Clarkson shot 3-of-11 against the Raptors. Nance scored six points in 16 minutes. Only Hood had a notable game (17 points).

"I'm 100 times more settled than I was when I first got here," Hood said. "As far as just knowing the playbook, knowing where I'm going to be, knowing spots. Now it's about just putting it together and I think that's like the last piece. We're all doing that. I think we're jelling at the right time, especially when we get George back from injury."

Nine wins = a 'really trying stretch'

Again, the Cavs have won nine of 10.

The first of those wins, Tyronn Lue left at halftime because of his season-long illness. He hasn't coached a game since.

During this stretch, Love, Nance, Hood, Hill, Kyle Korver, Tristan Thompson and Cedi Osman have all missed games.

"It's been a really trying stretch," Drew said. "Given prior to coach Lue taking an absence. Given what we've already gone through this season, you know, as a team you can only take so much. You can only take so much. The way our guys have persevered over these last 10 says a lot about the character of this team."

What all of this means for the playoffs, it's hard to say. James' teams have gone to the last seven Finals, which surely means something.

"Just that we're able to get over the hump when we need to, persevere through tough moments and remain consistent even in the ugly games," Love explained, when asked about the last 10 games.

Calderon deadly on the pick and roll

Jose Calderon's season-high 19 points and four assists came on buckets off of the pick and roll and wide-open 3s.

"Actually it was two today," Calderon said. "I made one and the second one I was by myself, I was waiting for somebody to come close to pass the ball to because I always like to pass. So it was like, 'Who's open? Who's open? OK, it's me, let's take this shot.' So that's what happened. Sometimes it's weird how they did those rotations, I've just got to take those shots for sure."

The pick and roll was a huge problem for the Raptors, who were burned by Calderon whether he was running it with James or Love.

"When we were playing that with Bron they didn't leave him at all, so I was able to turn the corner, they (inaudible) to going under so that's why I got a couple of shots," Calderon said. "At the end we went at that, too, with Kevin and with LeBron, they didn't know what to do, they were trying to change, that's why we were successful today with that 1-3 pick and roll."

Drew said Love mentioned during a timeout how effective the pick and roll was with Calderon running it.

"Jose is just a guy, he just knows his position," Drew said. "He knows how to play his position. He's not quick. He's not fast. He doesn't do a lot of things out on the court that are very sexy, but he just gets things done and little things like that, big men have an appreciation for. Kevin knows that if he sets a good screen on Jose's guy, chances are he's going to be open."

Raptors are slipping and sliding

The Raptors are 3-4 in their last seven games. They still lead the Celtics by two games for first place in the East, and the two teams play tonight.

Three of Toronto's losses have come against the Cavs and Celtics.

"We haven't found ourselves defensively," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. "A lot of our assignments are having breakdowns. Again, right now, we have to find our rhythm on both ends of the floor, whether it's offense or defense. Understanding rotations, containing the ball, that slip-slided away on us."