2026 NBA Playoffs - East First Round - #4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs #5 Toronto Raptors (Series tied 3-3)

[QingJames]

I'm so conflicted.

On one hand, I want Cleveland to win because if we don't win here, and we end up losing the series, we're hitting the panic button and making major changes that are going to more than likely put us in no man's land for years given we own no first rounders for the rest of the decade.

On the other hand, if Harden does another classic choke performance and costs Cleveland the series, my hope is that it would give Cleveland a very serious wakeup call. It sucks that they're in the position they're in now because they got greedy considering how awesome the potential was, but they got to learn the hard way. And them winning the finals this year justifies that poor decision.

Overall, I have no confidence that Cleveland is going to win this series. They won the first two games entirely off of Harden having two uncharacteristically great offensive performances against a good defense and CMB is a very serious problem that we can't figure out.

Cavs need to get a DPOY big man. If you had one of those you might be able to stop a 6'7 rookie in the post.

[Iwasawitness]

I'm so conflicted.

On one hand, I want Cleveland to win because if we don't win here, and we end up losing the series, we're hitting the panic button and making major changes that are going to more than likely put us in no man's land for years given we own no first rounders for the rest of the decade.

On the other hand, if Harden does another classic choke performance and costs Cleveland the series, my hope is that it would give Cleveland a very serious wakeup call. It sucks that they're in the position they're in now because they got greedy considering how awesome the potential was, but they got to learn the hard way. And them winning the finals this year justifies that poor decision.

Overall, I have no confidence that Cleveland is going to win this series. They won the first two games entirely off of Harden having two uncharacteristically great offensive performances against a good defense and CMB is a very serious problem that we can't figure out.

Cavs need to get a DPOY big man. If you had one of those you might be able to stop a 6'7 rookie in the post.

Well then it's a good thing they have one.

[jbk1234]

https://official.nba.com/l2m/L2MReport.html?gameId=0042500134

[canada_dry]

Idk. Anyone complaining about the refs are out to lunch. What's being exposed for what feels like the 3rd or 4th straight year is the cavs have an epidemic of SOFT big men. And they're getting handled by undersized bigs in this series. Whistles wont change that. Refs wont save you.

The cavs might still win this series but the next talented team they matchup with that also can bully their soft bigs will absolutely be sending them home. Such as the knicks. They'll live through that Mitchell Robinson nightmare a 2nd time.

the funniest thing about this series imo is that everyone keeps saying the raps' frontcourt is undersized - when they're BIGGER than the cavs' frontcourt.

I mean if you count small forwards as front count sure on the technicality. Maybe. But you know what's meant... the 4/5.

[QingJames]

I'm so conflicted.

On one hand, I want Cleveland to win because if we don't win here, and we end up losing the series, we're hitting the panic button and making major changes that are going to more than likely put us in no man's land for years given we own no first rounders for the rest of the decade.

On the other hand, if Harden does another classic choke performance and costs Cleveland the series, my hope is that it would give Cleveland a very serious wakeup call. It sucks that they're in the position they're in now because they got greedy considering how awesome the potential was, but they got to learn the hard way. And them winning the finals this year justifies that poor decision.

Overall, I have no confidence that Cleveland is going to win this series. They won the first two games entirely off of Harden having two uncharacteristically great offensive performances against a good defense and CMB is a very serious problem that we can't figure out.

Cavs need to get a DPOY big man. If you had one of those you might be able to stop a 6'7 rookie in the post.

Well then it's a good thing they have one.

Then why can't he stop a 6'7 rookie in the post?

[Johnny Bball]

Idk. Anyone complaining about the refs are out to lunch. What's being exposed for what feels like the 3rd or 4th straight year is the cavs have an epidemic of SOFT big men. And they're getting handled by undersized bigs in this series. Whistles wont change that. Refs wont save you.

The cavs might still win this series but the next talented team they matchup with that also can bully their soft bigs will absolutely be sending them home. Such as the knicks. They'll live through that Mitchell Robinson nightmare a 2nd time.

the funniest thing about this series imo is that everyone keeps saying the raps' frontcourt is undersized - when they're BIGGER than the cavs' frontcourt.

I mean if you count small forwards as front count sure on the technicality. Maybe. But you know what's meant... the 4/5.

They have precisely one 5, one 4, and Wade whatever he is. And 7 guards.

[JujitsuFlip]

From my handheld watch timing, it was 8 seconds before Shead even touched him. Refs aren't gonna bail out braindead plays, and Mitchell wasn't making it over in time even if Shead didn't move.

Might need to get that handheld watch calibrated, lol

https://official.nba.com/l2m/L2MReport.html?gameId=0042500134

They incorrectly missed the illegal contact by Shead prior to the 8 second violation occurring.

[JujitsuFlip]

Idk. Anyone complaining about the refs are out to lunch. What's being exposed for what feels like the 3rd or 4th straight year is the cavs have an epidemic of SOFT big men. And they're getting handled by undersized bigs in this series. Whistles wont change that. Refs wont save you.

The cavs might still win this series but the next talented team they matchup with that also can bully their soft bigs will absolutely be sending them home. Such as the knicks. They'll live through that Mitchell Robinson nightmare a 2nd time.

the funniest thing about this series imo is that everyone keeps saying the raps' frontcourt is undersized - when they're BIGGER than the cavs' frontcourt.

I mean if you count small forwards as front count sure on the technicality. Maybe. But you know what's meant... the 4/5.

SF have been counted as front court players since 1891, where have you been? Lol

[Iwasawitness]

Cavs need to get a DPOY big man. If you had one of those you might be able to stop a 6'7 rookie in the post.

Well then it's a good thing they have one.

Then why can't he stop a 6'7 rookie in the post?

You already know the answer to that.

[LoveMyRaps]

Windy pointed out before the series that this wasn't going to be a cake walk for CLE & 1 of his reasons is that Barnes always elevates his game when facing Mobley

Through 4 games:

Barnes
25.8 PPG 4.8 RPG 7.3 APG 1.0 SPG 1.1 BPG
52.3% on 16.3 FGA
46.7% on 3.8 3PA
75.7% on 9.3 FTA
57.7% EFG 63.4% TS

Mobley
16.3 PPG 7.5 RPG 4.0 APG 0.8 SPG 0.8 BPG
54.3% on 11.5 FGA
18.2% on 2.8 3PA
76.5% on 4.3 FTA
56.5% EFG 60.8% TS

Mobley legitimately hasn't improved one bit since his rookie year.
If anything, he's regressed. He was definitely a much better defender last year.

I also don't think this dude has added any muscle. Damn shame, because he has so much upside but he's too weak and brittle and has no real offensive game.

[LoveMyRaps]

Scottie +8.5 BPM
CMB +8.9 BPM
RJ +4.0 BPM


Mitchell +1.2 BPM
Harden +2.8 BPM

[LoveMyRaps]

From my handheld watch timing, it was 8 seconds before Shead even touched him. Refs aren't gonna bail out braindead plays, and Mitchell wasn't making it over in time even if Shead didn't move.

Might need to get that handheld watch calibrated, lol

https://official.nba.com/l2m/L2MReport.html?gameId=0042500134

They incorrectly missed the illegal contact by Shead prior to the 8 second violation occurring.

Read on Twitter

[falcolombardi]

the funniest thing about this series imo is that everyone keeps saying the raps' frontcourt is undersized - when they're BIGGER than the cavs' frontcourt.

I mean if you count small forwards as front count sure on the technicality. Maybe. But you know what's meant... the 4/5.

They have precisely one 5, one 4, and Wade whatever he is. And 7 guards.

Is funny how both okc and cavs are so guard heavy but it doesnt feel the same on the court that they both play like 7 guards in their 11-man rotation

Their composition of 2/3 bigs and tons of guards with barely any bigger wing is actually so similar on paper

[Duffman100]

https://official.nba.com/l2m/L2MReport.html?gameId=0042500134

Allen (CLE) jumps from A to B and makes contact with Barnes (TOR) that affects his shot attempt. CC

[Zeno]

https://official.nba.com/l2m/L2MReport.html?gameId=0042500134

Allen (CLE) jumps from A to B and makes contact with Barnes (TOR) that affects his shot attempt. CC

They got one right. haha. A 2 minute report with 7 errors and folks thought there were more. Even Allen seems to know it was a foul though.

[everdiso]

Idk. Anyone complaining about the refs are out to lunch. What's being exposed for what feels like the 3rd or 4th straight year is the cavs have an epidemic of SOFT big men. And they're getting handled by undersized bigs in this series. Whistles wont change that. Refs wont save you.

The cavs might still win this series but the next talented team they matchup with that also can bully their soft bigs will absolutely be sending them home. Such as the knicks. They'll live through that Mitchell Robinson nightmare a 2nd time.

the funniest thing about this series imo is that everyone keeps saying the raps' frontcourt is undersized - when they're BIGGER than the cavs' frontcourt.

I mean if you count small forwards as front count sure on the technicality. Maybe. But you know what's meant... the 4/5.

yeah the raps are bigger at the 4/5.


Allen 6'9" height 9'3" reach, 243lbs
Mobley 6'11" height, 9'2" reach (?), 215lbs
Wade 6'9" height, 8'10" reach (?), 228lbs

Poeltl 7'1' height, 9'4" reach, 253lbs
Scottie 6'7" height, 9'0" reach, 237lbs
CMB 6'6" height, 8'11" reach, 245lbs
Mamu 6'9" height, 8'11 reach, 240lbs

heck you could thrown in Ingram who probably has the closest body to Mobley - 6'9" height, 9'2" standing reach, 190lbs.

[jbk1234]

https://official.nba.com/l2m/L2MReport.html?gameId=0042500134

Allen (CLE) jumps from A to B and makes contact with Barnes (TOR) that affects his shot attempt. CC

Yeah, that's laughable in that they don't even address Barnes off arm, which given the video to the right of report, warrants some type of explanation. I mean you're allowed to move from A to B to attempt a clean block, and that's exactly what was about happen before Barnes swept down on Allen with his off arm. They just disappeared it completely that from the analysis. It least give me some lame explanation.

I suspect what happened is that they felt that they had to have a CC on that call because it was sandwiched in between the INC no call in Shead that resulted in the 8 second violation on Mitchell and the INC on CMB when he cleaned Merrill's clock right in front of the official before the in bound. Watch that one and tell me how it's not called. Playoffs or not.

[Madvillainy2004]

https://official.nba.com/l2m/L2MReport.html?gameId=0042500134

Allen (CLE) jumps from A to B and makes contact with Barnes (TOR) that affects his shot attempt. CC

Yeah, that's laughable in that they don't even address Barnes off arm, which given the video to the right of report, warrants some type of explanation. I mean you're allowed to move from A to B to attempt a clean block, and that's exactly what was about happen before Barnes swept down on Allen with his off arm. They just disappeared it completely that from the analysis. It least give me some lame explanation.

I suspect what happened is that they felt that they had to have a CC on that call because it was sandwiched in between the INC no call in Shead that resulted in the 8 second violation on Mitchell and the INC on CMB when he cleaned Merrill's clock right in front of the official before the in bound. Watch that one and tell me how it's not called. Playoffs or not.

Needing the refs to bail you out against the non-Quickley Raptors that shot 4-30 from 3 lmaoooo tell Donny to stop shooting tour dates

[Iwasawitness]

Windy pointed out before the series that this wasn't going to be a cake walk for CLE & 1 of his reasons is that Barnes always elevates his game when facing Mobley

Through 4 games:

Barnes
25.8 PPG 4.8 RPG 7.3 APG 1.0 SPG 1.1 BPG
52.3% on 16.3 FGA
46.7% on 3.8 3PA
75.7% on 9.3 FTA
57.7% EFG 63.4% TS

Mobley
16.3 PPG 7.5 RPG 4.0 APG 0.8 SPG 0.8 BPG
54.3% on 11.5 FGA
18.2% on 2.8 3PA
76.5% on 4.3 FTA
56.5% EFG 60.8% TS

Mobley legitimately hasn't improved one bit since his rookie year.
If anything, he's regressed. He was definitely a much better defender last year.

I also don't think this dude has added any muscle. Damn shame, because he has so much upside but he's too weak and brittle and has no real offensive game.

Again, this just isn't true.

These are the kinds of anti Mobley takes that just make my head hurt.

He was all NBA last year for a reason. He was a legitimate threat from three that you couldn't leave alone anymore. His FT% continuously improved. And he got significantly better at handling the ball and creating opportunities for himself.

I can't explain what happened to his offense this year. He's been able to make a living off feeding inside from good guard play but overall, his offense has definitely regressed. To claim however he's made no improvements since his rookie year? Utter laughable nonsense.

[Iwasawitness]

the funniest thing about this series imo is that everyone keeps saying the raps' frontcourt is undersized - when they're BIGGER than the cavs' frontcourt.

I mean if you count small forwards as front count sure on the technicality. Maybe. But you know what's meant... the 4/5.

SF have been counted as front court players since 1891, where have you been? Lol

That might be one of the most hilarious things I've ever read. A user on a basketball forum not knowing that a SF is part of the frontcourt is like a baseball fan not knowing the shortstop is part of the infield.