ECSF: P1 | (1) Toronto Raptors vs Cleveland Cavaliers (4) | TIED 0-0

[bb22]

Raps are a better team by miles and home-court is absolutely huge for them. They need to continue to shoot the ball well and play their game. Unlike Indy, they can absorb Lebron's 40+ points and still win a game comfortably as long as the cavs roll players continue to provide nothing. However, I do feel Love has a more favorable matchup in this series, especially if the Raps try to put Jonas on him (can't trade 2s for 3s). Raps also don't have that strong/athletic dude to knock Love out of the game from the get go (like a Thad Young/Miles Turner or Draymond). They can try Ibaka, but he's been shaky and will probably have to take on Lebron. They could also throw one of the young guys (Siakam/Poeltl/Anunoby) at him, but they're pretty thin and inexperienced. Either way, I'd say they run a similar gameplan as Indy did: Try to make things hard for lebron, let him use all his energy into scoring 40+, but keep everyone else at bay.

The big difference this year, other than the fact that the raps are much better, is that there is no Kyrie. So I assume Lowry steps up big and plays like an all-star rather than disappearing. In the past couple of years it seemed like he was intimidated by Kyrie's stardom, and would lose his aggressiveness. This year he has to lead the team. DeRozan also has to play efficient basketball, but he might have a harder time scoring against guys like JR, Green and Lebron if he's not hitting the 3 and/or getting to the line. Cavs might run a similar gameplan against DeRozan as they did against VO. Haven't watched too many raps games this year, but I'm guessing he's better than Oladipo at passing out of the double and making the right play.

I think raps win big in game 1. Lebron said in his postgame interview that they are gonna wing it and the energy in the ACC is gonna be explosive.

[LofJ]

You've got this Canada, Raptors in 6.

[RaptorsLife]

Anyone think LeBron is gonna tank this series? If it's Sixers vs Cavs and Cavs lose. And LeBron goes to the team that beat it looks bad but him losing in 2nd round and joining Sixers is better view

[xfactor]

Cavs in 5...

[Asif16]

Raptors already in foul trouble

[CowboyBebop]

Raptors have let me down too many times to have faith in them but then again, LeBum almost lost in the first round to a team with way less talent lol.

So I’ll go Raps in 5.

[pingpongrac]

Cavs took 3 of 4 from Toronto in the regular season.

01/11 in TOR: TOR 133 - CLE 99
03/21 in CLE: CLE 132 - TOR 129
04/03 in CLE: CLE 112 - TOR 106

So the Cavs took 2 of 3 games. Toronto blew the Cavs out at home then should have won the game in late March but blew a big lead in the 2nd half on the second night of a back to back. Toronto has HCA which is huge for them (34-7 during the season and 3-0 during the playoffs).

[NyKnicks1714]

Anyone think LeBron is gonna tank this series? If it's Sixers vs Cavs and Cavs lose. And LeBron goes to the team that beat it looks bad but him losing in 2nd round and joining Sixers is better view

Do people honestly think that players think like this? Take a step back and try to consider how absurd this is.

[ZemGOAT]

Raps in 5

[bakafool]

Raps are a better team by miles and home-court is absolutely huge for them. They need to continue to shoot the ball well and play their game. Unlike Indy, they can absorb Lebron's 40+ points and still win a game comfortably as long as the cavs roll players continue to provide nothing. However, I do feel Love has a more favorable matchup in this series, especially if the Raps try to put Jonas on him (can't trade 2s for 3s). Raps also don't have that strong/athletic dude to knock Love out of the game from the get go (like a Thad Young/Miles Turner or Draymond). They can try Ibaka, but he's been shaky and will probably have to take on Lebron. They could also throw one of the young guys (Siakam/Poeltl/Anunoby) at him, but they're pretty thin and inexperienced. Either way, I'd say they run a similar gameplan as Indy did: Try to make things hard for lebron, let him use all his energy into scoring 40+, but keep everyone else at bay.

The big difference this year, other than the fact that the raps are much better, is that there is no Kyrie. So I assume Lowry steps up big and plays like an all-star rather than disappearing. In the past couple of years it seemed like he was intimidated by Kyrie's stardom, and would lose his aggressiveness. This year he has to lead the team. DeRozan also has to play efficient basketball, but he might have a harder time scoring against guys like JR, Green and Lebron if he's not hitting the 3 and/or getting to the line. Cavs might run a similar gameplan against DeRozan as they did against VO. Haven't watched too many raps games this year, but I'm guessing he's better than Oladipo at passing out of the double and making the right play.

I think raps win big in game 1. Lebron said in his postgame interview that they are gonna wing it and the energy in the ACC is gonna be explosive.

I think the one player who will be absolutely critical to the Raps' defensive success will be Pascal Siakam. In the minutes he's played guarding Love, he's been successful. He's also the best defender they have against Lebron. He needs to have a stellar defensive performance in this series.

[Yorkex]

Cavs took 3 of 4 from Toronto in the regular season.

01/11 in TOR: TOR 133 - CLE 99
03/21 in CLE: CLE 132 - TOR 129
04/03 in CLE: CLE 112 - TOR 106

So the Cavs took 2 of 3 games. Toronto blew the Cavs out at home then should have won the game in late March but blew a big lead in the 2nd half on the second night of a back to back. Toronto has HCA which is huge for them (34-7 during the season and 3-0 during the playoffs).

Don't forget Cavs shot 60% from 3 in the last 2 meetings !

[RaptorsLife]

Anyone think LeBron is gonna tank this series? If it's Sixers vs Cavs and Cavs lose. And LeBron goes to the team that beat it looks bad but him losing in 2nd round and joining Sixers is better view

Do people honestly think that players think like this? Take a step back and try to consider how absurd this is.

I'm trying to be positive I'm scared of father LeBron

[simple_jack]

Anyone think LeBron is gonna tank this series? If it's Sixers vs Cavs and Cavs lose. And LeBron goes to the team that beat it looks bad but him losing in 2nd round and joining Sixers is better view

Do people honestly think that players think like this? Take a step back and try to consider how absurd this is.

Hahaha this.

Sometimes I even question coming on to this forum. People really believe Lebron is going to Philly

[simple_jack]

Anyone think LeBron is gonna tank this series? If it's Sixers vs Cavs and Cavs lose. And LeBron goes to the team that beat it looks bad but him losing in 2nd round and joining Sixers is better view

Do people honestly think that players think like this? Take a step back and try to consider how absurd this is.

I'm trying to be positive I'm scared of father LeBron

**** Lebron

[___Rand___]

Rooting for the Raps. At least you guys are tolerable.

Some 76ers posters proclaiming they're the kings of the East when they haven't won jack **** is sad and annoying. I hope you guys trash em if you two meet in the ECF.

This. I used to be the one proping them up last season. I was telling them, you're a lock for 6th seed at least and they were like thank you but don't think so. Now they are saltier and more annoying than you guys LOL.

[RaptorsLife]

Do people honestly think that players think like this? Take a step back and try to consider how absurd this is.

I'm trying to be positive I'm scared of father LeBron

**** Lebron

I guess but he's still the best player to ever touch a basketball

[NyKnicks1714]

Anyone think LeBron is gonna tank this series? If it's Sixers vs Cavs and Cavs lose. And LeBron goes to the team that beat it looks bad but him losing in 2nd round and joining Sixers is better view

Do people honestly think that players think like this? Take a step back and try to consider how absurd this is.

Hahaha this.

Sometimes I even question coming on to this forum. People really believe Lebron is going to Philly

He could, who knows. No NBA player is tanking a series though.

[KHRICH]

lets go raps

[simple_jack]

I'm trying to be positive I'm scared of father LeBron

**** Lebron

I guess but he's still the best player to ever touch a basketball

I believe in HCA this year. In the past HCA was big but in recent years it wasn't too important.

But this playoffs the home teams have been taking care of business

[RaptorsLife]

Toronto is filled with LeBron fans so it's like win win situation for them every time these 2 teams meet