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

[DaPessimist]

On paper I would take the Raptors in 5.


Then I remember that for some reason the Raptors always choke to LeBron. I'm still gonna take Raptors in 7, but I wouldn't be shocked if the Raptors lose this series.

[Detective]

Bron walking into Air Canada Centre

Watch on YouTube

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

If the Raps were to ever beat LeBron, this is the year to do it.

[Stillwater]

Shame on anyone who voted Raptors or Cavs in 4

[Warriors07]

After this series, Lebron will be known as the Barneys Slayer

Cavs in 5, maybe 6 max

[SeniorWalker]

Who is betting against LeBron?

The thing that irritates me about this year and even more so in previous years, is this attitude. Not that it's unwarranted or you're wrong. It's just that the east has been so weak for so long that people speak as if LeBron is some undefeated juggernaut. And the reality is that he's lost a lot more than he's won. He's not even close to invincible. He just plays in the east which as usual barely offers any resistance and then when he reaches the finals he either barely wins or most often gets utterly destroyed. This is the first year in a while that hasn't been outright pathetic and even still, he's not had to face legitimate talent yet.

The raps are a solid team but still not a great one, with no true superstar talents to make LeBron expend effort on defense. Which (in addition to their lack of confidence) is why I again won't pick them, even though the raps are as good as they've ever been.

Sorry raps fans. I actually would love to see Toronto win this and make the finals. It'd be great for the sport.

[Patsfan1081]

Cavs in 6. DD and Lowry have to prove me otherwise. Raps bench also didnt show up on the road except gm 6.

Have a feeling TT will be a factor on boards against Raps team who have weakness in defensive rebounding.

Take a wild guess as to why. Hint: Look at who came back

Beiber?

[Tai]

Raptors in 6 for me. Good job by the Cavs to beat the Pacers, but it's clear there's no true playoff switch. If the Raptors really want people to respect them (which they deserve), beating the Cavs as they are should be a good start.

[XxIronChainzxX]

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.

Sure? Do you not ever get competitive, and just want to get the satisfaction of beating someone. Like, I don't think LeBron would want to join GSW or (going back to the past) the Big 3 Celtics even as he build his own superteam to beat them.

[everdiso]

pretty sure this is raps in 5 or 6.

[Madhouse]

Raptors will struggle but advance.

Raps in 7

[ChromeKid]

Raptors in 7

[evilution]

Raps should win. They have HCA, they're better rested, and Cavs already had to give their all to barely get out of the first round (which wasn't easy, Indy is much better than most people give them credit).
It's for Raps to lose. Their players seem to have a psychological barrier with LeBron. If they overcome that, and Casey doesn't Casey the games away, Raps advance. They should try to advance in as few games as possible though, as the other matchup heavily favours Philly with all the injuries on Celts. Boston has the best coach out of all remaining teams in the East, Stevens might be able to make the series competitive even through all the shortcomings.

[Kabookalu]

Difference for us this year is we have Fred VanVleet who isn't a mental midget.

[reignfire]

I have the Cavs in 5. Maybe 6.

Lebron is bad news for the Raptors.

[Raps in 4]

Difference for us this year is we have Fred VanVleet who isn't a mental midget.

This. In past years, we had no scoring threat outside of Kyle/Demar. Now we do, and he's got balls of steel too.

Hopefully his confidence rubs off on Kyle and Demar. If all 3 are playing to their potential, we win the series pretty easily. OG playing out of his mind also bodes well for us.

[lambchop]

raps most likely win game 1 pretty convincingly imo

[Chriscross]

My bod is ready

[oldschooled]

The Cavs are the East champs until proven otherwise. And knowing how the Raps play against Lebron, Cavs in 6/7. Lebron in his prime has no business losing to the Pacers anyway. Raps have a lot to prove. This series is like a make or break for them. Will truly show what they're made of.

[jonjames]

On paper I would take the Raptors in 5.


Then I remember that for some reason the Raptors always choke to LeBron. I'm still gonna take Raptors in 7, but I wouldn't be shocked if the Raptors lose this series.

What year other than this year were the Raptors a better team than the Cavs?

2016: Cavs SRS 5.45 | Raptors SRS 4.08 Cavs defeat Raptors in 6 in ECF
2017: Cavs SRS 2.87 | Raptors SRS 3.65 Cavs sweep Raptors in semis
2018: Cavs SRS 0.59 | Raptors SRS 7.29

The Raptors had a slightly higher SRS than the Cavs in 2017 but that's only because the Cavs are a lazy bum coasting team that don't play hard during the regular season. They were healthy too so no injuries for excuse. But in the playoffs the Cavs showed last year that they were clearly just coasting in the regular season when they went 12-1 in the east. This year is different. The Cavs don't have the switch this time as evidenced by them being taken to 7 by the 1 SRS Pacers. This is by far the weakest Cavs team in the Lebron return to Cleveland era circa 2015-2018. The Raptors also have a +6.7 SRS advantage over the Cavs. That is huge. That is even bigger than the SRS difference between the 2016 Cavs and the 73 win Warriors. The narrative that the Raptors "choke" against Cleveland is false. The Cavs were always better than the Raptors until now.