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

[CoachD]

Toronto 4-1.

LeBron can't play any better and they can barely win at home against the 5th seed.

Raps are not winning 4-1. They have no one that can stop Lebron and I guarantee Love plays better. Cavs have just enough guys that can hit shots to cause issues for the raps. Plus don't underestimate how the Raps are historical chokers in the playoffs.

Cavs in 6. Maybe even 5.

They don't need to stop Lebron. Let him score 50.
Contain everyone else.

Cleveland needs to score 110 every game to beat Toronto. That ain't happening.

[Huskies1947]

Last year the Raptors played the Cavs with Corey Joseph, Patrick Patterson... and Demarre Carroll; hopefully that puts perspective to anyone basing this year's series on last years.

[Latrell]

Last year the Raptors played the Cavs with Corey Joseph, Patrick Patterson... and Demarre Carroll; hopefully that puts perspective to anyone basing this year's series on last years.

And without Kyle Lowry

[fourones1x]

We're notorious for over-helping on LeBron and leaving the shooters open. Let LeBron get his and run everyone off the line/make every shot difficult.

[Green Backpack]

If the Raptors win this series, it will be in 7 I think. There's no way LBJ goes down easier.

This young Raptors team led by Lowry and Derozan beating Lebron in a game 7 when things get really tight? That would be something.

The Raptors have a 0.860 winning percentage at home this season. I don't think winning a game 7 at home is out of the question by any means, even if it is against LeBron.

[KHRICH]

We're notorious for over-helping on LeBron and leaving the shooters open. Let LeBron get his and run everyone off the line/make every shot difficult.

This. The only way we lose this series is if we overhelp on lebron then he ends up with an absurd 15+ assist game.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

Toronto 4-1.

LeBron can't play any better and they can barely win at home against the 5th seed.

Raps are not winning 4-1. They have no one that can stop Lebron and I guarantee Love plays better. Cavs have just enough guys that can hit shots to cause issues for the raps. Plus don't underestimate how the Raps are historical chokers in the playoffs.

Cavs in 6. Maybe even 5.

They don't need to stop Lebron. Let him score 50.
Contain everyone else.

Cleveland needs to score 110 every game to beat Toronto. That ain't happening.

Easier said then done. Cavs have enough guys that can score and hit open shots to cause the raptors issues.

[DeadHorse]

The alltime great spurs and warriors teams couldnt beat lebron in game 7. If raps dont close this out in six, they're in serious trouble.

[2Mas]

And without Kyle Lowry

You're my favorite poster on here strictly out of name & picture.

Mr Fontaine will always be one of, if not my all time favorite.


** Cavs in 6 tho. That fact they were +195 to open was insane.

[lolwut]

Not-so-hot take: Kevin Love will average 30 PPG this series on 55% shooting.

[everdiso]

HE shot 15 3's the entire series. Bojan shot 38 at 42%. Lol, you don't think theres a difference between the 2?

you said OG was a liability, but he takes and makes 3pters at a similar rate as Bojan.

per36

OG 4.8 3ptA, 37.1% (plyffs: 4.1 3ptA, 46.7%)
BB 5.6 3ptA, 40.2% (plyffs: 6.8 3ptA, 37.8%)

and as for "stretching the floor like indiana did":

TOR: 26.8 3pta/gm, 41.0% (reg season: 33.0 3pta/gm, 35.8%)
IND: 27.1 3pta/gm, 35.8% (reg season: 24.5 3pta/gm, 36.9%)

Per 36 numbers are useless. Bojan shot double the 3's as OG this year, and was more efficient doing so. They aren't on the same levels as shooters. Darren Collison shot the highest % this year from downtown, but nobody respects his shot like they do Curry. OG gets his 3's on wide open kick outs...

Also those numbers are inflated from Lowry shooting almost 8 3's per game during the season. You have the better 3pt shooter, but you don't really have to respect JV and Derozan from 3.

On the other hand the Pacers Center shot and made almost as many 3's as OG did this year.

how are they useless?

you said OG is a liability that they can cheat off of, yet he takes and hits 3s at similar frequency as Bojan.

why do you keep using raw total numbers without acknowledgeing that Bojan gets twice the minutes?

[Duffman100]

Last year the Raptors played the Cavs with Corey Joseph, Patrick Patterson... and Demarre Carroll; hopefully that puts perspective to anyone basing this year's series on last years.

Don't loop Joseph in with the other two. Joseph is a solid player and if not for financials, would have not wanted to see him go. Great teammate, good defensively, solid on offense (slightly over dribbles at time...though I blame Casey).

Joseph in this new Raptors offense would have looked great.

[Stillwater]

Odds are in Toronto's favor in this series imo given the struggles CLE has had putting it together since the break, That being said I don't think it will stop them from winning the series.

[bmurph128]

Toronto should win, but

- they have noone to defend LeBron
- if Hill can stop Lowry
- if Love steps up and TT rebounds...

Than imo Cle could win.

But who from Cle will defend DeRozan...Smith and Hood can not do it imo. Will probably have to be LeBron.

Will be interested for sure and will go 5 or 7 games...4:1 for Toronto or game 7 that could go either way?

Cle must win one of first two games at Tor, if not Tor wins 4:1...otherwise it's 7 game series imo....

JR has guarded Derozan well the past two playoff series. I'm not worried about that. Not too worried about Lowry either. The Raptors bench is their biggest advantage in this series.

[Warchant]

Not-so-hot take: Kevin Love will average 30 PPG this series on 55% shooting.

Toronto has 0 chance if this happens

[dukes_wild]

If the Cavs still had Frye this was 4-0 for the Cavs easily

This will be sort of a re-run of the 2016 ECF though I think, but in a different fashion. Cavs win in 6 games but it will be actually a fairly close series, unlike the 4-2 Cavs series that had the point differential that would indicate a sweep.

The only way I think we win is if Ibaka actually hits his open shots, but that's very unlikely

[BigShaq34]

My Raptors will have to deal with this BS now

Read on Twitter

[Throwback24]

Not-so-hot take: Kevin Love will average 30 PPG this series on 55% shooting.

Toronto has 0 chance if this happens

He's very capable. He's always open for 3s and the Raptors bigs have troubles defending him off the bounce for some reason

[GIMME_DATT]

Why is game 2 starting at 6

[dukes_wild]

Not-so-hot take: Kevin Love will average 30 PPG this series on 55% shooting.

Toronto has 0 chance if this happens

He's very capable. He's always open for 3s and the Raptors bigs have troubles defending him off the bounce for some reason

Mainly just Ibaka.

But Ibaka gets killed by any above average starting PF so that's not saying much