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

[LBJKB24MJ23]

If the guy had said, Well Lowry was out that is why we won in 6 instead of 4 or 5 that makes sense. But to say that the series was extended because your backup pg? The 2 games you lost, 1 was by 19 and the other game it wasn't your bench who struggled they were all positive +/-

they lost by 19 but they were leading in the game. It would have been sweep man or in 5. Trust us. FVV is the main reason why the bench unit plays as good as anyone, starters or bench.

And if George HIll was able to finish out game 3, the Cavs may have won in 5

maybe! But i have more faith in FVV leading the bench mob to wins than George Hill. LOL

[spicy4MVP]

I cant fall asleep because I am so depressed we have to play LBJ already in just round 2! Cavs are in my head. WE THE NORTH fear cavs more than houston or golden state combined!

You're a defeatist wasteman. Don't speak for all raps fans and lump us all together because we're nothing like you. Disgraceful

yea on the outside you dont want to admit whats happening on your inside. we both are bounded by this raptors team and therefore we think and live within the team and carry the same thoughts. and our thoughts right now is that lebron is our father and it really sucks that we could not have avoided our father for a much easier match up like boston or philly. but you and I are both depressed over raps tragic outcome of drawing cavs , I know that for a fact. Yes Cavs fans, you own our souls

[yoyoboy]

While Toronto is a much better team than Indy, I don't think we'll struggle to score so much against the Raptors like we did against the Pacers. Indiana was just a horrible matchup for us on that end (like we saw in the RS) since they had extremely mobile and physical bigs like Young who could take Love out of the game and a ton of athleticism on the perimeter in Oladipo, Collison, Lance, etc. And then you had the last line of defense in Myles Turner providing great rim protection.

Toronto is as a whole a better defensive team but in the games with our new team we scored 132 and 112 against them this year. (We scored 99 in a game with the old team in January.) Indiana held us to an average of 104.8 across 4 games in the RS. Hill and Jose couldn't even get clean shots off against Indiana because of the athletic disadvantage but they performed well against Toronto. Not to mention Hill missed the majority of the Pacers series and having a PG who can actually defend and playmake to some degree is huge, as we saw in the those minutes LeBron sat where we expanded the lead in G7. The Love at C lineup has given Toronto a lot of trouble but against Indiana it was useless.

Toronto is a clearly better offensive team with more playoff experience, so they'll be tougher overall for sure. I'm going to go with Raptors in 6. But if LeBron plays at God mode who knows.

[KyRo23]

I cant fall asleep because I am so depressed we have to play LBJ already in just round 2! Cavs are in my head. WE THE NORTH fear cavs more than houston or golden state combined!

You're a defeatist wasteman. Don't speak for all raps fans and lump us all together because we're nothing like you. Disgraceful

yea on the outside you dont want to admit whats happening on your inside. we both are bounded by this raptors team and therefore we think and live within the team and carry the same thoughts. and our thoughts right now is that lebron is our father and it really sucks that we could not have avoided our father for a much easier match up like boston or philly. but you and I are both depressed over raps tragic outcome of drawing cavs , I know that for a fact. Yes Cavs fans, you own our souls

Please tell me this is your way of a reverse jinx...

[djsunyc]

Toronto 4-1.

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

Plus don't underestimate how the Raps are historical chokers in the playoffs.
.

what is the definition of choking? losing a game or series you are supposed to win?

if that's it, then the last time they choked was 3 playoffs ago vs the wiz.

two playoffs ago they beat indy + mia but lost to the higher seed nba champ cavs.
last year they beat mil but lost to the higher seed east champ cavs.
this year we beat wiz. we are the higher seed for the first time vs the cavs...so if we lose this series, then you can "technically" call it a choke. but the last 6 playoff series, they won the series they should have.

[The_Toro]

Raps in 7

Game 1: TOR
Game 2: CLE
Game 3: CLE
Game 4: TOR
Game 5: TOR
Game 6: CLE
Game 7: TOR

Game 1: TOR
Game 2: TOR
Game 3: CLE
Game 4: TOR
Game 5: TOR

[jbk1234]

So I'm watching First Take and it's a little embarrassing how opinionated these guys are with their inch-deep analysis of playoff basketball. I'm open to arguments as to why the Raptors are a tougher match up for the Cavs than the Pacers were, but *Toronto is a better team* isn't analysis. *LBJ can't beat them by himself* isn't analysis.

For me, the toughest call for the Cavs is who to start. TT is not a good post defender with skilled big men like JV. Casey can be quick with the hook on JV if he's getting beat in the PNR and Love/Hill definitely have something figure out there. Ibaka has struggled against the Cavs especially when they go small. The Raptors have the best bench in basketball but when their starting front court has problematic match ups, then their bench bigs could turn into de facto starters in this series.

[Cavaliers2]

Games 7 Lebron was tired... he was having cramps during the 3rd/4th lucky Love/Hill stepped up to give him his much needed rest. Yes the raptors dont have anyone to guard Lebron but do the Cavs have anyone to guard the other 4 spots on the raps? i think it will be a good series going 6-7. Not sure why everyone thinks the Raps are going to go back to being the old raps? they played 82 games with this new offence and even a playoff series. they reverted back a bit in the 4th of game 4 with iso ball but im sure they learned from that.

Where did Hill step up? He was 1-3 on FGs...he made a few FTs when Indy was fouling...thats far from stepping up

He was able to man the point when Lebron sat. he was a positive plus minus for the game.

No way anyone can say hill didn't step up if they actually watched...He was huge for them. Played 19 minutes, all in the second half, and had 11 points 6 boards and 3 assists. And like you said he was especially important when Lebron went out. Hill actually checked in for the first time when the Pacers took the lead with 7 minutes to play in the 3rd, and played the final 19 minutes of the game.

[The Duke]

My Raptors will have to deal with this BS now

Read on Twitter

Look at that Effort

[CoachD]

I cant fall asleep because I am so depressed we have to play LBJ already in just round 2! Cavs are in my head. WE THE NORTH fear cavs more than houston or golden state combined!

You're a defeatist wasteman. Don't speak for all raps fans and lump us all together because we're nothing like you. Disgraceful

yea on the outside you dont want to admit whats happening on your inside. we both are bounded by this raptors team and therefore we think and live within the team and carry the same thoughts. and our thoughts right now is that lebron is our father and it really sucks that we could not have avoided our father for a much easier match up like boston or philly. but you and I are both depressed over raps tragic outcome of drawing cavs , I know that for a fact. Yes Cavs fans, you own our souls

Do us all a favour ... remove the Raptor logo for your profile, post exclusively on the Cavs board, and only show your face at the end of the series to say "Dammit I was wrong, and I AM a wasteman".

[jbk1234]

My Raptors will have to deal with this BS now

Read on Twitter

Look at that Effort

Yeah it's really unfair that opposing player can't put two hands on LBJ at the three point line and push him. The league should let defenders do that.

[CoachD]

So I'm watching First Take and it's a little embarrassing how opinionated these guys are with their inch-deep analysis of playoff basketball. I'm open to arguments as to why the Raptors are a tougher match up for the Cavs than the Pacers were, but *Toronto is a better team* isn't analysis. *LBJ can't beat them by himself* isn't analysis.

For me, the toughest call for the Cavs is who to start. TT is not a good post defender with skilled big men like JV. Casey can be quick with the hook on JV if he's getting beat in the PNR and Love/Hill definitely have something figure out there. Ibaka has struggled against the Cavs especially when they go small. The Raptors have the best bench in basketball but when their starting front court has problematic match ups, then their bench bigs could turn into de facto starters in this series.

Except the Cavs don't have a low post threat as strong as Gortat, or any big (other than LBJ) as mobile as Scott or Morris... and JV and Ibaka did well against all 3.

Poltel and Siakam struggled early in the first series, but figured it out, and both are plus defenders.

[BigShaq34]

My Raptors will have to deal with this BS now

Read on Twitter

Look at that Effort

Yeah it's really unfair that opposing player can't put two hands on LBJ at the three point line and push him. The league should let defenders do that.

yeah that was a powerful push knocking 6"8 270 pound lebron to go flying

[dukes_wild]

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https://gfycat.com/UnripeHalfAngora

[Mister Ze]

It'll be interesting to see if the Cavs go with Love at the 5 this series

[The Duke]

Look at that Effort

Yeah it's really unfair that opposing player can't put two hands on LBJ at the three point line and push him. The league should let defenders do that.

yeah that was a powerful push knocking 6"8 270 pound lebron to go flying

Bron clearly plants his 2 feet down and jumps backwards & to the side.

[jbk1234]

Yeah it's really unfair that opposing player can't put two hands on LBJ at the three point line and push him. The league should let defenders do that.

yeah that was a powerful push knocking 6"8 270 pound lebron to go flying

Bron clearly plants his 2 feet down and jumps backwards & to the side.

I'm embarrassed for you.

[The Duke]

Raps will need to stick with JV ... our best rebounder (which will be a key: defensive rebounding) and our best post player + good FT shooter.....

[SFour]

Yeah it's really unfair that opposing player can't put two hands on LBJ at the three point line and push him. The league should let defenders do that.

yeah that was a powerful push knocking 6"8 270 pound lebron to go flying

Bron clearly plants his 2 feet down and jumps backwards & to the side.

Raptors already have experienced Lebron's flopping

Watch on YouTube

[jbk1234]

Look at that Effort

Yeah it's really unfair that opposing player can't put two hands on LBJ at the three point line and push him. The league should let defenders do that.

yeah that was a powerful push knocking 6"8 270 pound lebron to go flying

People think that defenders ought to be able to play LBJ in a way that they would never suggest is appropriate for another offensive player.