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

[bmurph128]

That 3 guard lineup is gonna force Korver to really defend. Siakim or OG will likely always be out there to guard Lebron, and I cant see Lebron wanting to expend energy defending FVV or Lowry or something

Korver has been really defending. He's not a terrible defender like some think. He made some great defensive plays against Indiana. And if Toronto decides to ISO FVV against Korver down the stretch, that'd be a win for the Cavs.

Plus down the stretch Korver can guard OG and LeBron can take one of the guards.

I love these hot takes that involve NO actual real-world logic.

Toronto will not ISO Fred on anyone, because that's not how they play, or how he plays. Fred will suck defenders in, find the open man and break down that thing the Cavs do after an offensive possession. I refuse to call it defence.

Right, well if you notice I said "IF Toronto decides to ISO FVV" - Korver is a solid team defender, so having him out there would only be a liability if they were going to ISO him. That's why I said that.

And the Cavs defense was much improved against Indiana overall.

[BigShaq34]

Yeah right now I’m not sure nance is better suited against anyone. He’s in full bum mode

The best bet is to get JV off the floor early by going small but Nance is a better post defender against a skilled big man than TT. That's not TT's game.

I think TT has typically feasted on the o-boards when playing the Raptors though, so there is that.

Thompson is irrelevant, one good game doesn't solve his woes. Ever since he started mingling with the kardashians his career went downhill

[tundraknight]

Remember when Bradley Beal said this?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2017/05/22/bradley-beal-says-cavs-didnt-want-to-play-the-wizards-cleveland-says-it-makes-no-sense/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.1bb23f351403


Then the Wizards proceed to get eliminated by the Celtics so they didn’t have to play the Cavs.

One year later they get eliminated by the Raptors so they don’t have to play the Cavs.

The Wizards always seem to fail at backing up all the trash talk they do.

[dukes_wild]

Korver has been really defending. He's not a terrible defender like some think. He made some great defensive plays against Indiana. And if Toronto decides to ISO FVV against Korver down the stretch, that'd be a win for the Cavs.

Plus down the stretch Korver can guard OG and LeBron can take one of the guards.

I love these hot takes that involve NO actual real-world logic.

Toronto will not ISO Fred on anyone, because that's not how they play, or how he plays. Fred will suck defenders in, find the open man and break down that thing the Cavs do after an offensive possession. I refuse to call it defence.

Right, well if you notice I said "IF Toronto decides to ISO FVV" - Korver is a solid team defender, so having him out there would only be a liability if they were going to ISO him. That's why I said that.

And the Cavs defense was much improved against Indiana overall.

Raptors are a completely different animal offensively than Indiana lol

[And1+2]

And the Cavs defense was much improved against Indiana overall.

Raptors are a completely different animal offensively than Indiana lol

Let them find that out for themselves.

[SFour]

Cleveland should be favoured in this series. Toronto may be the first seed, but they haven't looked good against Washington. And the Cavs have the best player in the series while DeRozan and Lowry are prone to disappearing acts in the playoffs.

Wait so Raptors haven't looked good against Wizards (imo they were ok) but you don't bring up the fact that Cavs looked like trash against the Pacers. Also Lowry doesn't dissapear against the Cavs, he's just always been injured. Anyways this year the Raptors aren't dependent on Lowry and Demar, it's a whole team effort. Cavs can limit Lowry to 10 points but that won't matter.

Read on Twitter

[Bankai]

When you think the Raptors are finally due against Cleveland and you bet on them:

Watch on YouTube

Sorry I have too much PTSD. I pray to be wrong though.

[Soulcatcher33]

Raptors in 6.

[Froob]

So what’s the big difference between now and the last two matchups when the Cavs offense exploded? That’d be my biggest question for the Raps winning the series. Cavs looked bad last round, but I think in theory they should be able to rebound.

I think the Raps first round victory was solid, not sure why some in the media are criticizing them for beating a team that should have been a third or fourth seed in round one in six games.

[LightTheBeam]

Raptors better come out and protect home court. If they fail to do so this series will be over immediately

[dynamic duo]

i think some cavs players other than lebron will show up against raps and give at least 20 points for couple games, it's near impossible for them to play worse than they did against indy.

[LBJVirus218]

I think the Cavs are still a really good team. Although not as good as last year. I also think people are severely underrating how well the Pacers matched up with us. They're also a very underrated team. These first 2 games are going to tell the whole story. If the Raptors win both at home this series is done in 4. I also believe if the Cavs win one of them this series ends in 5 or 6 with the Cavs winning. I don't see 7 games for some reason.

Personally, if I was a Raptor fan, I would wait until they win their first game before acting so arrogant. You guys seem to put your foot in your mouth kind of often. Kinda ironic that the US is known for its arrogance, but the most arrogant fans on this site are Canadian. But if you guys win, congrats. I'll root for you guys going forward. Also Raptor fans. For the love of God please stop with the "The US media don't respect us..." it's so cringey reading those posts. Stop looking to the US for validation. It just looks pathetic.

[Godson21]

[mademan]

i think some cavs players other than lebron will show up against raps and give at least 20 points for couple games, it's near impossible for them to play worse than they did against indy.

They’re going to need to. Raps are much better offensively than Indy

[Edrees]

Picked Raps in 7. Just feeling it for them this year. I just think raptors had such a huge problem with Kyrie and without that factor their fear won't be there anymore.

[bon]

So what’s the big difference between now and the last two matchups when the Cavs offense exploded? That’d be my biggest question for the Raps winning the series. Cavs looked bad last round, but I think in theory they should be able to rebound.

The series will be won/lost from the 3 point line.

Toronto's 3 point defense per 100 poss
2015-16: 15th in attempts allowed | Playoff series vs Cavs: outscored by 72 points from 3
2016-17: 20th in attempts allowed | Playoff series vs Cavs: outscored by 101 points from 3
2017-18: 2nd in attempts allowed | Playoff series vs Cavs: TBD

If the Raps limit the Cavs shooting ability from deep (like the Pacers did), they'll certainly take the series.

[iggymcfrack]

Cleveland should be favoured in this series. Toronto may be the first seed, but they haven't looked good against Washington. And the Cavs have the best player in the series while DeRozan and Lowry are prone to disappearing acts in the playoffs.

Toronto was +12 over 6 games in the first round. Cleveland was -40 over 7 games. And a healthy Washington looked just as dangerous as Indiana going into the playoffs. If Toronto didn't look good in the first round, Cleveland looked terrible.

[Yorkex]

So what’s the big difference between now and the last two matchups when the Cavs offense exploded? That’d be my biggest question for the Raps winning the series. Cavs looked bad last round, but I think in theory they should be able to rebound.

I think the Raps first round victory was solid, not sure why some in the media are criticizing them for beating a team that should have been a third or fourth seed in round one in six games.

I think Casey didnt show his hands in the last two meetings. LeBron will be defended differently ..well his teammates will be. LeBron will get his.

[picc]

When you think the Raptors are finally due against Cleveland and you bet on them:

Watch on YouTube

Sorry I have too much PTSD. I pray to be wrong though.

Yeah, its omega male testosterone-deficient posts like these that make me want to root for Lebron for the first time since ever. A little disgusted by raptors fans leading up to this series. Though I suppose they're only following in the footsteps of their omega male stars who as grown men called lebron their father after last year...

And yet watch how much sudden bravado there will be if and when toronto starts walloping them.

[xb3at band1tx]

Raps are the deeper and more talented team, I wanna believe this is finally the time they beat LeBron.

That said...gl Toronto :/