Around the NBA 2018-2019 (Non-Celtics Talk)

[Froob]

Cavs +6.5 tonight and +150 to win the series. Delicious.

[Celtics_History_Lesson]

The only real equivalent to Toronto in the playoffs?






A win for Zizic is a win for Boston.



Cleveland traded away Irving and all they wanted was a draft pick and Zizic.


Norman Powell, Toronto's version of Fultz.

Jeff Green, +10. A win for Green is a win for Boston and Seattle.

[Valid]

The Raptors just choked. They're the better team by a comfortable margin they just saw ghosts down the stretch. Hopefully they settle the **** down and win this series.

They won't. They HAD to win this first game. Not only did they lose, but they lost in absolutely heartbreaking fashion, blowing a double-digit lead and missing a whole bunch of bunnies down the stretch.

I don't agree. I think they're better than the Cavs by enough of a margin that they would have to choke for 4 games to lose. The Raps will probably get a few blowouts in this series too. The Cavs just aren't good defensively and outside of Lebron and Love, they don't have nearly the firepower of the Raps and their bench offensively.

The Raptors are better than the Cavaliers, but the mental game plays a HUGE role and cannot be ignored. Let's forget the fact that LeBron holds the mental edge over the Raps for one second. How about the fact that Toronto just can't close out games? Regardless of who they are playing, they tend to get tight in close games and go to iso ball. How many times did Lowry back out a few feet behind the three-point line tonight and wave off everybody so he could try and play hero ball? That's not how you win in the playoffs.

If the Raptors are going to win this series, they are going to have to completely revamp their late-game philosophy. You can't just give the ball to Lowry or DeRozan and let them go one-on-one without getting anyone else involved. They have been like this for five years, so I really don't see them changing now.

And a few blowouts? I just don't see it. Maybe one, but not a few.

[OFWGKTA]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA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[PierceFan4ever]

The Raptors legit had 20 chances to win this game. If you didn’t watch, I can’t tell you how many point blank wide open lay ups they missed especially Val and they bricked so many wide open threes too late. Cavs defense was trash Lebron was goofing and laughing throughout the 4th with drake and they still won even with Lebron not dominating the 4th lol. Raptors are the biggest frauds in history, we might not ever see this level of choking again from a team that consistently wins 50+ games with multiple home court advantage.

[K For Three]

Lebron didn't even have a great game today. And you know he will get comfortable as the series goes on.

[djFan71]

What's crazy about this Raptors/Cavaliers series is that EVERYTHING indicates the Raptors should win. They were much better during the regular season. They have more collective talent. They are better on both ends of the floor. They have a deeper bench. They have home-court advantage.

But I can't pick them. I just don't trust that team to beat LeBron in the playoffs.

I can't pick them either.

Game 6 did a number on me I guess, because its pretty clear the Cavs will be bounced by the Raptors.

I hear you both, but I picked TOR in my bracket, and after that Indy series, am even more confident in standing by it. Not for love of Toronto, but just the Cavs are not that good. LeBron is amazing. That's it. The rest are role players, without the benefit of a great coach defining and adapting those roles as a series progresses. And, I think Toronto is past the choking stage. It takes years sometimes for teams to break thru and beat a rival in the playoffs. This is their year to beat CLE. They're still not all that, but they got enough to beat the Cavs, imo.

So, as I was saying....
I still have (lack of) faith in the Cavs, though. Toronto just wants to be worn out and keyed in on one man teams for 7 games before they meet us.

[Valid]

The Raptors legit had 20 chances to win this game. If you didn’t watch, I can’t tell you how many point blank wide open lay ups they missed especially Val and they bricked so many wide open threes too late. Cavs defense was trash Lebron was goofing and laughing throughout the 4th with drake and they still won even with Lebron not dominating the 4th lol. Raptors are the biggest frauds in history, we might not ever see this level of choking again from a team that consistently wins 50+ games with multiple home court advantage.

This is where the mental game comes into play again. Valanciunas was a MONSTER all game until late. Then all of a sudden, he started missing layups and tip-ins left and right.

[ViperGTS]

The Raptors just choked. They're the better team by a comfortable margin they just saw ghosts down the stretch. Hopefully they settle the **** down and win this series.

They won't. They HAD to win this first game. Not only did they lose, but they lost in absolutely heartbreaking fashion, blowing a double-digit lead and missing a whole bunch of bunnies down the stretch.

I don't agree. I think they're better than the Cavs by enough of a margin that they would have to choke for 4 games to lose. The Raps will probably get a few blowouts in this series too. The Cavs just aren't good defensively and outside of Lebron and Love, they don't have nearly the firepower of the Raps and their bench offensively.

Wrong. They already lost home court. Lowry and Derozan are average at best. If they had pulled this out the mental aspect might be fine. To lose it...good luck.

Cavs sweep.

[Froob]

Lebron didn't even have a great game today. And you know he will get comfortable as the series goes on.

He kept taking unnecessarily difficult shots instead of driving. He must be tired. Shouldn’t have played all 82 games.

[BRUNiNHO91]

Lebron didn't even have a great game today. And you know he will get comfortable as the series goes on.

The Original Gangster kid did a fantastic **** job on him. Best I've seen in a while. Siakam also.

Raptors have the pieces man..they just don't have the stones to dance with the king. Specially Lowry. Dude isn't comfortable out there against the Cavs...he's just not a big game player.

[Valid]

Lebron didn't even have a great game today. And you know he will get comfortable as the series goes on.

He kept taking unnecessarily difficult shots instead of driving. He must be tired. Shouldn’t have played all 82 games.

He also passed up a wide open layup for some reason and then wasted an entire possession to take a wild shot as the shot clock expired. He was atrocious in OT, and the Raptors still couldn't take advantage of it.

[Valid]

Lebron didn't even have a great game today. And you know he will get comfortable as the series goes on.

The Original Gangster kid did a fantastic **** job on him. Best I've seen in a while. Siakam also.

Raptors have the pieces man..they just don't have the stones to dance with the king. Specially Lowry. Dude isn't comfortable out there against the Cavs...he's just not a big game player.

Throw DeRozan in there, too. Dude was a ghost in the fourth quarter.

[ConstableGeneva]

Raptors past, present, and future so the opposite of bright Goldblum gotta take off those shades.

[K For Three]

Lebron didn't even have a great game today. And you know he will get comfortable as the series goes on.

He kept taking unnecessarily difficult shots instead of driving. He must be tired. Shouldn’t have played all 82 games.

He just traveled since Sunday from Cleveland to Toronto. He has to regroup and have an HGH oxygen infused cocktail before game 2.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

Raps are done. I said the cavs in 5 or 6.

At least the raps have another Atlantic division championship banner to hang so not all was lost.

[ConstableGeneva]

Division champs though. 1st seed, baby!!

[JustWin]

[K For Three]

:(

It's okay man. It's one game. Regroup.

And btw, none of us like to play Lebron. Why do you think we seed watch all year long to avoid him as long as possible?

[Valid]

:(

Sorry man.