2026 NBA Playoffs - East First Round - #4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs #5 Toronto Raptors (Series tied 2-2)

Iwasawitness · Post #61 » by **Iwasawitness** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 9:58 am

Chuck Everett wrote:
Iwasawitness wrote:It's nice to see that people still haven't learned their lesson regarding Harden. They will one day I guess.

I'm going with the Cavs here but no one should be surprised if Harden is a non factor and ends up costing them the series

That's why you also brought in Schröder, who is a playoff riser as a backup.

My god, you're right.

We got this Cavs fans. Dennis, carry us to victory!

Iwasawitness · Post #62 » by **Iwasawitness** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 9:59 am

Chuck Everett wrote:If the Cavs lose this series, I am pretty sure Atkinson will be sacked and some more players will be moved (perhaps Mitchell). I mean, you can't question Dan Gilbert opening up his wallet here. He has done everything asked of him. Time for the players to deliver.

No way Kenny loses his job. But with how they've performed in the second half, yeah, inexcusable for them to lose in the first round.

QingJames · Post #63 » by **QingJames** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 10:31 am

Cavs are the softest and most fraudulent ‘contender’ in the league this year. The only problem is that the Raptors are even softer and crappier. If they’re going to beat anyone, it will be Cleveland. However, either team will get demolished in round 2.

I look forward to seeing Scottie body Mobley over and over again though. Never seen a DPOY who gets targeted so mercilessly at the rim. Maybe Marcus Smart.

toooskies · Post #64 » by **toooskies** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 10:45 am

QingJames wrote:Cavs are the softest and most fraudulent ‘contender’ in the league this year. The only problem is that the Raptors are even softer and crappier. If they’re going to beat anyone, it will be Cleveland. However, either team will get demolished in round 2.

I look forward to seeing Scottie body Mobley over and over again though. Never seen a DPOY who gets targeted so mercilessly at the rim. Maybe Marcus Smart.

Mobley is second in the league in dfg% among players who contest 15+ shots per game, behind only Wemby. Lower that shot threshold and you just add other all-defense candidates like JJJ, Chet, and Derrick White.

Iwasawitness · Post #65 » by **Iwasawitness** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 11:57 am

QingJames wrote:Cavs are the softest and most fraudulent ‘contender’ in the league this year. The only problem is that the Raptors are even softer and crappier. If they’re going to beat anyone, it will be Cleveland. However, either team will get demolished in round 2.

I look forward to seeing Scottie body Mobley over and over again though. Never seen a DPOY who gets targeted so mercilessly at the rim. Maybe Marcus Smart.

Your hate boner for the Cavs is pretty amusing. What's more amusing is that you think Mobley gets targeted at the rim.

GSWFan1994 · Post #66 » by **GSWFan1994** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 12:02 pm

I've read the first couple pages in the thread and I don't if both teams will be 100% healthy. IQ and maybe Jarrett Allen will be out? I'm not sure.

Overall, I think the Cavs' talent level is better than Toronto's, specially if their top 4 is available. Plus the supporting players are better than Toronto's as well.

I voted Cleveland in 6 in the poll.

JujitsuFlip · Post #67 » by **JujitsuFlip** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 12:20 pm

GSWFan1994 wrote:I've read the first couple pages in the thread and I don't if both teams will be 100% healthy. IQ and maybe Jarrett Allen will be out? I'm not sure.

Overall, I think the Cavs' talent level is better than Toronto's, specially if their top 4 is available. Plus the supporting players are better than Toronto's as well.

I voted Cleveland in 6 in the poll.

Allen's knee is a pain threshold thing. I believe he'll play but he lacks mobility.

Mitchell rolled his ankle but hopefully the week off helps reduce the swelling.

Harden has been playing with a broken off hand but seems fine.

Then Mobley missed 14 games due to a calf strain this season, so it's just in the back of my mind that his calf is compromised, especially if he has to move over to full time 5.

Winning this series is priority #1 but a very close 2nd is coming outta it with all our guys able to suit up vs the Pistons or the 8 seed.

toooskies · Post #68 » by **toooskies** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 12:50 pm

JujitsuFlip wrote:
GSWFan1994 wrote:I've read the first couple pages in the thread and I don't if both teams will be 100% healthy. IQ and maybe Jarrett Allen will be out? I'm not sure.

Overall, I think the Cavs' talent level is better than Toronto's, specially if their top 4 is available. Plus the supporting players are better than Toronto's as well.

I voted Cleveland in 6 in the poll.
Allen's knee is a pain threshold thing. I believe he'll play but he lacks mobility.

Mitchell rolled his ankle but hopefully the week off helps reduce the swelling.

Harden has been playing with a broken off hand but seems fine.

Then Mobley missed 14 games due to a calf strain this season, so it's just in the back of my mind that his calf is compromised, especially if he has to move over to full time 5.

Winning this series is priority #1 but a very close 2nd is coming outta it with all our guys able to suit up vs the Pistons or the 8 seed.

Could use time off to get to 100%: Mitchell, Allen, Merrill, Wade, Tyson, Strus, Bryant

Could use more practice time with the rest of the guys: Harden, Ellis, Schroder

Probably ready to go and don't want to lose momentum: Mobley

Mostly out of the rotation, but could spark some energy in the playoffs: CPJ, Tomlin, Nance, Proctor

Felixians4 · Post #69 » by **Felixians4** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 12:55 pm

Cavs in 7
It is time from Scottie B to leash the beast inside him

hyper316 · Post #70 » by **hyper316** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 1:09 pm

JujitsuFlip wrote:

Who was in the third game?

SpurNani · Post #71 » by **SpurNani** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 1:34 pm

Felixians4 wrote:Cavs in 7
It is time from Scottie B to leash the beast inside him

I dont know why but this was funny to me.

gflem · Post #72 » by **gflem** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 1:52 pm

Cavs in 5 or 6. Health is better than Raps, and overall talent is better as well. As for the Cavs being soft, the Harden trade has helped as he is much more stout at the point of attack and Mobley is seemingly becoming a little more difficult to push around inside. Allen being/getting healthy is going to be key for any real success in these playoffs.
Scottie really goes at anybody drafted ahead of him, but it sometimes works against him being over aggressive and I think that will be true in this series as well. Ingram is going to be a problem and possibly Mamuk physically inside, but the offensive talent and depth of the Cavs should be the difference.

YogurtProducer · Post #73 » by **YogurtProducer** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 2:15 pm

Backcountry wrote:Scottie always goes hard against his former national team guys (Cade, Mobley, Suggs) and we have a full squad ready to go and (I feel) underestimated. I'm hoping that Cleveland comes into this overconfident so we can punch them in the mouth right away. CMB (who is as solid as a rock) and Jakob are pretty good inside, leaving Scottie to patrol the wings on D. Defense wins championships, and these teams are pretty well matched that way. So I'm picking (hoping for, really) the upset. Raps in 6. No, seriously. Really.

And I'm happy about the 1pm start, because I'm still in Europe for a couple more weeks. I can actually watch game 1 without staying up all night lol!

I think the Raptors are a little better than their record assuming IQ plays. CMB / Walter have grown so much and are much better today than they were even 6 weeks ago. Their progression has been wild to watch.

That being said - CLE is also much better than their record IMO after the Harden deal.

Raptors SL this year has actually been quite good - in theory shortening the benches benefits TOR more than is does CLE.

IQ
Barrett/Walter
Ingram
Barnes/CMB
Poeltl/Mamu

is likely the only guys who see the floor.

kenwood3333 · Post #74 » by **kenwood3333** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 2:40 pm

The raptors should be able to win one game in this matchup.

SFour · Post #75 » by **SFour** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 2:49 pm

Harden is the x-factor.....if he has a good series scoring & playmaking then Raptors don't have much of a chance.

toooskies · Post #76 » by **toooskies** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 3:14 pm

hyper316 wrote:
JujitsuFlip wrote:

Who was in the third game?

Game 1, Oct 31: The only Cavs players that might see time in the series are Mobley, Tyson, and Wade. (Maybe Bryant.)

Game 2, Nov 13: Mitchell/Merrill/Hunter/Mobley/Allen. Porter/Tomlin/Wade/Proctor/Nance/Bryant all getting time. Allen only played 20 minutes, he had a sprain on one hand and a broken finger on the other that he was trying to play through. The only bench player who saw minutes in this one and could see time for the Cavs in the playoffs is Thomas Bryant. The Cavs left Jamison Battle open and he went 6/6 from three.

Game 3, Nov 24: The only Cavs players that might see time in the series are Mobley, Mitchell, and Tyson. (Maybe Bryant.) The bench was made up of league minimum Thomas Bryant, rookie minimum second-rounder Tyrese Proctor, and three players who were on two-ways (Tomlin, Travers, Livingston) of which one got a full contract and two got cut.

Ultimately I don't think the regular season matchups have any bearing on the series other than the fact that the Cavs haven't figured out how to guard end-of-bench shooters in any scenario, suffering their worst losses when guys like Battle or Tyler Kolek make some easy shots.

KazuoOda · Post #77 » by **KazuoOda** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 3:39 pm

Cavs should sit Allen. They don't really need him to handle Toronto.

Iwasawitness · Post #78 » by **Iwasawitness** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 4:02 pm

KazuoOda wrote:Cavs should sit Allen. They don't really need him to handle Toronto.

I don't know if I'd go that far. Toronto is one of those teams you want to play big against.

Post #79 » by **Duffman100** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 4:04 pm

Iwasawitness wrote:
KazuoOda wrote:Cavs should sit Allen. They don't really need him to handle Toronto.

I don't know if I'd go that far. Toronto is one of those teams you want to play big against.

yeah, while I don't think the Cavs are going to have issues. Sitting one of your better players is risky.

The Raptors aren't a great team, but they're still a good team.

KazuoOda · Post #80 » by **KazuoOda** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 4:29 pm

Iwasawitness wrote:
KazuoOda wrote:Cavs should sit Allen. They don't really need him to handle Toronto.

I don't know if I'd go that far. Toronto is one of those teams you want to play big against.

One of the only Cavs weakness is their ability to defend the 3. Raptors rank near the bottom as a team.
Cavs are one of the best at that in the league.
Raptors ability to score in the paint, Allen or no Allen, will not be enough to offset that difference.

Raptors is the best matchup Cavs could have hoped for in the first round.

Who wins Game 5?