2026 NBA Playoffs - East First Round - #4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs #5 Toronto Raptors (Series tied 3-3)

[Johnny Bball]

That last 2-minute report must be embarrassing for the refs and the league. I've never seen so many INCs on one of those reports! And yes, Shead should have been called for a foul on Don before the 8-second violation, but there were just as many incorrect calls against the Raps as the Cavs in that last 2-minutes.

I hope that that many wrong calls triggers a review of the officiating crew.

Why? The let them play a physical game. I have no problem with them not calling ticky tacky fouls as long as its consistent. And the league shouldn't either since they have removed too much from the defenders toolbox.

And nah. And Shead's play was fine and consistent with the game IMO.

[Backcountry]

That last 2-minute report must be embarrassing for the refs and the league. I've never seen so many INCs on one of those reports! And yes, Shead should have been called for a foul on Don before the 8-second violation, but there were just as many incorrect calls against the Raps as the Cavs in that last 2-minutes.

I hope that that many wrong calls triggers a review of the officiating crew.

Why? The let them play a physical game. I have no problem with them not calling ticky tacky fouls as long as its consistent. And the league shouldn't either since they have removed too much from the defenders toolbox.

It's not all fouls. It's stuff like 3-second violations and double-dribbles, too. Refs have to be able to see that stuff. I get that you won't see every foul and shouldn't call the ticky-tack stuff, but get the basics right.

[DaFroMan]

That was the softest flagrant I've ever seen lol play on. Cavs didn't get those exact same calls in game 1, zero consistency in the officiating.

Have you not watched the nba the last like 15 years? That's a flagrant all day

Merril made zero play on the ball and CMB's been grabbing his shoulder all series. You could make a case Merrill knew that and was being a dirty turd.

Let it go already.. your not convincing anyone here that cavs deserved a better whistle.

[JujitsuFlip]

That was the softest flagrant I've ever seen lol play on. Cavs didn't get those exact same calls in game 1, zero consistency in the officiating.

Have you not watched the nba the last like 15 years? That's a flagrant all day

Merril made zero play on the ball and CMB's been grabbing his shoulder all series. You could make a case Merrill knew that and was being a dirty turd.

Let it go already.. your not convincing anyone here that cavs deserved a better whistle.

I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything lol this board is like 90% Raptors fans, of course there will be no objectivity.

Mitchell and Harden both got elbowed in the face during game 1... After review, no foul on one, common foul on the other. Zero consistency.

In a 4 point game, i don't wanna see all the soft calls and no calls go one way, which they did. It's not why the Cavs lost, I've said that 3 times now. It still deserves to be called out.

Didn't hear a peep outta Raptors fans the first 2.5 games, now all of a sudden series is tied 2-2 and you guys come outta the woodwork.

Cool. Cavs suck, awesome man. Y'all still getting rolled by the Knicks or Celtics in the ECF.

[DaFroMan]

Have you not watched the nba the last like 15 years? That's a flagrant all day

Merril made zero play on the ball and CMB's been grabbing his shoulder all series. You could make a case Merrill knew that and was being a dirty turd.

Let it go already.. your not convincing anyone here that cavs deserved a better whistle.

I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything lol this board is like 90% Raptors fans, of course there will be no objectivity.

Mitchell and Harden both got elbowed in the face during game 1... After review, no foul on one, common foul on the other. Zero consistency.

In a 4 point game, i don't wanna see all the soft calls and no calls go one way, which they did. It's not why the Cavs lost, I've said that 3 times now. It still deserves to be called out.

Didn't hear a peep outta Raptors fans the first 2.5 games, now all of a sudden series is tied 2-2 and you guys come outta the woodwork.

Cool. Cavs suck, awesome man. Y'all still getting rolled by the Knicks or Celtics in the ECF.

I get it you want to vent but it's been a few days. The salt should be out of the system by now.

You have to remember that if the refs let merril get away with making no play on the ball you now set a precedent that thats ok moving forward. You cant just grab a guy by the shoulders and yank them down even if there wasnt much force. The refs HAD to call that.

Your team should still win the series ..they got 2 at home and 2 highly potent offensive weapons. Most raptors fans are still pretty level headed and are just happy it's a competitive series and guys are growing. There is zero delusions of a championship on our end.

[HumbleRen]

Hopefully we get a fun game tomorrow and it isn’t a blowout.

This series has no business being 2-2 so Raps are playing with fools gold right now. All of the pressure is on the Cavs side, especially with Orlando being up 3-1 on the Pistons.

[ATLTimekeeper]

You can't really change how Harden and Mitchell play or like to play mid-series. Cavs can make adjustments, but it boils down to those two making their stepbacks, Harden cleaning up his TOs (father time?), and then Mobley and Allen have to play to their salary.

The Raptors need Walter to snap his slump and get more out of Ingram. Shead has to weaponize his dribble more instead of just waiting for guys to get in position.

[Doranku]

Jekyll and Hyde performances from Spida, Harden, and Mobley so far. All 3 balled out both games at home and all 3 completely fell apart in Toronto. Not sure what to make of it.

[Drakeem]

Windy pointed out before the series that this wasn't going to be a cake walk for CLE & 1 of his reasons is that Barnes always elevates his game when facing Mobley

Through 4 games:

Barnes
25.8 PPG 4.8 RPG 7.3 APG 1.0 SPG 1.1 BPG
52.3% on 16.3 FGA
46.7% on 3.8 3PA
75.7% on 9.3 FTA
57.7% EFG 63.4% TS

Mobley
16.3 PPG 7.5 RPG 4.0 APG 0.8 SPG 0.8 BPG
54.3% on 11.5 FGA
18.2% on 2.8 3PA
76.5% on 4.3 FTA
56.5% EFG 60.8% TS

Mobley legitimately hasn't improved one bit since his rookie year.
If anything, he's regressed. He was definitely a much better defender last year.

I also don't think this dude has added any muscle. Damn shame, because he has so much upside but he's too weak and brittle and has no real offensive game.

Again, this just isn't true.

These are the kinds of anti Mobley takes that just make my head hurt.

He was all NBA last year for a reason. He was a legitimate threat from three that you couldn't leave alone anymore. His FT% continuously improved. And he got significantly better at handling the ball and creating opportunities for himself.

I can't explain what happened to his offense this year. He's been able to make a living off feeding inside from good guard play but overall, his offense has definitely regressed. To claim however he's made no improvements since his rookie year? Utter laughable nonsense.

I agree that he's improved, but I think being stuck with the ball dominant players he's been with has stunted his offensive growth. I really expected Mobley to polish off that middy and learn a couple of quick moves to punish the defender if they're not paying attention.

[Quattro]

Have you not watched the nba the last like 15 years? That's a flagrant all day

Merril made zero play on the ball and CMB's been grabbing his shoulder all series. You could make a case Merrill knew that and was being a dirty turd.

Let it go already.. your not convincing anyone here that cavs deserved a better whistle.

I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything lol this board is like 90% Raptors fans, of course there will be no objectivity.

Mitchell and Harden both got elbowed in the face during game 1... After review, no foul on one, common foul on the other. Zero consistency.

In a 4 point game, i don't wanna see all the soft calls and no calls go one way, which they did. It's not why the Cavs lost, I've said that 3 times now. It still deserves to be called out.

Didn't hear a peep outta Raptors fans the first 2.5 games, now all of a sudden series is tied 2-2 and you guys come outta the woodwork.

Cool. Cavs suck, awesome man. Y'all still getting rolled by the Knicks or Celtics in the ECF.

Its hard to believe that a fan of a team with James Harden on it can complain about officiating. Has this guy ever driven into the lane without committing an offensive foul by blatantly pushing off his defender with his forearm? Never gets called and to add insult to injury, half the time he gets to the line with some flop after his shot.

Look...nba refs suck. They always have and always will but the only thing they do consistently is suck for both teams

[Duffman100]

Have you not watched the nba the last like 15 years? That's a flagrant all day

Merril made zero play on the ball and CMB's been grabbing his shoulder all series. You could make a case Merrill knew that and was being a dirty turd.

Let it go already.. your not convincing anyone here that cavs deserved a better whistle.

I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything lol this board is like 90% Raptors fans, of course there will be no objectivity.

Mitchell and Harden both got elbowed in the face during game 1... After review, no foul on one, common foul on the other. Zero consistency.

In a 4 point game, i don't wanna see all the soft calls and no calls go one way, which they did. It's not why the Cavs lost, I've said that 3 times now. It still deserves to be called out.

Didn't hear a peep outta Raptors fans the first 2.5 games, now all of a sudden series is tied 2-2 and you guys come outta the woodwork.

Cool. Cavs suck, awesome man. Y'all still getting rolled by the Knicks or Celtics in the ECF.

Its hard to believe that a fan of a team with James Harden on it can complain about officiating. Has this guy ever driven into the lane without committing an offensive foul by blatantly pushing off his defender with his forearm? Never gets called and to add insult to injury, half the time he gets to the line with some flop after his shot.

Look...nba refs suck. They always have and always will but the only thing they do consistently is suck for both teams

There are games where one team clearly gets the short end of the stick.

I don't think any game this series is an example of that.

[Iwasawitness]

Mobley legitimately hasn't improved one bit since his rookie year.
If anything, he's regressed. He was definitely a much better defender last year.

I also don't think this dude has added any muscle. Damn shame, because he has so much upside but he's too weak and brittle and has no real offensive game.

Again, this just isn't true.

These are the kinds of anti Mobley takes that just make my head hurt.

He was all NBA last year for a reason. He was a legitimate threat from three that you couldn't leave alone anymore. His FT% continuously improved. And he got significantly better at handling the ball and creating opportunities for himself.

I can't explain what happened to his offense this year. He's been able to make a living off feeding inside from good guard play but overall, his offense has definitely regressed. To claim however he's made no improvements since his rookie year? Utter laughable nonsense.

I agree that he's improved, but I think being stuck with the ball dominant players he's been with has stunted his offensive growth. I really expected Mobley to polish off that middy and learn a couple of quick moves to punish the defender if they're not paying attention.

This is it. This is the accurate post on Mobley I've been waiting for.

[jbk1234]

It's embarrassing to complain about that IMO. No one in their right mind would have called a foul in real time on that.

Yeah, it's embarrassing to want the game called correctly lmao

You're the same guy who desperately wanted the Cavs to be the 3 seed... So yeah, checks out.

Good job Dan, keep up the great takes!

I thought there were more incorrect calls in favour of the Cavs, than the Raptors, in the last 2 minutes report. But I didn't really count, perhaps I am wrong?

BTW Bane undercut a player in the same manner as Shead on Mitchell, and there was no call. In tonight's game

They were simply letting them play. Like the Raptors commentator said, they called mostly blatant stuff only, or fouls on shooters. It was actually entertaining imo.

In Jack Armstrongs words: play through it.

There incorrect non-calls against the Cavs were either inconsequential, nit picky, or simply not how that game was being called.

It was the first time I've ever seen a defensive three second call on a 2 minute report.

The non-call on a Mitchell's double dribble a second before he stepped out of bounds didn't impact the game in any way..

The incorrect non call on Harden for dislodging Shead from legal guarding position made me laugh out loud given that's like 80% of Barnes and Barrett's offensive game.

The incorrect non call on Strus happened on a play where the ball was ruled out on Strus and the game was over anyway.

The two most consequential incorrect non calls were Shead fouling Mitchell before the 8 second violation and CMB laying out Merrill before the in bound.

The most damning thing about the 2MR is what's not in there. In its review of Allen on Barnes foul, the league decided to just disappear the fact that Barnes brought his off arm down, hard, on Allen first. Allen's allowed to move from A to B to attempt a block, and he was in position to make a clean block. Someone made a decision that they didn't want to address that in a 2 minute report. So they disappeared it.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Looked to me like Allen was out of position and intended to foul. He was about to be on the wrong end of the dunk of the year.

[JujitsuFlip]

Looked to me like Allen was out of position and intended to foul. He was about to be on the wrong end of the dunk of the year.

Jamal Cain snatched that award last night. Sheeeeeesh.

[Duffman100]

Yeah, it's embarrassing to want the game called correctly lmao

You're the same guy who desperately wanted the Cavs to be the 3 seed... So yeah, checks out.

Good job Dan, keep up the great takes!

I thought there were more incorrect calls in favour of the Cavs, than the Raptors, in the last 2 minutes report. But I didn't really count, perhaps I am wrong?

BTW Bane undercut a player in the same manner as Shead on Mitchell, and there was no call. In tonight's game

They were simply letting them play. Like the Raptors commentator said, they called mostly blatant stuff only, or fouls on shooters. It was actually entertaining imo.

In Jack Armstrongs words: play through it.

There incorrect non-calls against the Cavs were either inconsequential, nit picky, or simply not how that game was being called.

It was the first time I've ever seen a defensive three second call on a 2 minute report.

The non-call on a Mitchell's double dribble a second before he stepped out of bounds didn't impact the game in any way..

The incorrect non call on Harden for dislodging Shead from legal guarding position made me laugh out loud given that's like 80% of Barnes and Barrett's offensive game.

The incorrect non call on Strus happened on a play where the ball was ruled out on Strus and the game was over anyway.

The two most consequential incorrect non calls were Shead fouling Mitchell before the 8 second violation and CMB laying out Merrill before the in bound.

The most damning thing about the 2MR is what's not in there. In its review of Allen on Barnes foul, the league decided to just disappear the fact that Barnes brought his off arm down, hard, on Allen first. Allen's allowed to move from A to B to attempt a block, and he was in position to make a clean block. Someone made a decision that they didn't want to address that in a 2 minute report. So they disappeared it.

Or it wasn't that big of a deal and happens constantly in the league and never gets called.

[basketballRob]

It's likely to either be a Scott Foster or Tony Brothers led crew for tomorrow's game.

Sent from my SM-G998U using RealGM Forums mobile app

[ATLTimekeeper]

Looked to me like Allen was out of position and intended to foul. He was about to be on the wrong end of the dunk of the year.

Jamal Cain snatched that award last night. Sheeeeeesh.

Yes, that was an all-time poster.

[Duffman100]

Looked to me like Allen was out of position and intended to foul. He was about to be on the wrong end of the dunk of the year.

Jamal Cain snatched that award last night. Sheeeeeesh.

Yes, that was an all-time poster.

Especially given it was a 2-way guy on an all nba type dude. So good.

[everdiso]

I mean if you count small forwards as front count sure on the technicality. Maybe. But you know what's meant... the 4/5.

yeah the raps are bigger at the 4/5.


Allen 6'9" height 9'3" reach, 243lbs
Mobley 6'11" height, 9'2" reach (?), 215lbs
Wade 6'9" height, 8'10" reach (?), 228lbs

Poeltl 7'1' height, 9'4" reach, 253lbs
Scottie 6'7" height, 9'0" reach, 237lbs
CMB 6'6" height, 8'11" reach, 245lbs
Mamu 6'9" height, 8'11 reach, 240lbs

heck you could thrown in Ingram who probably has the closest body to Mobley - 6'9" height, 9'2" standing reach, 190lbs.

Yeah but poetl is playing backup minutes. The ones doing the damage are 6'6 CMB at the 5 and 6'7 barnes at the 4.

I mean sorta kinda....

Poeltl and Allen are the starting Cs, and 7'1" Poeltl is being outplayed by 6'9" Allen with quickness, and then 6'6" CMB comes on and outplays 6'9" Allen with quickness.

But the Toronto frontcourt is still bigger.

And part of that is the fact that they have CMB to come off the bench to play C and arguably deserve starting minutes., while the cavs don't have anyone after Allen, even though he (like poeltl) is banged up right now and not nearly as mobile as usual.