The inevitable Toronto-Cleveland Series

Nasty · Post #1 » by **Nasty** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:26 pm

So my buddy and I were shooting asround in the gym the other day, and we seemed to agree on the results of every potential playoff series (if the current seeding holds), except for the series most likely to happen (Cavs vs Raps).

He thinks that LeBron is way too much for the Raps to handle and nobody on Toronto can keep up with him basket for basket in the final 2 minutes. He thinks Cleveland got it in 5 games.

I'm part of the minority I guess, and I think (especially if they have HCA) the Raps are too deep and got a lot of offensive threats and I can see them winning it in 6 or 7 games.

Why do yall think?

Texas Longhorns · Post #2 » by **Texas Longhorns** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:29 pm

How is this an inevitable series? I think the Raps would win because of their depth.

Mr. Savage · Post #3 » by **Mr. Savage** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:30 pm

How would people be able to tell ? The only people who watch Toronto are people from Canada, who are biased in their opinion.

I don't think there will be any reasonable posts in this thread.

theTHIEF · Post #4 » by **theTHIEF** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:31 pm

James>Raptops in the playoffs

super duper star = FT's in the playoffs...just how it is...

Anticon · Post #5 » by **Anticon** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:34 pm

Were this the old Cavs team, I'd agree with your buddy, although I'd give the Raps 6 games. But we'll have to see a little bit how this new Cleveland team works out. It's only been a few games.

As far as I can tell, they seem a bit offensively challenged, and so this might be a return to the bad old days in Cleveland when you could let Lebron get his and then force the rest of the guys to score.

Say what you want about Larry Hughes, but he was a pretty impressive scorer on more than a few occasions. They've lost that now.

One advantage for the Cavs is that Varaejo typically gives Bosh and the Raptors a lot of trouble, particularly on the offensive glass.

Derekman · Post #6 » by **Derekman** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:36 pm

Its hard to get a good read on the raps. Theyve been missing TJ, one of theri top 3 players, for a good chunk of the season, now that hes back and playing just as good as he was before, i think that makes us a harder team to beat. Well just have to wait and see. It also matters how the Cavs gell though. They've looked awful these past 2 games.

AIfan3 · Post #7 » by **AIfan3** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:37 pm

This is an intriguing series, now that the Raps have some experience under their belt and some experienced players I think they will be more relaxed and put up more of a fight.. But it may take another season for them to get past the 1st round.. Guys like Kapono usually don't last in the playoffs..

Huskies1947 · Post #8 » by **Huskies1947** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:43 pm

I'd rather the Raptors play the Magic because they could wipe the floor with them.

LBJ, I dunno the media and NBA are on his jock strap. That can't be good for any team.

theTHIEF · Post #9 » by **theTHIEF** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:44 pm

Huskies1947 wrote:I'd rather the Raptors play the Magic because they could wipe the floor with them.

LBJ, I dunno the media and NBA are on his jock strap. That can't be good for any team.

haha...that sounds so definite that it's actually extremely laughable...

AWalkerREMIX · Post #10 » by **AWalkerREMIX** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:46 pm

Cavs in 5. I agree with him. Not only do I see James destroying the Raptors AGAIN, but Bosh was awful in last year's playoffs with Mikki Moore guarding him and I have a feeling Ben Wallace might do a better job on him than that. Delonte will do a good enough job on Forderon. I see that as a 4 or 5 game series...

ljp24 · Post #11 » by **ljp24** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:46 pm

Now, here's where you say, "Come on, a sportswriter couldn't really take over an NBA team." And this is where I answer: "Au contraire!" You don't need to be a former player to run a team, and run it well. Ever hear of Bryan Colangelo, the 2005 and 2007 Executive of the Year? He never played a minute in the NBA. Neither did Houston's Daryl Morey (who stole Luis Scola from the Spurs), Seattle's Sam Presti (who turned a trade exception into three first-round picks) or Memphis' Chris Wallace (who gave away Pau Gasol & oops, forget I mentioned him). For every Jerry West, there have been five McHales and Isiahs. Only recently, Mark Cuban told Memphis' Commercial Appeal, "One of the biggest misnomers in sports is that you just get a basketball person and let him run it. There's no other business in America that would get a salesperson to run it just because he was the best salesperson."

Running an NBA team comes down to two things: patience and common sense. For instance, you can't destroy your cap space by overpaying role players. That's exactly what the Bucks did, spending more than $100 million on Bobby Simmons, Charlie Bell and Dan Gadzuric. And you can't build for the present and the future at the same time. The Bucks did that, too, when they drafted Yi Jianlian last summer. Trying to juggle two agendas at once