ECF: | (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (2) Toronto Raptors | CLE 2-1

Crazomali · Post #421 » by **Crazomali** » Mon May 16, 2016 4:26 pm

Either LeBron clowns us in 4 straight games or lowry pulls off an upset by playing like game 7 version against Miami

rarefind · Post #422 » by **rarefind** » Mon May 16, 2016 4:27 pm

Series can certainly go 6 or 7, while Cleveland can sweep. We have played the Cavs well this year, but to be fair the Cavs are a new team. JV missing time or coming back hobbled mid series hurts badly.

Some of you though have 0 basketball knowledge whatsoever. Get over your damned superiority complex. Cle, SA & GSW were on the same tier this year, but the Raptors are in the tier right beneath them. 56 Wins is no joke. If you are going to discredit Toronto's 56 wins, then Cleveland's 57 wins should be discredited too. Stop being ignorant, it becomes really hard to take you seriously.

BTW that is 56 wins with Carroll out half the season, JV missing 22 games and Lowry being quite banged up.

Post #423 » by **TheOUTLAW** » Mon May 16, 2016 4:32 pm

DBA wrote:
TheOUTLAW wrote:
Green Backpack wrote:Obviously the Cavs are heavy favourites here as they are against any team in the East. It would be nice to take a game though.

Jeez what happened? Just before the playoffs I kept hearing people saying that they could see the Cavs losing to either Toronto or the Heat.

Cavs didn't look that great in the regular season, they lost to other good teams and looked like they had chemistry problems, which in the playoffs is not good at all, but it seems they managed to turn it up and put it all behind them, though I still think the raps match well with them and what encourages me is the 1st round against detroit, where pretty much every game came down to closing time, where cavs took care of business, but didn't blow them out like they did with atlanta with historic 3pt shooting. One great advantage the raps had was Valanciunas play this post-season, I believe he would be huge in this series and could give the raps a real chance to push it to 7, but without him, raps are not winning this and it's ok, our season goal is achieved.

Other than GSW the Cavs played pretty well against top teams it was those second tier teams that they were not playing well against.

King4Day · Post #424 » by **King4Day** » Mon May 16, 2016 4:48 pm

Cavs in 5 or 6. If Valencunas plays, then 6 or 7 for the Cavs.

Kameleon · Post #425 » by **Kameleon** » Mon May 16, 2016 4:48 pm

Lebron almost had triple double against Caroll last year and still this is the guy who will stop lebron. What else? I will be suprised if Toronto win one game but this is sport so who knows.

Throwback24 · Post #426 » by **Throwback24** » Mon May 16, 2016 4:50 pm

The good news for the Cavs is they get to practice gameplanning against the 2nd best back court in the NBA, which should go a long in way prepping for the finals if they can get past the very hot Raptors.

Post #427 » by **TheOUTLAW** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:00 pm

Throwback24 wrote:The good news for the Cavs is they get to practice gameplanning against the 2nd best back court in the NBA, which should go a long in way prepping for the finals if they can get past the very hot Raptors.

The Raps are hot?

Throwback24 · Post #428 » by **Throwback24** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:06 pm

TheOUTLAW wrote:
Throwback24 wrote:The good news for the Cavs is they get to practice gameplanning against the 2nd best back court in the NBA, which should go a long in way prepping for the finals if they can get past the very hot Raptors.

The Raps are hot?

Absolutely, they're in the conference finals coming off of two thrilling and very dominant game 7 wins in consecutive series. This may shape to be one of the best series in the playoffs year to date.

Jordan45822 · Post #429 » by **Jordan45822** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:09 pm

http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/05/16/jonas-valanciunas-out-for-game-1-doubtful-for-game-2-of-cavaliers-raptors-series/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

JV out for Game 1 and is doubtful for Game 2

gom · Post #430 » by **gom** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:10 pm

Throwback24 wrote:
TheOUTLAW wrote:
Throwback24 wrote:The good news for the Cavs is they get to practice gameplanning against the 2nd best back court in the NBA, which should go a long in way prepping for the finals if they can get past the very hot Raptors.

The Raps are hot?

Absolutely, they're in the conference finals coming off of two thrilling and very dominant game 7 wins in consecutive series. This may shape to be one of the best series in the playoffs year to date.

Yeah, but it's more likely to be a 4-0 sweep by the Cavs, because they are the much better team (by far), are uninjured and well rested.

Jordan45822 wrote:http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/05/16/jonas-valanciunas-out-for-game-1-doubtful-for-game-2-of-cavaliers-raptors-series/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

JV out for Game 1 and is doubtful for Game 2

That makes no difference. The first two games are losses anyhow. Raptors only chance is if they can salvage a win in Toronto to extend it to five games.

We'll be cheering for them to not fall too hard on their faces.

Bourne85 · Post #431 » by **Bourne85** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:26 pm

Throwback24 wrote:The good news for the Cavs is they get to practice gameplanning against the 2nd best back court in the NBA, which should go a long in way prepping for the finals if they can get past the very hot Raptors.

No backcourt that combines for 29% shooting and goes by the name BrickBros can ever be the second best backcourt in the NBA.

John Murdoch · Post #432 » by **John Murdoch** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:31 pm

DarkHawk wrote:Cavs in 5 or 6. If Valencunas plays, then 6 or 7 for the Cavs.

They are better with Bismack

Usuyami · Post #433 » by **Usuyami** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:38 pm

After two fairly ugly series against the Pacers and the Heat, I think it would be a hilarious narrative if the Raptors that no one believes to be a top tier team ends up grinding out a game 7 win against the Cavs (who have cruised thus far and set 3PT records), and then a game 7 win against the Warriors (who had the best season ever and are the defending champs).

No one would see it coming. It would be the ultimate underdog story.

Throwback24 · Post #434 » by **Throwback24** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:41 pm

Bourne85 wrote:
Throwback24 wrote:The good news for the Cavs is they get to practice gameplanning against the 2nd best back court in the NBA, which should go a long in way prepping for the finals if they can get past the very hot Raptors.

No backcourt that combines for 29% shooting and goes by the name BrickBros can ever be the second best backcourt in the NBA.

Brick bros demolished the heat in dominating fashion, the series would have been over in 5 had Jonas not went down. What will happen when the dynamic duo bump their shooting average to a healthy 35 or 40%. Wins, plain and simple.

I don't expect you to be objective after yesterdays beat down.

Throwback24 · Post #435 » by **Throwback24** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:42 pm

John Murdoch wrote:
DarkHawk wrote:Cavs in 5 or 6. If Valencunas plays, then 6 or 7 for the Cavs.

They are better with Bismack

Just stop. I hope your team offers Biyombo 15M and DD the max since you're in need of a starting 2 guard and center. Valanciunas* is one of the leagues best big man and would force the Cavs into doubling him right from the tip. No Mozgov or TT combination is enough to slow him down, only doubles can.

Bourne85 · Post #436 » by **Bourne85** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:49 pm

Throwback24 wrote:
Bourne85 wrote:
Throwback24 wrote:The good news for the Cavs is they get to practice gameplanning against the 2nd best back court in the NBA, which should go a long in way prepping for the finals if they can get past the very hot Raptors.

No backcourt that combines for 29% shooting and goes by the name BrickBros can ever be the second best backcourt in the NBA.

Brick bros demolished the heat in dominating fashion, the series would have been over in 5 had Jonas not went down. What will happen when the dynamic duo bump their shooting average to a healthy 35 or 40%. Wins, plain and simple.

I don't expect you to be objective after yesterdays beat down.

I haven't cared about the heat raptors series since Hassan went down. That was the series.

BrickBros "demolished" the heat by chucking 30 shots at 25% to get 22 points? More like Byombo and Patterson and any other guy above 6'6 demolished the heat with offensive rebound after offensive rebound. Heat were praying that BrickBros would continue to shoot. If Whiteside was there to grab the bricks he would of got 20 boards a game and would of won in 4 like I originally predicted.

You are in the ECF thanks to TWO max players being in suits for the heat. Not because of your "back court" not because of anything they did. Injuries.

TroubleS0me · Post #437 » by **TroubleS0me** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:51 pm

we couldnt get a playoff series of

Wade vs LBJ
or
Kobe vs LBJ

:noway:

Vee-Rex · Post #438 » by **Vee-Rex** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:52 pm

ATLTimekeeper wrote:
Vee-Rex wrote:I think the Heat would've been an easier team for the Cavs to beat.

I'm really not worried about Carroll as I think his defense on LeBron is overhyped. Watching LeBron go against Butler or Kawhi, I can see how he gets really frustrated. It's not and never has been that way with Carroll.

This series is difficult to predict. I feel it could easily be a sweep, or it could be hard, grueling series. Toronto is gonna have to play smart defense, though.

Carroll's also playing with one arm and on one leg. But I wouldn't overlook his ability to make plays at key times. Also, Biyombo's help D has been incredible. He's basically been a stronger, more nasty Mavs-era Tyson Chandler. If I were the Raptors I would probably go small at the 4 and have an extra wing in the starting line-up to play the passing lanes and help run their stretch 4s off the line. Let KLove move down in the post and slow their offense down. Then pick on him at the other end with his slow feet.

I've always liked Biyombo's game. Even more so, I'm a big fan of Valanciunas. Val being out is a big blow to Toronto. I'm a fan of Carroll too. I like his composure and how reliable he is.

In terms of Biyombo's help defense - a lineup featuring Frye/Love at the 5 will probably cause issues since it'll force Biyombo to defend the 3-point line. If it's LeBron/Love, Toronto may want to switch Biyombo onto Bron and sag off. If it's Irving/Love, it'll be difficult to game-plan for since both have been white-hot from deep. Atlanta went with trapping Irving and Love shot them out of the building.

Toronto needs to have Carroll/Powell/JJ or whoever guard LeBron one on one. Even if LeBron gets some easy-looking layups, stay stubborn and disciplined. DO NOT give away a lot of open looks at the 3-point line. This will be a quick series if they don't defend it.

Even to this day, I don't think LeBron quite gets the credit he deserves for being able to find the open man on a kick-out from driving. He's a mutant with his ability to pass to open shooters on the wing from ANYWHERE in the half-court. I'm regularly amazed as his ability to get open looks to teammates. And the one thing GS/SA does against Cleveland - stick Iggy/Kawhi on Bron and stay home on the perimeter. It's the best way to do it, even if it gets ugly sometimes with the occasional easy-looking basket by LeBron.

The goal for Toronto should be to focus on defense and make this a low-scoring series. Make it a grind. That's how the Bulls gave us a scare last year and if Toronto can play hard and tough, they can definitely make it a close series.

Throwback24 · Post #439 » by **Throwback24** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:53 pm

Bourne85 wrote:
Throwback24 wrote:
Bourne85 wrote:

No backcourt that combines for 29% shooting and goes by the name BrickBros can ever be the second best backcourt in the NBA.

Brick bros demolished the heat in dominating fashion, the series would have been over in 5 had Jonas not went down. What will happen when the dynamic duo bump their shooting average to a healthy 35 or 40%. Wins, plain and simple.

I don't expect you to be objective after yesterdays beat down.

I haven't cared about the heat raptors series since Hassan went down. That was the series.

BrickBros "demolished" the heat by chucking 30 shots at 25% to get 22 points? More like Byombo and Patterson and any other guy above 6'6 demolished the heat with offensive rebound after offensive rebound. Heat were praying that BrickBros would continue to shoot. If Whiteside was there to grab the bricks he would of got 20 boards a game and would of won in 4 like I originally predicted.

You are in the ECF thanks to TWO max players being in suits for the heat. Not because of your "back court" not because of anything they did. Injuries.

lol Jonas > Whiteside, they pretty much cancel each other. No one forced you guys to small, Spo chose to and accordingly, the Raptors punished you for it.

If I recall, Lowry had a field day against your porous defense stifling pretend run after run with each passing 3 point shot or and1 layup. Star power means everything in the NBA and the team with TWO all-stars beat you soundly. There's nothing to be ashamed about, I don't understand why you keep referring to injuries when the Raptors two best players have their own debilitating injuries. Kudos to the Raptors training staff for keeping their top players in game shape.

The better team won, plain and simple. That's how the playoffs work.

rarefind · Post #440 » by **rarefind** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:54 pm

Bourne85 wrote:
Throwback24 wrote:
Bourne85 wrote:

No backcourt that combines for 29% shooting and goes by the name BrickBros can ever be the second best backcourt in the NBA.

Brick bros demolished the heat in dominating fashion, the series would have been over in 5 had Jonas not went down. What will happen when the dynamic duo bump their shooting average to a healthy 35 or 40%. Wins, plain and simple.

I don't expect you to be objective after yesterdays beat down.

I haven't cared about the heat raptors series since Hassan went down. That was the series.

BrickBros "demolished" the heat by chucking 30 shots at 25% to get 22 points? More like Byombo and Patterson and any other guy above 6'6 demolished the heat with offensive rebound after offensive rebound. Heat were praying that BrickBros would continue to shoot. If Whiteside was there to grab the bricks he would of got 20 boards a game and would of won in 4 like I originally predicted.

You are in the ECF thanks to TWO max players being in suits for the heat. Not because of your "back court" not because of anything they did. Injuries.

LOL

Acknowledge Miami's injuries and fail to acknowledge Toronto's. Whatever you need to get you through the next 4 months friend. Lowry and Derozan have been wildly inconsistent, but the Heat had no answer for KL last night at all.

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