ECSF: P1 | (1) Toronto Raptors vs Cleveland Cavaliers (4) | TIED 0-0

[S.W.A.N]

Looking forward to a great series. My raps have a legit shot this year, but Lebron is Goat so you can never count his team out. Let's do this!!

[NyKnicks1714]

While Toronto is rightfully a favorite to win the series, I think tomorrow is as close to a must-win for them as game 1's can get.

[lebron stopper]

Please Serge Ibaka, you've had 3 full days rest.

This guy is the X-factor, problem is he's so damn old.

Ibaka will have a decent Game 1 (maybe), fooling everyone into thinking he's saved up his strength for the playoffs, and then totally sh** the bed for the rest of the series and somehow Doof Casey will give him important minutes over Jonas.

I think Ibaka will be the Raptors' CarmeLo Anthony. Grossly overpaid and consistently unreliable...can't score and can't defend any Cavalier, most certainly not LeBron James and Kevin Love.

I just wish Doof Casey benched Ibaka in November and yanked him out of the starting lineup for Siakam after Siakam's third start, a game in which he absolutely locked up Porzingis back when the Knicks were a bottom 4 seed. Siakam has much greater impact on the game even if he can't shoot, much higher BBIQ, a far better passer and defender and ball handler, and has a legitimate transition game. Ibaka is a midrange PnP big, not a legit stretch 4, who thinks he's Ryan Anderson or prime Melo when he's really closer to Bustnani. A total ball stopper on offense and has slow feet and bad hands and can't rebound for sh** unless there's no one else around. If he can't shoot or stretch the floor he's utterly useless.

I totally expect the Cavaliers to dare Congolese Rudy Bargnani to shoot (so that Lowry and DeRozan and Valanciunas don't), which is exactly what he will be more than happy to do. I mean that's how the Raptors blew a sizable lead to the Cavaliers and eventually lost the game on March 21, 2018, by actually trusting Ibricka to make shots Lmaoooo. Serge Ibaka will end up being one of the Cavaliers' best players in this series, just like Harrison Barnes was back in June 2016, book it.

[lambchop]

While Toronto is rightfully a favorite to win the series, I think tomorrow is as close to a must-win for them as game 1's can get.

Yea imo they have to win this with bron still somewhat fatigued and playing his "feel out game". I think Toronto wins convincingly. Then if they can get game 2, watch out

[CowboyBebop]

Toronto wins if they double Lebron and not allow him to run a layup line.

[The-Power]

Cleveland in 6. Obviously Toronto has clearly outperformed the Cavaliers this year, but they still haven't won me completely over. I wouldn't be surprised if they won the series at all but all it takes are some inconsistencies of DeRozan and Lowry – which wouldn't be news – and some solid shooting nights from the Cavaliers' role players (they have been terrible but some guys might very well start shooting better). Assuming that, I'm not betting against LeBron to carry his team another time.

Did you see how the raptors handled Washington when Fred VanVleet played?
Cleveland just squeaked past Indiana. Clevland has the best player by far, but Toronto has the next best 4. Toronto is a superior team. Not even close.

Forgive me for not fully trusting the Raptors in the postseason yet, but they will have the chance to earn it. I know you guys love VanVleet and I do love underdog stories, but let's be real here: he played in two games a total of 22 minutes against Washington. What is that supposed to tell me about the Raptors chances against Cleveland? Yes, nothing really. Also, I'm not counting out LeBron when some of his shooters show up against a team whose very foundation has in the past had struggles to come through in the postseason. I know all of you guys will tell me that this is a different team with the bench guys, and I'm not even necessarily disagreeing, but I'll be skeptical until I actually see a difference.

[Asian Celtic]

Time for the Raps to end the Curse of Lebron being their father. Barneys are gonna evolve to Raptors and beat Lebron and his minions.

History will be written tomorrow folks.

Go Raptors!

[dynamic duo]

let's see if lebron can further cement himself as the goat by winning this series as a huge underdog against the best team in the east.

[CoachD]

Cleveland in 6. Obviously Toronto has clearly outperformed the Cavaliers this year, but they still haven't won me completely over. I wouldn't be surprised if they won the series at all but all it takes are some inconsistencies of DeRozan and Lowry – which wouldn't be news – and some solid shooting nights from the Cavaliers' role players (they have been terrible but some guys might very well start shooting better). Assuming that, I'm not betting against LeBron to carry his team another time.[/quote

Did you see how the raptors handled Washington when Fred VanVleet played?
Cleveland just squeaked past Indiana. Clevland has the best player by far, but Toronto has the next best 4. Toronto is a superior team. Not even close.

Forgive me for not fully trusting the Raptors in the postseason yet, but they will have the chance to earn it. I know you guys love VanVleet and I do love underdog stories, but let's be real here: he played in two games a total of 22 minutes against Washington. What is that supposed to tell me about the Raptors chances against Cleveland? Yes, nothing really. Also, I'm not counting out LeBron when some of his shooters show up against a team whose very foundation has in the past had struggles to come through in the postseason. I know all of you guys will tell me that this is a different team with the bench guys, and I'm not even necessarily disagreeing, but I'll be skeptical until I actually see a difference.

I have been hearing this nonsense the last 3 years.

The last 2 years, plus tis post season ... Only GSW and the Cavs have more playoff wins than Toronto. Yet the narrative is "I won't change my mind until I see a difference"

Derozan averaged nearly 30 ppg against a team that has always defended him hard.... But you see no difference?

Valanciunas was a beast in the post, and now stretches bigs away from the rim with a legit 3 ball ...But you see no difference?

Lowry made massive defensive stops in the 4th quarter of every win against Wall, while playing selfless ball and being a leader. When he was needed to score, he did. But you see no difference?

That's not even going into the fact that Toronto has the #1 bench / depth in the league

[Canadafan]

Toronto wins if they double Lebron and not allow him to run a layup line.

Doubling Lebron is a horrible idea. All the "others" will have wide open looks at 3's and then its game over. OG needs to be trusted on Lebron

[Canadafan]

Cleveland in 6. Obviously Toronto has clearly outperformed the Cavaliers this year, but they still haven't won me completely over. I wouldn't be surprised if they won the series at all but all it takes are some inconsistencies of DeRozan and Lowry – which wouldn't be news – and some solid shooting nights from the Cavaliers' role players (they have been terrible but some guys might very well start shooting better). Assuming that, I'm not betting against LeBron to carry his team another time.

Did you see how the raptors handled Washington when Fred VanVleet played?
Cleveland just squeaked past Indiana. Clevland has the best player by far, but Toronto has the next best 4. Toronto is a superior team. Not even close.

Forgive me for not fully trusting the Raptors in the postseason yet, but they will have the chance to earn it. I know you guys love VanVleet and I do love underdog stories, but let's be real here: he played in two games a total of 22 minutes against Washington. What is that supposed to tell me about the Raptors chances against Cleveland? Yes, nothing really. Also, I'm not counting out LeBron when some of his shooters show up against a team whose very foundation has in the past had struggles to come through in the postseason. I know all of you guys will tell me that this is a different team with the bench guys, and I'm not even necessarily disagreeing, but I'll be skeptical until I actually see a difference.

After Lowry and Derozan there's not too much greatness happening lol. Love I'd say would be next best. JV and FVV?

[gpoon]

Forgive me for not fully trusting the Raptors in the postseason yet, but they will have the chance to earn it. I know you guys love VanVleet and I do love underdog stories, but let's be real here: he played in two games a total of 22 minutes against Washington. What is that supposed to tell me about the Raptors chances against Cleveland? Yes, nothing really. Also, I'm not counting out LeBron when some of his shooters show up against a team whose very foundation has in the past had struggles to come through in the postseason. I know all of you guys will tell me that this is a different team with the bench guys, and I'm not even necessarily disagreeing, but I'll be skeptical until I actually see a difference.

I have been hearing this nonsense the last 3 years.

The last 2 years, plus tis post season ... Only GSW and the Cavs have more playoff wins than Toronto. Yet the narrative is "I won't change my mind until I see a difference"

Derozan averaged nearly 30 ppg against a team that has always defended him hard.... But you see no difference?

Valanciunas was a beast in the post, and now stretches bigs away from the rim with a legit 3 ball ...But you see no difference?

Lowry made massive defensive stops in the 4th quarter of every win against Wall, while playing selfless ball and being a leader. When he was needed to score, he did. But you see no difference?

That's not even going into the fact that Toronto has the #1 bench / depth in the league

Thats going to be the narrative and its hard to change it... Raptors dont get much exposure in the US even their playoff games are shown on Teir 2 networks. Raps beat the Cavs by like 30 and people brush it off, raps lose to Cavs by single digits Raps cant beat Lebron... Watch even if raptors make the finals (or even a championship) next year most sports media will predict them being 4-5th seed in the east next year.

[CoachD]

Did you see how the raptors handled Washington when Fred VanVleet played?
Cleveland just squeaked past Indiana. Clevland has the best player by far, but Toronto has the next best 4. Toronto is a superior team. Not even close.

Forgive me for not fully trusting the Raptors in the postseason yet, but they will have the chance to earn it. I know you guys love VanVleet and I do love underdog stories, but let's be real here: he played in two games a total of 22 minutes against Washington. What is that supposed to tell me about the Raptors chances against Cleveland? Yes, nothing really. Also, I'm not counting out LeBron when some of his shooters show up against a team whose very foundation has in the past had struggles to come through in the postseason. I know all of you guys will tell me that this is a different team with the bench guys, and I'm not even necessarily disagreeing, but I'll be skeptical until I actually see a difference.

After Lowry and Derozan there's not too much greatness happening lol. Love I'd say would be next best. JV and FVV?

Seriously?

Ok
It breaks down like this...

Overall depth chart for this series:

1. Lebron - CLE
2. Derozan - TOR
3. Lowry - TOR
4. Valanciunas - TOR
5. Van Vleet- TOR
6. Love - CLE
7. Siakam - TOR
8. OG - TOR
9. Wright - TOR
10. Hill - CLE

Then getting into the next 10 .... the Cavs have a bunch of erratic scorers that offer very little defensive effort, while Toronto has a bunch of defenders that offer offensive support.

[gpoon]

Did you see how the raptors handled Washington when Fred VanVleet played?
Cleveland just squeaked past Indiana. Clevland has the best player by far, but Toronto has the next best 4. Toronto is a superior team. Not even close.

Forgive me for not fully trusting the Raptors in the postseason yet, but they will have the chance to earn it. I know you guys love VanVleet and I do love underdog stories, but let's be real here: he played in two games a total of 22 minutes against Washington. What is that supposed to tell me about the Raptors chances against Cleveland? Yes, nothing really. Also, I'm not counting out LeBron when some of his shooters show up against a team whose very foundation has in the past had struggles to come through in the postseason. I know all of you guys will tell me that this is a different team with the bench guys, and I'm not even necessarily disagreeing, but I'll be skeptical until I actually see a difference.

After Lowry and Derozan there's not too much greatness happening lol. Love I'd say would be next best. JV and FVV?

Meh, this raptors team isn't about individual Greatness, its about being better than the sum of your parts. You know what you are going to get from Derozan and Lowry, but any given night anyone else can step up, from Delon, Ibaka, Miles, Pascal... whoever. yeah I agree Love is probably the 4th most talented player in the series, but if he played anything like he did in the first round he wont be the 4th most effective.

[NinjaBro]

Toronto wins if they double Lebron and not allow him to run a layup line.

We've tried that. Ended up with Love, Calderon and Hill draining 3 after 3 shooting like 70% and they beat us. Best bet is to let OG guard Lebron 1 on 1. Saw a stat that Lebron scores the fewest points per possession when guarded by OG than by any other raptor players. We'll have to let Lebron get his but not allow the other cavs players to go off.

[The_Toro]

Toronto wins if they double Lebron and not allow him to run a layup line.

that is a bad idea

LeBron will pass to an open man for a wide open 3 if that happens.

let LeBron score 40 a night, and then stop the other 4 players from scoring 10

it can be done

[The_Toro]

Forgive me for not fully trusting the Raptors in the postseason yet, but they will have the chance to earn it. I know you guys love VanVleet and I do love underdog stories, but let's be real here: he played in two games a total of 22 minutes against Washington. What is that supposed to tell me about the Raptors chances against Cleveland? Yes, nothing really. Also, I'm not counting out LeBron when some of his shooters show up against a team whose very foundation has in the past had struggles to come through in the postseason. I know all of you guys will tell me that this is a different team with the bench guys, and I'm not even necessarily disagreeing, but I'll be skeptical until I actually see a difference.

After Lowry and Derozan there's not too much greatness happening lol. Love I'd say would be next best. JV and FVV?

Seriously?

Ok
It breaks down like this...

Overall depth chart for this series:

1. Lebron - CLE
2. Derozan - TOR
3. Lowry - TOR
4. Valanciunas - TOR
5. Van Vleet- TOR
6. Love - CLE
7. Siakam - TOR
8. OG - TOR
9. Wright - TOR
10. Hill - CLE

Then getting into the next 10 .... the Cavs have a bunch of erratic scorers that offer very little defensive effort, while Toronto has a bunch of defenders that offer offensive support.

Love is better that FVV

[The-Power]

I have been hearing this nonsense the last 3 years.

The last 2 years, plus tis post season ... Only GSW and the Cavs have more playoff wins than Toronto. Yet the narrative is "I won't change my mind until I see a difference"

In 2016, Cleveland had four blowout wins against Toronto. In 2017, they swept the Raptors easily. Yes, the teams are different but it's still LeBron and his selected mates versus the Raptors core. I'm not denying the possibility that the Raptors win but there surely is reason to be skeptical. Your fandom makes you more optimistic and see more nuances and that's fine. But do realize that neutral observers might see it differently. You might be right because you're closer to the team and see what's different; or you might be wrong because you're too emotinally involved and miss the bigger picture. But I'm willing to admit that I might very well be wrong. Are you willing to do the same? If not, the issue might be a lack of objectivity.

[anish23]

LeBron James is going to dominate.

As usual.

But who is gonna win ? Depends on how much the Raps choke.

I think Derozen has turned a corner, let's see.

[bluerap23]

I have been hearing this nonsense the last 3 years.

The last 2 years, plus tis post season ... Only GSW and the Cavs have more playoff wins than Toronto. Yet the narrative is "I won't change my mind until I see a difference"

In 2016, Cleveland had four blowout wins against Toronto. In 2017, they swept the Raptors easily. Yes, the teams are different but it's still LeBron and his selected mates versus the Raptors core. I'm not denying the possibility that the Raptors win but there surely is reason to be skeptical. Your fandom makes you more optimistic and see more nuances and that's fine. But do realize that neutral observers might see it differently. You might be right because you're closer to the team and see what's different; or you might be wrong because you're too emotinally involved and miss the bigger picture. But I'm willing to admit that I might very well be wrong. Are you willing to do the same? If not, the issue might be a lack of objectivity.

If we were playing that same Cleveland team I would be very worried. This Cleveland team is not in the same stratosphere. Re:FVV
He missed the first 5 games with an injury. If you watched the whole series you would see that they were a completely different team in game 6. I know it is crazy that an undersized, undrafted pg can make such a huge impact, but if you watched raptor ball this season you would know he was a huge part of the team's success. 6th man that plays the entire 4th quarter as primary ball handler.