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

greekman · Post #141 » by **greekman** » Wed Apr 15, 2026 9:46 am

raptors have a chance if everyone plays and barnes shows up.

cmb/poerltl, barnes, quickley, rj, ingram is a solid lineup

JujitsuFlip · Post #142 » by **JujitsuFlip** » Wed Apr 15, 2026 11:55 am

toooskies · Post #143 » by **toooskies** » Wed Apr 15, 2026 4:03 pm

UnbelievablyRAW wrote:
JujitsuFlip wrote:
UnbelievablyRAW wrote:Cavs have been a bottom 12 defensive team since getting Harden in Feb and the Raptors have been top 10 all season regardless of players in and out of the lineups. The Raptors have a poor offense but the Cavs bad defense might help Toronto; especially in transition where we all know Harden isn’t getting back on defense and the Raptors are a top transition team.

The Cavs front court also hasn’t been able to dominate the Raptors lack of big depth which has been comically exposed by the Knicks in damn near every matchup with Towns in.

...JKW has done well this year against Mitchell.

This post just lacks any and all context, huh?

Cavs have been 18th in Drtg since Feb 7th, that is a fact. Of those 30 games, Allen missed 14.5 of them. Mobley missed 7 of them. And if you care, which I'm sure you don't, Wade missed 14 of them too.

Maybe, just maybe, Raptors will be seeing a little bit different defense from the Cavs, if those 3 are "healthy" and starting together.

Again, Allen has played exactly 20 minutes and 54 seconds against the Raptors this season. How are we speaking in absolutes, when the Cavs haven't had their size? So maybe, just maybe, Raptors will be seeing a different look than they have on film from the Cavs offense if the twin towers are "healthy" and playing together.

To your final point, Mitchell may get different looks and coverages by sharing a back court with James Harden instead of Lonzo Ball or Craig Porter jr.

We can have a discussion without the passive aggressiveness oozing from your post. I'm open to being wrong about stuff, all this " if you care, which I'm sure you don't" nonsense

From my time watching the Allen/Mobley front court neither of them have been physically imposing in the interior if they have a body on them; Mobley specifically where we saw that in the matchups vs the Raptors this season.

The Raptors have been injured as well to key players and their DRTG has not slipped below top 10. CMB has played 15/28 games since Feb 7. IQ missed 9 games since Feb 7 (technically the last 3 games he played few minutes because of his present injury). JP had been gone for 1/3 of the season and only came back to play the last 25 games.

Both teams have suffered from injuries to vital players. Most lineups with Harden are below 80th% in defensive rating outside of the one Harden/Mitch/Wade/Mobley/Allen lineup that played 33 minutes total together as per Bball-index. I'm not sure if that lineup would be a juggernaut if given more minutes.

I actually anticipate Mitchell being more off ball with Harden so I don't know how Ball/Porter Jr would be relevant. They hindered spacing but the offense will be different. He was playing more on ball earlier in the season when Garland was out. Doesn't change the content of my post or my final summary stating that a Mitchell/Harden offensive masterclass would be what does the Raptors in. I'm not convinced the Cavs are a top defensive team (like the Knicks have been) and the Cavs front court can't easily take advantage of the lack of size from the Raptors because Mobley/Allen are not dominant low post players

What is a dominant low post player these days?

Mobley led the league in dunks in just 65 games. Both Allen and Mobley shot over 62% on twos on the year. Since February 1, Allen is shooting 71% on twos and Mobley is shooting 68%.

A skilled passer is a multiplier of Mobley's and Allen's effectiveness. Garland's poor health handicapped the team's ability to pass the ball into the interior. Harden's presence unlocks their potential.

Post #144 » by **bisme37** » Wed Apr 15, 2026 5:22 pm

Read on Twitter

Post #145 » by **Froob** » Wed Apr 15, 2026 5:34 pm

Cavs sweep

giannis and 1 · Post #146 » by **giannis and 1** » Thu Apr 16, 2026 11:13 am

Cavs in four or five, Raptors just don’t have anyone that is truly dangerous offensively.

NYPiston · Post #147 » by **NYPiston** » Thu Apr 16, 2026 11:54 am

Surprised at all the Raptors votes, I can't see Cleveland losing this series and I'd be surprised if it goes more than 5.

Post #148 » by **Duffman100** » Thu Apr 16, 2026 4:59 pm

NYPiston wrote:Surprised at all the Raptors votes, I can't see Cleveland losing this series and I'd be surprised if it goes more than 5.

Surprised? That's tame, usually the Raptors are winning the poll regardless of team strength. :lol:

The Warrior · Post #149 » by **The Warrior** » Thu Apr 16, 2026 5:51 pm

NYPiston wrote:Surprised at all the Raptors votes, I can't see Cleveland losing this series and I'd be surprised if it goes more than 5.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if it went to 6 or 7 games, but regardless I would expect the Cavs to win the series, all things considered. That being said, we have a large fan base on here, so not too surprising at the Raptors votes even if many of us don't actually believe in Raptors in 6 or 7, we vote for it anyway lol.

LoveMyRaps · Post #150 » by **LoveMyRaps** » Thu Apr 16, 2026 6:12 pm

giannis and 1 wrote:Cavs in four or five, Raptors just don’t have anyone that is truly dangerous offensively.

Fortunately, the Cavs aren't a good defensive team.
Raps defense will make this a competitive series.

Knicks and Celtics would've swept us. Cavs don't worry us.

I have Cavs in 6-7 - but I highly doubt it'll be a sweep.

Yallbecrazy · Post #151 » by **Yallbecrazy** » Thu Apr 16, 2026 7:56 pm

Nightmare matchup for the better team. Sweeps for either team wouldn't surprise me.

oikosnomos · Post #152 » by **oikosnomos** » Thu Apr 16, 2026 8:08 pm

Raptors have depth. Cavs are so up and down, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Raptors win the series. Guess it depends on if the Cavs can put it all together after so much inconsistency after getting Harden, and if the Raptors younger guys can show up and make a jump in this round.

GiannisAnte34 · Post #153 » by **GiannisAnte34** » Thu Apr 16, 2026 8:32 pm

the Cavs will body the Raps

Childs · Post #154 » by **Childs** » Thu Apr 16, 2026 9:42 pm

oikosnomos wrote:Raptors have depth. Cavs are so up and down, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Raptors win the series. Guess it depends on if the Cavs can put it all together after so much inconsistency after getting Harden, and if the Raptors younger guys can show up and make a jump in this round.

The Raps have been up and down. Besides the 9 game win streak they have been a .500 team.

Post #155 » by **Duffman100** » Thu Apr 16, 2026 9:56 pm

GiannisAnte34 wrote:the Cavs will body the Raps

You'd say that regardless

I think the Raps can take a game, maybe maybe 2....

But yeah I think the Cavs will win this. Stopping Mitchell and Harden just isn't likely.

GiannisAnte34 · Post #156 » by **GiannisAnte34** » Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:40 pm

Duffman100 wrote:
GiannisAnte34 wrote:the Cavs will body the Raps

You'd say that regardless

I think the Raps can take a game, maybe maybe 2....

But yeah I think the Cavs will win this. Stopping Mitchell and Harden just isn't likely.

Yea I just think the Cavs are too well rounded. Mobley and Allen should give the Raps trouble on the boards

I like the Cavs or Hawks to win the East this year, I think Pistons and Knicks choke early this year

The Celtics will be a tough out

Iwasawitness · Post #157 » by **Iwasawitness** » Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:42 pm

LoveMyRaps wrote:
giannis and 1 wrote:Cavs in four or five, Raptors just don’t have anyone that is truly dangerous offensively.

Fortunately, the Cavs aren't a good defensive team.
Raps defense will make this a competitive series.

Knicks and Celtics would've swept us. Cavs don't worry us.

I have Cavs in 6-7 - but I highly doubt it'll be a sweep.

Yeah, they kind of are.

GiannisAnte34 · Post #158 » by **GiannisAnte34** » Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:47 pm

Iwasawitness wrote:
LoveMyRaps wrote:
giannis and 1 wrote:Cavs in four or five, Raptors just don’t have anyone that is truly dangerous offensively.

Fortunately, the Cavs aren't a good defensive team.
Raps defense will make this a competitive series.

Knicks and Celtics would've swept us. Cavs don't worry us.

I have Cavs in 6-7 - but I highly doubt it'll be a sweep.

Yeah, they kind of are.

The Raps are that team that beat up on the bad/mid teams; they struggle especially against teams that rebound well

Appostis · Post #159 » by **Appostis** » Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:51 pm

Raptors are the underdogs but far closer then what everyone is pushing.

Post #160 » by **Duffman100** » Fri Apr 17, 2026 12:13 am

GiannisAnte34 wrote:
Duffman100 wrote:
GiannisAnte34 wrote:the Cavs will body the Raps

You'd say that regardless

I think the Raps can take a game, maybe maybe 2....

But yeah I think the Cavs will win this. Stopping Mitchell and Harden just isn't likely.

Yea I just think the Cavs are too well rounded. Mobley and Allen should give the Raps trouble on the boards

I like the Cavs or Hawks to win the East this year, I think Pistons and Knicks choke early this year

The Celtics will be a tough out

The Hawks? Wow

Who wins Game 5?