Round 2 Game 1 Toronto Raptors @ Cleveland Cavaliers Mon May 1st 2017 7pm

[The Oi]

Cavs will lose this game.

One of the two teams will get out to a hot start and get that early 10-12 point lead...not sure which. Cavs will eventually end up with their usual big lead, blow it and Raps will win a close one.

Shaboom.

 

[MirORich]

What is nine bone structure?

That's a good question. It must have been a combination of my phone keyboard, a few to many Jack and gingers, and excitement for the win.

 

[Andrew]

Didn't know what to expect from this squad with that long layover and they looked fresh and motivated, which is the biggest takeaway for me, personally.

This game was quite different than the last series. Cleveland came out and kept up their defensive energy. In fact, DD for Toronto was a -32 on the floor. He is, arguably, your best player and to be that abysmal with him out there is indicative of the difference between the teams.

That first quarter set the tone. That Shumpert dunk was a big boost, Irving scored or assisted on 19 points in that quarter and the defense was on point. Not only was the offense flowing and the defense staggering but they took care of the ball. Only 4 turnovers throughout the first 3 quarters and in the 4th it was expected to rise with the bench.

Notable mention to TT with a game leading 14 boards and Irving with a career playoff high 10 assists when he only had 12 in the entire Indiana series.

Quick, someone get some beers over to the hotel for Toronto because they want to forget this game asap.

 

[JFT]

Defense.

 

[MGMT]

What's the verdict on Val at this point?

 

[Adam]

I just dont seem how they can maintain coverage of our three point shooting and manage to create a rebounding advantage. We will have to trap derozan at the foul line and also watch for a middle lane cut on any drive as this seems a staple read for them with derozan due to his poor 3 point shooting.

Not one to self quote normally but just want to point out i called this game in the game thread intro.. raps cant keep us off the boards and off the 3 point line

 

[Kenny Powers]

O

GODAMMIT that would've been every where if Kyrie didn't step out of bounds on that spin.

If that move on Joseph looks familiar, Kyrie was making Cory do turnstiles all the way back in the high school All-American games lmao. Which is why Cory tries so hard against Kyrie now because he's humiliated Cory at every level.

In The Jordan Brand Classic Ky made Joseph and Kendall Marshall look like middle schoolers! Brandon Knight also was a high school rival of Irving and takes these NBA matchups with Kyrie too personally imo.

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

Great Job Cavs

-Founding fathers of America

 

[Real Deal]

There was some dumb shit said in here while Raps made a run (because you know basketball is a game of runs) but my favorite is:

I initially said we'd lose in 6, we won't last 5 games at this rate

I just can't get enough of it. Provides me great laughter. I love the character he plays on here

 

[BigJ]

I don't think the crappy play by the third unit should obscure the fact that the Cavs half-court defense looked as good as it has all season tonight. It's not like they won because some Raptor player had an abysmal night. They made the Raptors as a team look incompetent on offense. That was a great performance by most of the Cavs on the defensive end.

Yep.. they had a 104.8 Defensive Rating.. after it got skewed by the third unit..
Thats the best defense they played since Dezember(GSW Christmas Game).

If we keep this up people who counted our Team out and where like "They have Zero shot against GSW,SA or even Hou" (I am looking at you BSPN and other Media..) will look extremly bad..

Even around here the negativity was overwhelmingly strong... I said.. "wait two weeks until we have shown the defense we shown at the end of the IND Series on a regular basis and we will look like Title favourites again"..

Keep the intensity up and we are fine

 

[PIP]

Shaboom.

Nailed it !

 

[Tlyons]

Sooooo still injured?

Yes imo clearly playing hurt.

For a while now.

 

[Rich]

What's the verdict on Val at this point?

Terrible fit with Lowry and DeRozan.

 

[Jscc]

Terrible fit with Lowry and DeRozan.

Cleveland is running him off the floor. Toronto can't play him.

Toronto forums seem agreed that Val needs to go in the off-season.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

What's the verdict on Val at this point?

Not really a great fit in the modern NBA. In fact, I think the TT/Jonas debate can be safely put to rest. Maybe 8 years ago, Jonas ends up the better player, but in today's NBA, Tristan is a better overall player and much more valuable. Jonas is a better offensive post player and shooter. TT literally does everything else much better. Grant is vindicated on this pick(and Dion Waiters is starting to look like he may end up making Chris Grant look like a really good talent evaluator when it's all said and done)

He's a good post player/rebounder, but he's slow footed defensively, not a rim protector, just a bad defender in general. He has not developed enough range(if he's going to be garbage defensively he needs to hit threes). He doesn't move without the ball very well. He doesn't even roll to the rim very well.

Sure, if he was on a bad team being featured maybe he could be an 18/10 guy. But he just doesn't impact games. Maybe Pop could get the best out of him, and turn him into Marc Gasol I dunno.


Also, the Cavs feasted on Toronto every moment Jonas was on the court last night . If Casey was smart he would bench him and keep him there.