Cavs vs. Raptors - 2nd Round Uncompetitive Sweep

[cavsfever]

I would imagine the Raptors would play big against us a lot because we have trouble dealing with interior size...right? Also gives the advantage of using JV as a last line of defense against Lebron getting to the rim. So start JV, Ibaka, Tucker, Lowry, DeRozan? If TT is in then JV can stay in the paint as a rim protector with no worries. Our counter to that is to put in Frye, who JV would eat up inside when Frye is defending but who might get free on offense as a 3-point shooter. But Frye on JV gives them a significant rebounding advantage.

With that starting lineup their bench is significantly better on defense than ours, though not on offense.. they would have Patterson, Norman Powell, Demarre Carroll, Cory Joseph, vs Deron Williams, Frye, Korver, RJ, and Shumpert.

 

[shoes22]

I know I'm probably disrespecting them, but I just can't make myself to view Toronto as a serious threat.

I think the key to controlling the Raptors is containing DeRozan. If we can do that, the others are too inconsistent to reliably keep up with us. Similar to the last series with Paul George, I think our defense should key in on stopping him first and foremost. I'd love to see Lowry try to beat us, especially at the Q.

If Love and Kyrie can solve the Raptors D and put up the All-Star numbers they're capable of, this will be a short series. If they can't, then it won't.

 

[CLEistheCITY]

Please let the raptors go small on us...

 

[fan0283]

I know I'm probably disrespecting them, but I just can't make myself to view Toronto as a serious threat.

I think the key to controlling the Raptors is containing DeRozan. If we can do that, the others are too inconsistent to reliably keep up with us. Similar to the last series with Paul George, I think our defense should key in on stopping him first and foremost. I'd love to see Lowry try to beat us, especially at the Q.

If Love and Kyrie can solve the Raptors D and put up the All-Star numbers they're capable of, this will be a short series. If they can't, then it won't.

We will win this series but I predict they will give us all a scare at some points in the series. Biyombo was a worry those two games we dropped last year but he was also exposed on offense when we started to ignore him on that end. They now have Ibaka to stretch our already porous interior defense. Like I said I expect us to win but I also expect us to pull out our hair at several points in this series because of how easy they will be taking it to our hoop. The ACC also has a racous crowd thats going to psyche out several guys on our team. Lebron being a god in away arenas will more than make up for that

 

[Sticker114]

Cavs in 4. Less competitive than Pacers. Cavs on fire from 3 all series. Defensively the Cavs will still be awful to meh, but the Raptors still won't have enough offense to take a game

 

[BigJ]

I voted we win in 5. I honestly think the Pacers where a great Test and the Raptors needed all they had to get past the inexperienced Bucks without their 2nd Best Player(Parker)..

I feel like i am one of the few optimists left here.. I feel since Game 3 at Halftime our defense has arrived and from now on we will be much, much better.

 

[Rich]

I'd like to see some extended time with Love at center this series. See if he can do what he did to Drummond last year to Jonas. They simply can't go small against us, they'll get murdered. Staying big is their only chance. Only one team in the league can play small ball with us, and it's not Toronto.

 

[rabman_gold]

The Cavs beat the Raptors last year (as everyone knows), but that doesn't mean they won't put up a good fight (or win the 2nd round). But I'd like to take what I knew of them last year, try to apply it to this year, and see what the most likelihood what happen in the Best-Of-Seven (I'd like to see @shoes22 and his formula here too).

Most likely starting match-ups:

• Frontcourt: Tristan/K. Love Vs Jonas/Ibaka
  • Could see a cross matchup on both sides of the court
  • What the Raptors have that Indiana lacks is a post scorer, but also a slow-footed center
• Backcourt: JR/Irving Vs DeMar/Lowry
  • If JR has trouble with DeRozan, they may put LeBron on him (but probably would start with JR first)
  • Lowry has had difficulty stepping up against teams in the playoffs, but if Irving doesn't defend well, this could be an X-factor for the Raptors if Lowry manages to find his groove
• SF/Wings: LBJ Vs Carroll
  • LeBron has feasted on Carroll in the last 2 playoff series they faced off in; if they're desperate, they might start Tucker just to have someone physical on him all game long
  • Maybe they try putting Ibaka on him, with Carroll guarding Love; but Love will probably try to back him down
• Bench Units: Frye/Korver/Shumpert/Deron/Jefferson Vs Tucker/Powell/Patterson/Joseph/Wright
  • The Raptors have athleticism, tough-minded performers
  • The Cavs have decent shooters, defenders (when motivated), and proven performers
  • The real problem is when LeBron goes to the bench; will they hold on for the few minutes he rests so the Cavs don't bleed points?
• Coaching: Lue Vs Casey
  • For coaching, it'll come down to adjustments, who will bring more defense (especially transition D), and which stars will bring more to the game

I am not counting out the Raptors, but the Cavs seem to believe they can turn it on whenever they want. They certainly can play good with more effort. But the Raptors were the only team last year in the East to win at least 1 game. But after going 2-2, the Cavs buckled down in dominating fashion.

I don't have a steady prediction, but I see the Raptors winning between 1-3 games (Cavs win the series), but will be determined by how zoned-in the Cavs are for all 4 quarters of each game.

Gun-to-the-Head: 4-2; Cleveland Cavaliers win series

 

[PinkFlame]

People forget that Byiambo was the only reason they won 2 games. Ibaka is not a threat. Hes is overrated garbage. Hes not an energy big like Byiambo is. He for some reason thinks hes Ray Allen. And PJ Tucker, really? PJ TUCKER guarding Lebron, dont make me laugh. This series is over in 4 or 5.

 

[Pioneer10]

People forget that Byiambo was the only reason they won 2 games. Ibaka is not a threat. Hes is overrated garbage. Hes not an energy big like Byiambo is. He for some reason thinks hes Ray Allen. And PJ Tucker, really? PJ TUCKER guarding Lebron, dont make me laugh. This series is over in 4 or 5.

Great point: Biyombo really took over inside against Love and TT in Toronto. Ibaka is a better shotblocker and shooter but it Biyombos energy and feistiness which really worked for thm

 

[Benedict_Boozer]

Great point: Biyombo really took over inside against Love and TT in Toronto. Ibaka is a better shotblocker and shooter but it Biyombos energy and feistiness which really worked for thm

Biyombo always made me nervous because he would just hammer people and always played super physical. With injury prone guys like Kyrie and Love it was just a disaster waiting to happen.

He would always lay a cheap shot or two flagrant on Lebron also and as you say he dominated the paint at times.

Glad he is off that team!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CLEistheCITY]

Biyombo also played well above his mean for those 2 games.

It all depends which Lowry/derozan shows up this series. If they are BOTH on I can see it going 6, if not I can see the Cavs smashing them. It would be a very disappointing result if this goes 7 as some on here are predicting. I feel like a lot of you guys on here psyche yourselves out about the opposing teams roster matchups and forget about the mismatches/nightmares our roster creates for opposing team.

 

[czvo]

There are going to be a lot of pissed off people when Ibaka drops 20-10 with three blocks in one or two of these games. He's getting so underrated by a number of people on this board.

 

[Cavatt]

Glad Ibaka routinely get outplayed by both TT and Love not to mention him losing a step. TT>Jonas

 

[godfather]

I think this will be a challenging series for us. The Cavs suspect defense can't be so suspect against Toronto and expect an easy series.