HurricaneKid
Gold Star Member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2014
- Messages
- 542
- Reaction score
- 739
- Points
- 93
Line: Cavs -2.5
Moneyline: Cavs -150
Three days.
Just last year the Cavs rode into Toronto for G3 of the Eastern Conference Finals coming off of two majestic wins at home by a combined 50 points. The next three days emboldened the Raptors into believing they could step foot on a court against Cavs in the playoffs and come away victorious if they added a few players. They spent significant assets to make win now moves during the season in adding PJ Tucker to take on LeBron and Ibaka to upgrade the shaky 4 spot that Pascal Siakam had been starting at despite both players being unrestricted free agents after the season. And they played really good ball down the stretch to hold off Washington for the 3 seed.
In a presser after those losses last year LeBron publicly brushed off the weirdly subpar performances of the Cavs and made it clear he didn't consider the Raps a worthy foe. The Cavs won the final two games and completely outclassed the Raps to close out the series.
But still, hope reigned in Toronto and the ever cautious Masai made win now moves he had never made before. The two wins at home against the Cavs over those 3 days provided a spark to the entire fanbase. The Raps had only been two games away from knocking off the NBA Champs. The question is how personally do the Cavs take the fact that Toronto thought a Sun scoring 7.0 pts a game while shooting 3.5% worse than the league avg TS% and a declining Ibaka was all it took to even the playing field. Because they should take it personally.
LeBron understands that his squad let up in Toronto last year and the undeniable postseason spring in his step will only intensify tonight. Another victory where the Cavs not only win the game but completely destroy Toronto could literally end the Raptors as we know them. After this season Ibaka and Lowry (and PJ and PatPat) are UFAs and will be signing massive deals that would push the Raps WELL into the luxury tax and would do so with an aging team that could no longer pretend to be contenders. Win tonight like we have the first two games and this becomes a strong likelihood:
The Cavs would have the luxury of significant rest while the Wizards and Celtics literally bludgeon each other for another week. Lose and its still a series. Lose and we may have to worry about this team in the coming years. Lose and hope returns to the land of Bieber. Lose and Drake is back on the floor for a meaningful G4. Lose and we have to hear about the footsteps of the Warriors.
The three day trip to Toronto last postseason emboldened the Raptors and provided hope. Those three days can now be rectified. Tonight is the night to end the Raptors. To literally force their franchise onto new path.
Go Cavs.
I have no idea who is going to start for the Raptors. You can be sure it won't be the lineup that started either of the first two games. Lowry is questionable after rolling his ankle in G2, and missed practice Thursday. Casey appears desperate to find some way of slowing the explosive Cavs out of the gate after facing large deficits early in both games. I imagine we will see more of PJ Tucker and expect Toronto to force the Cavs to switch Kyrie onto DeRozan to get him better looks. With Lowry hobbled DeRozan's production is NEEDED for the Raptors to have a shot. The truth is if the Cavs shoot the way they have there isn't any adjustment Casey can make to fix their deficits. And all the Cavs need to do is move Lowry and defend DeRo.
Moneyline: Cavs -150
Three days.
Just last year the Cavs rode into Toronto for G3 of the Eastern Conference Finals coming off of two majestic wins at home by a combined 50 points. The next three days emboldened the Raptors into believing they could step foot on a court against Cavs in the playoffs and come away victorious if they added a few players. They spent significant assets to make win now moves during the season in adding PJ Tucker to take on LeBron and Ibaka to upgrade the shaky 4 spot that Pascal Siakam had been starting at despite both players being unrestricted free agents after the season. And they played really good ball down the stretch to hold off Washington for the 3 seed.
In a presser after those losses last year LeBron publicly brushed off the weirdly subpar performances of the Cavs and made it clear he didn't consider the Raps a worthy foe. The Cavs won the final two games and completely outclassed the Raps to close out the series.
But still, hope reigned in Toronto and the ever cautious Masai made win now moves he had never made before. The two wins at home against the Cavs over those 3 days provided a spark to the entire fanbase. The Raps had only been two games away from knocking off the NBA Champs. The question is how personally do the Cavs take the fact that Toronto thought a Sun scoring 7.0 pts a game while shooting 3.5% worse than the league avg TS% and a declining Ibaka was all it took to even the playing field. Because they should take it personally.
LeBron understands that his squad let up in Toronto last year and the undeniable postseason spring in his step will only intensify tonight. Another victory where the Cavs not only win the game but completely destroy Toronto could literally end the Raptors as we know them. After this season Ibaka and Lowry (and PJ and PatPat) are UFAs and will be signing massive deals that would push the Raps WELL into the luxury tax and would do so with an aging team that could no longer pretend to be contenders. Win tonight like we have the first two games and this becomes a strong likelihood:
The Cavs would have the luxury of significant rest while the Wizards and Celtics literally bludgeon each other for another week. Lose and its still a series. Lose and we may have to worry about this team in the coming years. Lose and hope returns to the land of Bieber. Lose and Drake is back on the floor for a meaningful G4. Lose and we have to hear about the footsteps of the Warriors.
The three day trip to Toronto last postseason emboldened the Raptors and provided hope. Those three days can now be rectified. Tonight is the night to end the Raptors. To literally force their franchise onto new path.
Go Cavs.
I have no idea who is going to start for the Raptors. You can be sure it won't be the lineup that started either of the first two games. Lowry is questionable after rolling his ankle in G2, and missed practice Thursday. Casey appears desperate to find some way of slowing the explosive Cavs out of the gate after facing large deficits early in both games. I imagine we will see more of PJ Tucker and expect Toronto to force the Cavs to switch Kyrie onto DeRozan to get him better looks. With Lowry hobbled DeRozan's production is NEEDED for the Raptors to have a shot. The truth is if the Cavs shoot the way they have there isn't any adjustment Casey can make to fix their deficits. And all the Cavs need to do is move Lowry and defend DeRo.
Last edited:
