Live Thread: Cavs at Raptors
2015-11-25Note from Editor Nate Smith: I feel like the stuff that our commenters contribute is better than the stuff other blogs publish. This site is a labor of love, and you guys make it worthwhile. Thanks so much. I know I speak for everyone at CtB when I say that we are truly thankful for your readership, interaction, and the sense of community that you’ve instilled here. Please, everyone, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
Skinny Kyle Lowry is as good as chubby Kyle Lowry. It doesn’t really matter how cut up the nine year veteran is as long as he is healthy. After Lowry’s 2014 playoff performance, the gritty point guard led the Raptors to a very strong start of the 2014-2015 season before he and his team lost steam. When Lowry is right, the Raptors are a tough-nosed defensive squad with a giant heart. When he is off, the Raptors are a soft, perimeter oriented team that is as fuzzy as the picture above.
So far, Lowry is right and that in tandem with a bit of effective DeMar DeRozan is enough for a decent start. Unfortunately for the Drakes(Zach Lowe, we miss you), DeMarre Carroll hasn’t quite found his Canadian groove, Jonas Valanciunas hasn’t quite made the leap, and superstar Anthony Bennett hasn’t … ok, forgot I mentioned our dear Gum Drop Bear. A favorite of Nate and mine, James Johnson has strangely gotten very little burn. As one of the few guys in the league who can physically matchup with LeBron, that could change tonight.
Kevin Love and the Cavaliers cross Lake Erie with more confidence than they have ever had as a single unit. Since Kevin’s rough shooting night in New York, the Cavalier bigman has averaged nearly 25 points per contest. He is doing damage on early seal post-ups and three point bombs. All of Blatt’s men are feeding Love the rock and it has worked beautifully. With Mathew Dellavedova questionable with a balky calf, the Cavs will welcome Mo Williams back into the fray after his three game absence.
Whether you are watching with old high school friends at your hometown bar, with your family while prebaking pumpkin pie, or hiding from said family in an attempt to stay sane, enjoy the game.
Hey Lauren, little help?
Wish I could watch this.
KLOVE for three!!
The game swung from Toronto’s 19-2 run immediately to a 16-0 run by the Cavs.
Lowry hooked MDN there
Disrupt ball movement on one end, execute flawlessly on the other. Good formula.
If Ninja could finish, he’d be absolutely deadly…
Much danger ninja!
Ninja with another 3! 2 for 3 from deep on the night.
NINJA THREE!!!
NICE COMEBACK—MDN DOING HIS THING —BEING ATHLETIC—PLAYING TOUGH “D’
God, listening to the Toronto broadcasters on my stream, and Drake just joined them for the last 10 minutes and needless to say the game has been muted.
No Hotline Bling for you taximike? ;)
Ummm, no I don’t think so.
How about the Shump remix?
Yes, this. Was keeping it to myself, thought there might be some Drake fans here. Personality-free zone there for the duration.
That was some defense and James switched to. MVP mode . God, I love this team.
Terrifying basketball since Lebron came back!
Terrible spacing by Toronto on the last possession. Also great D by the Cavs.
Freaking fantastic d by mdn and Co.
Who wants the ball? TT wants the ball!
James Freaking Jones…
REFS HAVING THEIR ” PRE THANKSGIVING APPETIZER “—–” WHISTLE DRESSING “
A 19-2 run by the Raptors before that James three.
Yeah, clearly all ball there… jeez…
Guess it’s not good to have your 8th 10th 11th 12th and 13th best players on the court together when the game’s not decided.
2 threes already halfway in then out. Put a starter in. Dont let it get out of hand Coach.
Lotta whistle swallowing out there…
Cunningham can’t buy a call.
Andy doing Andy things.
Someone might wanna guard Scola. Just saying
Andy usually does the best job on Scola, since he’s more familiar with him…
Looks like Mo might have come back too early… two turnovers and some poor closeouts….
He’s rushing everything and MDN is trying to slow everything down. At least that combo will keep raptors off balance
Better add a second or ywo
Lowry going to locker room… injury?
Cavs 23… Scola 15… jeez…
Scola is a legend though Probably ahall of famer.
I know you’re joking… but gross… that made me throw up in my mouth a little…
Mo is giving them absolutely nothing. Sit his ass down.
They don’t have that luxury, unless they want to go with JR, Ninja and Harris as their guard rotation tonight.
Let him play into the game. They need his Minutes.
Oh gosh…dirk Scola is now just dirk.
GREAT cut and pass by the Ninja!
90% of what he does, Harris can’t do.
MDN finds TT nicely.
Toronto can’t pull off the Kraken.
Love is a MONSTER on the boards tonight…
Already 7 boards…
Love has been so good this year! Love it!
Kevin Love back to back.
My new nickname for Love is “automatic for the people.”
Raining LOVE!!
JR probably never in his life thought his floater would be calling a Delly shot lol
Digging the JR driving tear drop these days…
Mo looks rusty…
Mo enters…and loses the ball.
Haha the slow Replay shows byombo literally setting a lead block style pick. Ridiculous
Yeah, that’s one of my pet peeves, when the screener turns into a pulling guard and bulldozes the defender to the basket. What is the defender supposed to do?
Unusual for TT to fall for the fake and flail…
Lowry with the flop. And flail.
Cunningham starting can only do wonders for his game. I like that their trusting them and I think he can really play.
Srsly Scola? First name now Dirk…
What’s mo’s status? Adding punch to bench unit?
Must be… he’s active tonight and should play at some point…
Ninja solid D on Lowry in the early going.
Cavs 11… Scola 8…
Early lebricks..
Kev getting all boards early..
Touchdown throwdown!
Klove might be the tallest guy on the floor…
Scola always seems to play well against the Cavs…
One of my least favorite over-achieving scrubs
Mine too… so punchable…
Ninja with the stealthy three…
Cunningham baby!!! MDN from deep!
Ninja trey! That’s a bonus.
Your numbers for tonight:
CLE is a 3pt favorite over TOR, with an o/u @ 200. Smart money is on TOR and the under.
I’ll take CLE in a close one, 100-98 over TOR… GO CAVS!
JR SWISH!
MDN: Nice cut, gotta finish.
Yeah, that’s gotta be a basket… c’mon Ninja!
Tristan gonna show up BiG in toronto
Ugly Russell Brand starts the game off… man, it doesn’t matter what team Scola is on… just punchable…
Lauren in the house.
Excellent news, Phil!!! She’s our girl HAHA!
Much Danger Ninja with the start!
REALLY COLS PBR ——-THAT IS OLD SCHOOL —–LIKE IRON CITY OR STROHS MAN —TO EACH THEIR OWN !!!—ENJOY AND GO CAVS !!
Anyone else bake two pumpkin pies some
Pumpkin bars put up Christmas lights trees and decorations and drink a few PBR tall boys and some fake baileys in coffee?
Now it’s game time. What a great day.
You sure do enjoy having a good time.
Um, what was in those pumpkin bars, Cols?
What exactly is “fake baileys”? Like generic brand Baileys?
Yeooloppp St Brendan’s maybe?!!
Sasha Kaun. Looks like a Latin American dictator with that stache.
LOL he is a sight to behold.
Genghis Kaun!!
No Delly :(
Probably best to rest him so that calf can heal. Cavs will be tested again.