Live Thread: Cavs vs. Raptors (#RevengeTour2016)
2016-01-04It’s a new year… with a new outlook and the thick of the NBA season ahead. Yet, some things linger from 2015… like the bitter taste of defeat at the hands of Eastern Conference foes. The Toronto Raptors were one of the few teams that had the Cavs’ number in the 2015 portion of the schedule, delivering a 103-99 loss during Thanksgiving week up north. So now… it’s payback time, as the wine & gold look to treat the Raptors more unkindly than their stadium steps treated their rollerskating dino mascot a few years ago…
This game will actually mark the last time the Cavs will play in the friendly confines of the Q (where they are 14-1 on the season) for the next two weeks. Then it’s onto a six game roadie that includes the annual Texas three-step. The Cavs look to be at or near full strength, with only Kevin Love a game time decision due to illness. The Raptors, who have built a surprising 21-14 record to lead the Atlantic Division, will have their work cut out for them with defensive specialist, and designated LeBron guarder, DeMarre Carroll out of the mix with a swollen right knee. Still, they’ll have big man, Jonas Valanciunas, back for this one after he missed the Raps’ win back in November.
If the Cavs can continue their good run of stringent defense, while working out of their recent team wide shooting slump, it should be a good night to serve up a little revenge on their Canadian guests. Prediction: Cavs trip up the Raps, and the dinos come crashing down 106-91.
Bron just got it straight stripped on that drive…
I’m impressed with the Raptors but at the same time some the Cavs players need to increase their energy when the Raptors go at them. Sometimes the Cavs are kind of too relaxed.
Please, Moz….finish that.
Blatt’s rotations are very quick
All D line up in now.
Damn these Raptors playing like this after a back to back and w/o Carroll. Wonder if fatigue sets in middle of 3rd?
I don’t think they can sustain this too much longer.
Shump’s hair plays above the rim.
JOnes playing the defense tonight on Valcunias
Can’t wait for the inevitable Delly on Jonas matchup.
IMAN SHUMPERT WITH NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE!
Wowza, Shump!!!
SHUMP!!!!!!!!!!!
Kyrie looks like a maniac out there tonight!
He had some doubt about his legs the first few games back, but his confidence is soaring now.
Mo may not play in this one, with he way the Raps are penetrating.
No way against the starters.
Kyrie is lightning quick!
Timo’s got to keep his feet there… Cory Joseph should be easy to block…
Kyrie going to chase double nickels tonight
KYRIE FOR THREE!!
Hope Moz does some hoop defending here
Irving in the Land of Giants!
65% to 63% Cavs…
Offense bogged down at the end because big 3 was off court. Coach Blatt HAS to have KI or LBJ on court at all times.
IDK.. JFJ scored 5 pts…
That’s ok, he can be out there too!
Celtics and the Nets play again tonight. I so hope the Nets win….a great New Years gift to Billy Simmons.
Dang it! Everyone’s feed seems to be ten-fifteen secs faster than mine so I keep getting spoilers lol
That’s what happens on League Pass… always a delay…
Cavs scored a lot… but gave up a lot of penetration to the Raps…
Great foul by champ. Heady play
JJ is really good with those hard fouls at the basket. Wish TT had more of that in him.
JFJ… great block on Biyombo
Two pretty bad plays for Delly.
Bad turnover by Delly…
And another one…
Champ is relentless at attacking the hole! I love it!
James Freaking Jones looks spry…
James Jones taking it to the hoop…
Gotta have Shumpert on DeRozan.
JAMES FREAKING JONES!
Cavs having real trouble defending the rim tonight so far…
James Jones in before Shump?
Blatt with the heat check lineup…
Has Delly been sick? He looks ill…like he hasn’t slept in a couple days
Wouldn’t be surprised, it’s going around. But it’s probably a meatloaf hangover.
Pop on winning Coach of the Month: “I think you should at least get a car. If you don’t get a car, I don’t give a damn.”
Fred said it best… Lowry is constantly in attack mode…
He’s acting like he wants to score 30 tonight…we’ll see.
we’ve taken 6 straight threes. Byron Scott threw up in his mouth. Keep em coming, I say.
Don’t fall in love too much with the threes guys…
If we keep shooting 50%, I got zero problems with a bomb fest.
That said, we’ve got to run them off the arc on D. They are more of a shoot out team than we are.
I look at it like, the more they shoot, the less variance there’ll be…..
Kyrie looks wonderful. Cavs come out hot again. Its like night and day with this team.
JR is en fuego!
I love this game right now. Perfect break in a long day. EG…you’re looking at the 2nd place team in the east
Two straight great offensive possessions leading to open 3’s from Love and Swish.
Cavs looking great. Like how Kyrie is getting Love involved.
The Cavs look pretty fresh tonight.
OPEN SEASON on THREES!!
KLOVE TRIPLE… off the Kyrie yo-yo ball!
Getting a lot of AC “hehhehehs” always a good sign early.
Nice D by TT on the switch to DeRozan
The Cavs need to stop those uncontested drives to the basket.
League Pass not working on my end – anyone else having difficulty?
Working okay for me…
Well, Poop. New office computers and something ain’t working right.
TT somehow converted that. I expected that to smash into the bottom of the backboard.
Or for the Raps to foul him and send him to the line to take their chances…
Yeah, pretty surprising that they didn’t just hack him.
DeRozan just driving inside at will… gonna maybe need Mozzy to put a stop to that…
He’s abused JR so far. On top of Lowry driving a couple times and james Johnson once. Not good.
Nobody home underneath either…
Kyrie looking sharp! Although kinda strange without the facial hair…
Kyrie is looking better.
Irving looking pretty good.
JR Swish!
C’mon on guys… can’t let Scola hit shots like that…
Kyrie just carved up the Toronto D on that drive…
KLove apparently too wide open on that corner three…
Interesting to see TT and JV on the tip…
Not sure why that’s a violation on JR?
As long as they can keep Scola from going off for 15 points in the first quarter… Cavs should be fine…
Interested in watching the backcourt matchups. Lowry is a beast, can KI stick with him? How about Shumpert when he matches with DeRozan, can he limit his effectiveness? Neither Cav played in the first game.
Delly missed that game also… was just Mo, MDN and RJ in the back court that night…
This is the second game this season where KLOVE was under the weather yet is playing.
Good evening CtB! Here are your numbers for this evening:
CLE is an 8pt favorite over TOR with an o/u @ 194. Smart money is on the UNDER… and betting is split 50/50 on the line.
I’ll take CLE to cover 101-92 over TOR. A defensive struggle, with CLE’s defense putting a choke hold on the jump shooting TOR offense.
I’ll be upset with anything less than a cover. With Toronto coming off a tough game vs Chicago last night and Carroll out, and with the Cavs starting to click, I’m looking for a solid win.
Should be a good game. In fact there’s a few good Eastern Conf. matchups. Indy @ Miami, Orlando @ Detroit and Boston @ Brooklyn……….. Oh stop, I’m just kidding about that last one being a good game; Brooklyn’s obviously better having won the last 2 between them, lol.