Playoff Live Thread: Cavs vs Raptors
2026-04-18Happy Playoff Saturday, Cavs fans! The longest (non-covid or labor negotiation interrupted) regular season of our lifetimes is over. The ‘offs start today! On deck, a dreaded early afternoon game, and a seven game series with the same Toronto Raptors the Cavs posted an 0-3 record against this year. There is some good news, though. The Cavs have zero players on the injury report. The Death Star is fully operational!
Meanwhile, Cavs Immanuel Quickley is out as per a game time decision. So that bodes well. Also boding well? The Cavs choosing to embrace size with the starting lineup of Allen, Mobley, Wade, Harden, and Mitchell. While normally, the Beard is just rolling out of the back room of Christie’s Cabaret at this hour, one has to hop[e he got his beauty sleep and as NOMAD suggested, the Cavs have been practicing for these 1:00 starts.
We could go in for a lot of analysis, but this game is really about mindset. The Cavs are the Eastern conference team most set up to embrace bully ball, possession based basketball, and a ground and pound offense. The Cavs need to attack the paint relentlessly and use it to set up wide open threes. Embrace the two and three man game with half court executors like Max Strus, Sam Merrill, Jarrett Allen, Jaylon Tyson, James Harden, and Donovan Mitchell. I think they got this. Cavs in five. LFG!
Nate with a vintage CtB performance!!! Hell yeah LFG 1-0 DONT GIVE EM HOPE!!!
yeah, buddy!
Veteran playoff team came out sharp and took care of business. No transition game for the Raptors.
Raptors pulled Dick out. Wasn’t expecting that.
this is the kind of headline the Birt tech report “The Register” loves.
It’s a rhythm thing.
Longest fourth quarter ever.
Max with the Dagger
Harden behind the head pass to Allen. Gorgeous!
come on with the layups, guys.
A reminder that Schroder is not a three point shooter.
I legit think the Cavs might have to amnesty him.
And then there was Wade.
Fantastic end to the quarter!
Hilarious dumb foul to end the quarter.
SPIDA!!!! Beautifull move to beat the press then gets Momalakashivliwhatshisname to foul him.
There you go, Jaylon!
Gone from bleeding points with Tyson to treading water, which in terms of just getting him minutes is ok.
I love Jayon Tyson, but get him off the floor.
I like seeing him get a few minutes guarding Barnes.
Clean, effective foul by Max.
Tyson with some awful D on R.J. “Never let him go left” Barrett, there.
Shedd trying to dislodge the ticket oak there.
Tyson snake bit this game.
Rough time for sure.
MAD MAX
Damn,I went to put some chili on and three minutes later they’re up 16.
Sorry. You have to spend the rest of the game getting chili now. Dems da rules.
First rule of playoff basketball: never put on chili at the start of the third quarter.
Except now he has to do it every game.
EVAN!
6-0 RUN TO START THE THIRD! RAGE TIMEOUT, TORONTO!
BIG TO BIG!!!
Max Strus and the Starters: eligible for the Rock Hall in 20 years.
Can we rest Harden for a week before every playoff game? He’s been ridiculous.
Great shots by Harden and Max to close out the half. Awesome dunk by Evan!
Lots of good tough play by Strus and Merrill. This squad has a lot of toughness to scrap with Toronto and wear them down.
LET”S GO!!!
Maximus Strusimus!
Max Strus and the starters has been fire.
Lol, “James Harden: his floater finds purchase!” Has to be the call of the first half.
Did the announcer just say “Scottie Barnes, stronger than 10 rows of onions”?
The double has to come quicker in Ingram
You can see one of the dynamics of this series being the Raptors trying to isolate Ingram (and Barnes) on smaller Cavs defenders.
Was a great block by Poeltle. Four point swing.
Hey y’all, been a while since I’ve been around. Not sure if anyone remembers me! Life took me away from sports for a while but I’m back in this season. Good to see y’all still investing in the team.
Nice to see you man! Hope you’re well!
Same to you! Go Cavs!
gosh damn, haven’t seen your name pop up in awhile but so glad to see it!
Hope all is well with you and yours!
Yo JMay!!!
Good lord, James Harden.
Mobley hasn’t been great. Hoping JA is better.
Allen >>>> Poeltl
JA WITH THE OKEY DOKE TO GET TO THE LINE
Mobley with a great lob finish.
GD it with this four guard lineup.
Schroeder gotta move his feet.
SPIDA! 3!
Yeah. Not a great challenge.
I’m not sure the Cavs win this one.
Challenge? It’s borderline.
Holy shit! What a quarter close by the Cavaliers! 7-0 run to go up 35-31 to close the first!
Wow helluva pass by Mitch, incredible finish by Strus.
Gotta love a four point swing at the free throw line.
The Raptors sandbagged the league all season by missing threes on purpose and now reveal their secret weapon in the playoffs.
Cavs losing the make or miss battle from three.
For as much hate as Harden has drawn in his career, he’s high on my list of most fun players to watch (on offense lol). So steady, balanced, gets to whatever spot he wants. And some of his passes are genius.
That foul on Ingram was some weak sauce.
Gotta attack Barnes.
Freaking A. Harden got clobbered.
Lucky he didn’t get hurt on that, it was a mosh pit.
Strus just a bit off on that pass.
Cripes with this officiating.
Good judgment by Wade with the pass to Merrill. Shot just didn’t go in.
Glad he drove first. Yes that was a great look for Merrill.
I did not know Harden is the all time scoring leader among lefties!
https://bsky.app/profile/cavscledotcom.bsky.social/post/3mjrx2tekxc22
The refs’ two foul calls on Barnes so far were both correct, and also the type they could have missed or swallowed the whistle if they had an agenda. I think they won’t be the story today which is great.
Merrill for Mobley is a good sub. Evan could stand to settle down a bit
Yeah he’s acting like it’s his first playoff game. Lol!
Allen looks AWESOME god damn
Time to go after Barnes.
I like Harden’s shoes.
DM needs to do a better job defending the three.
Mobley fell asleep on D for the second time.
I never expect Allen to be able to get all the way to the hoop on those dunks. He covers so much ground. Awesome!
Allen with the slicing smash!
v
Mobley fell asleep on the cutter.
I’ve got a lot of nervous energy right now. Go Cavs!