Playoff Live Thread: Cavs @ Raptors (Game 4)

Put up, or shut up time, Cavs fans. After letting go of the rope, Thursday, the wine and gold look to play with more “force” against Toronto, Sunday afternoon. It remains to be seen if they can before their Sunday afternoon nap. Was Friday a one-off, or will the awful habits that have plagued James Harden throughout his playoff career surface yet again?

The Beard spent much of the last game throwing himself into defenders for fouls and not getting a whistle. You’d think that after 16 years of that not working in the playoffs, he’d change it up for the 17th, but alas. It led to some bad shooting and seven brutal turnovers. Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell sat in a corner and was weirdly passive all game.

The hits didn’t stop there, as Dennis Schröder played himself off the floor (-8 in 5 minutes) and was thankfully nowhere to be seen in the second half. Meanwhile Keon Ellis remains overmatched at the three, and the Cavs need some Thomas Bryant and maybe Nae’Qwan Tomlin minutes, just to match Toronto’s size .

One of the few positive developments for Cleveland was Jaylon Tyson’s productivity: 13 points in 17 minutes. Now may be time to shorten the rotation for the wine and gold.  Wade has to stay in the starting lineup to re-establish the lockdown on Ingram. I’d make the rotation Strus, Tyson, Merrill, and Bryant (or Tomlin if he’s not defending). Mitchell is going to have to be backup point guard and Strus, Merrill, Tyson, and Mobley are going to have to help bring the ball up.

If the Cavs do this, get out of bed before noon, don’t turn the ball over, and rebound, they got this. The difference between 3-1 and 2-2 is enormous, and if the Spida and friends want to feel like a real contender, they have to compete all game. We’ll see what they’re made of. Go Cavs.