Live Thread: Cavs vs Raptors
2018-03-21
Well, we get a reprieve in tonight’s probably playoff preview. Tristan Thompson and Rodney Hood are still out with injury, according to associate head coach, Larry Drew. I, for one, was not looking forward to Tristan’s return in a crucial playoff matchup, with the Cavs just a half a game up on the Pacers for the central division crown. Let’s let those guys get going against Phoenix, Friday.
Starting for the Cavs will be Calderon, George Hill, LeBron, Jeff Green, and Kevin Love. Kyle Korver is out, morning the death of his brother, Kirk. For the Raptors, C.J. Miles and Fred VanVleet are game time decisions. In probably Toronto’s biggest regular season game of the year, I’m betting they play.
They key to beating the Raps? Tamping down on DeMar DeRozan, who can score from anywhere now, and hoping Serge Ibaka, OG Anonuby, and Jonas Valanciunas aren’t beating you tonight. Because we all know what Kyle Lowry and C.J. Miles can do.
Raps average almost 34 three point attempts a game, and make 36%, so stopping them there and on the offensive boards is key. I’m betting the Cavs start rounding into form here and win a squeaker 120-118. Go Cavs.
LeBron is developing chemistry with Zizic similar to what he had with Varejao.
they just showed TT on the bench and i barfed a bit in my mouth
If Jordan Clarkson became a catch and shoot 3 and D guy, he’d be so valuable. Dude, you’re not Kyrie Irving, despite your idiotic dinosaur take. Try to be more Kyle Korver and less Isaiah Thomas.
Defense better …cavs need another run here …should have lead if they made layups early in qtr
Clarkson has not been good tonight…
Not sure what is going on with him.
Letting his crappy offense affect his defense, methinks.
Clarkson does some dumb things. How much you bet we don’t see J. R. In the second half.
I’ll take that bet…
Against a great offense, dumb stuff kills you so much worse. JR does less dumb than Clarkson, actually.
Nets honing in on 8th pick in draft. :(
Hubie is just insufferable…
Zz sets such good screens.
Did LeBron just take a charge??
le-defense, its a thing
I have visions of Bagley doing everything Jeff Green doesn’t at the four
Just doesn’t seem like LBJ is as full out as he was against the Bucks…
He looks more tired. They all look more tired. Bucks don’t move the ball as well so d want as tiring
All in taking that charge against Poeltl
Kev is such a good defender
when he’s not spacing out i kind of agree, but sometimes he just goes lazy mode and he’s awful
He plays to exhaustion Cuz he is an undersized 5. That’s when he spaces out I think. I wouldn’t say its laziness
He’s not acknowledged in game shape either.
Jeff Green got a rebound!
LeBron’s spot up D has to be in the bottom quarter of the league.
Does Lowry ever miss?
Way to follow your shot Kev!
If we can keep them under 100 through 3…
Lol
Hill and Jose have been great tonight
Agreed. Hill much better at the 2
strangely, jeff green can defend the 1-2-3, but not the 4 or 5
Jeff Green is so shi**y
WTF LBJ?
No Anunoby didn’t just push Bron in the back… jeez
killer orb
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/976615708653219840
Defense much better but cavs missing point blank layups…should have lead right now
These refs.
5 missed layups this qtr by love and green
That was a terrible call on calderon. Turrible
Jeff Green keeping us down…
The NBA still has a huge officiating problem!
I’m sure its just homerism, but i feel like the refs don’t give the cavs much love
just feels like the refs really killed that run with the non-call on love, then two pretty weak calls on calderon
Gotta hit that Jeff!
Refs totally missed that grab on Love…
LBJ actually guarding JV that time…
le-defense!
I feel like Ibaka is their weak link…
Maybe the Raps will run out of gas since it’s a back to back… well except DeRozan who didn’t play last night…
Why take that three Bron?
raptors trying to send a message—LeBron saying “wtf “—-agree –let’s see what happens in the playoffs —maybe the results will be the same —-MAYBE NOT
JOSE!
Nice dunk GHill!
Raps don’t even have CJ Miles out there, who usually kills the Cavs…
yeah evil saw the nets score —damn !!—–wouldn’t overly pursue a “w ” tonight –let young players get some minutes / rest klove —-‘FREE OKRA “–(white )
Been lurking this season because regular season means nothing apparently. But I gotta jump in to say this. Paul Pierce is a hater and silly if he has forgotten who LeBron is in the playoffs. Smh Sixers beating the Cavs in the first round.
The Truth is a Lie…
Raptors hitting a lot of shots but cavs defense has a lot to be desired…don’t think raptors will hit at that clip second half cavs will make it close game but fall short
LeBron’s D was garbage. JR’s D was worse than garbage. Jeff Green can’t play center against the raptors. Too many turnovers in the early second and that’s your 79 point raptor half.
Don’t forget the 8 offensive rebounds surrendered…
See: Jeff Green at center.
Good point…
Meanwhile… the Nets are blowing out the Hornets… so good times…
JR and TT (when he comes back) are fairly unplayable against good teams… That said, I expect to see a lot of both because logic usually fails…
Jr thinks he’s free safety !the guy floats around on defense when his man doesn’t have the ball , and when his man has the ball he gets beat really quick wether there’s a pick or not ! The man has got to go!
Halftime chuckle
https://twitter.com/ziggyofak/status/976472527437553665
There are other missing key guys like the Celtics are too but they continue to play defense in every game but the Cavs.
By the way that last defensive possession by Lebron, he totally left VanVleet score on a wide open 3.
It doesn’t matter if the Cavs get all their guys back if they can’t begin to play defense they are not getting by these Raptors.
The Raptors are having a field day right now.
Yeah… who knows what Bron was doing there… just standing under the basket…
https://twitter.com/CavsFredMcLeod/status/976611771556483072
Raps are hitting the tough shots as well as the wide open ones…
Lue is clearly with us in spirit.
Well, I know we don’t have half of our roster but I’ve seen more defense played during all-Star games. Frustrating to watch LeBron watch his man shoot threes.
About to allow 140+ to the Raptors
https://twitter.com/JasonLloydNBA/status/976611198425812992
Horrible. I understand we are missing key guys but sh!t…
Really bad d by Lebron to end the half
Jeez that escalated quickly.
Jordan Clarkson is an impressive -16 in only 12 minutes.
79 points… most the Raptors have scored in a half this year…
That is zero percent surprising it came against us.
ouch that was a spanking. why is our defense so bad tho JR SMITH?!
Also LBJ is big problem, but i expect him to pick it up in playoffs
Way to not rotate LeBron…
I like the idea of getting Holland minutes… but he’s overmatched in this one…
Pick and rolled to death…
Pick and LOL’ed more like it…
why did jr swap off lowry??!
Because he’s not good anymore…
STOP LEAVING YOUR MAN JR!!!
Is there a better PG at the PNR right now than Lowry?