Playoff Podcap: Cavs 128, Raptors 93 (or, Swept Away)
2018-05-08https://soundcloud.com/ctb-5/episode-171-swept-away
Contrary to what was posited in the Saturday Night Live sketch that was cut for time last weekend, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ point guard is in fact not a Roomba. However, such a point guard would have been handy in sweeping up the smoldering ashes of the Toronto Raptors following Monday night’s Game 4 extinction level event. As expected, the Cavs completed their impressive clean sweep of the top seeded dinos, by raining fiery rocks from the perimeter and erupting in the paint. All five starters were in double figures, and their guards barely missed a shot in the first half. Their non-Roomba point guard even drove for successive dunks in the first quarter, while LeBron James just calmly dished dimes and crushed any spirit the Raptors had left. It was a resounding, impressive and absolute statement of a closeout game that should leave no doubts about this team’s ability to make a fourth straight trip to the NBA Finals.
To break down this game, this sweep, and the playoffs to date, EG, Tom and Eli hopped into the booth for a bit. We talked about how much a reinvigorated and healthy support staff have helped LeBron, who their opponent in the ECF will be, whether or not their rugged first round series against the Pacers will pay dividends in the next one, and what could become of the shattered remains of the Raptors. We also dish a little on President Genius, Brad Stevens, and what the Cavs odds of winning the draft lottery might be. And, we didn’t manage to get too swept away or long in the tooth.
As always, you can catch us above, on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts or Google Play.
https://twitter.com/AmicoHoops/status/994419119834451968
I’m glad we are facing Boston in the ECF. Whose the best player on Boston?
All I know is that the Cavs have the two best players in the series. The Celtics have their ‘genius’ coach, who has been out-coached by Ty Lue in previous playoff series.
Watch out for Baynes to try and pull a “Kelly Olynyk” on LeBron or Love.
Boston is not nearly as good as they looked against Philly. So often it seemed like they were just throwing up crap at the rim and it would go in. Aside from Tatum, it just seemed like a fluke- especially the crap Smart, Horford and Baynes (shooting threes ??!!!) just looked like b.s. following in for them. Cavs will crush them.
Philly will be much better next year. Interesting to see how Simmons and Fultz (even Embiid) improve over the off-season, along with what they do with their top-10 pick and free agency adds.
Cavs in 5.
Boston could be a tough series. If we win the first one, it could lead to a quick KO.
dear lord Draymond is an idiot
Ainge won that draft/trade big time. And hit a home run with Stevens.
Yeah… sad face.
Funny how much Philly needed a guy like Tatum, could have drafted him, and he’s the one to put them away.
Great point…. all the open 3s he could’ve made for them.
I can’t blame them for taking Fultz. Coming out of college he was a legit number one. They couldn’t have known he was going to entirely screw himself up over the summer seemingly for no real reason.
Only knock was fit of course, but the Fultz was a beast in college and had all of the tools to be a star. I am also not sure if they knew what they had in Simmons or if he would stay healthy.
Definitely- can’t knock them for taking Fultz at all. He looked incredible coming out of college, looked like the clear-cut best player in the league. COuld still end up being incredible. But man, are Tatum and Mitchell something- and they’re exactly what the Sixers are missing.
best player in the ***draft
Gah. I hate boston. Hate drew Bledsoe. Please sweep these dopes.
If Boston somehow beats us and the finals is BOS vs GS…..Idk guys.
(Sorry just preemptively having a sports related panic attack)
Could be a tough close series, but it would be seriously under performing for the cavs to be beaten. Even with Boston vastly overachieving, they still shouldn’t be able to beat the cavs. But yeah it could be similar to Indy with a lot of grind out games against very physical defense.
Think Boston could be an even more physical test than Indiana. But given how Hill, Love have improved health and are playing great ball along with Korver and of course ‘Bron- Cavs in 5.
Should we be concerned that Lue is good at shutting down 1 dimensional teams and that the Celtics are not so much multi-dimensional as they are non-dimensional?
This team better than last year’s boston team.
I do not understand exactly what you mean. You mean their system? If so they did well on Boston last year. Granted they had a huge (or rather small) target to hamper on defense. But it was still system heavy other than IT.
Might have to trap rozier on occasion
Not worried about Boston at all…but Tatum is legit.
Celtics up next. Philly has a lot of film to review in the offseason on stuff they can do differently in close games. Should make them better in the long run if Brown does a good job.
Joel Embiid gotta get smarter
gave away way too many possessions.
Game 1, Sunday afternoon
yeah…that might be boston’s last win this season. hope they enjoy it.
Love watching Embiid walk off the court like b after all that s he talked.
Well that was interesting.
Boston it is. I think this is a better matchup for us. But Boston is tough. They will not quit. And they won’t beat themselves.
Cool, Boston it is.
Can’t wait for LeBron to rip their hearts. I despise Boston fans as much as GS ones.
Al Hordford 78% FT shooter gives up to Smart. There’s some pressure for you.
That’s better Reddick!
Reddick his three one too late.
Embiid blew it!!!
Embid can’t finish vs Baynes. Unbelievable
That should do it as long as Boston makes two.
Obvious foul on Baynes there.
that’s a foul on Baynes with his arms straight out isn’t it?
They’re letting them play…. obvious foul on Tatum on the other end prior to the shot.
Well, Philly hasn’t gotten a stop in a while. Then that TO. Redick could have KO’d them with that triple.
Still with a shot. Down 2. No shot clock.
Terrible shot by Redick…
Or not… LOL.
Man, thought Philly had this.
Gah. They just do so many stupid things.
I guess I jinxed Boston.
aahahahahahhhahahahahahahahahahah
lol even when Baynes not getting posterized he gets kneed in the jumblies
Man. I want boston to win this now
When philly doesn’t play stupid they’re REALLY tough.
Want philly to win tonight at least. Nothing makes me happier than the Boston crowd going home sad.
They could have folded completely as inexperienced as they are. Impressed they haven’t.
What does Reddick think his job is? Hit the open 3!
I’d really prefer not to play a 76ers team on a 4 game win streak
Best decision by McConnell that time was NOT passing to Embiid on the perimeter.
Dario Saric looks like he play a smuggler in the Solo Star Wars movie. Could even keep his name.
How many Sixers can get pump-faked into the air on a single defensive possession?
Yeah, haven’t been impressed with their interior D.
He gets a lot of grief here, but Horford is a really fine player. He can check Embiid & Simmons. Post up. Pass. Great connector.
He is good. Not great, but a really solid big who plays excellent in certain systems. He just is not a go to guy and has weaknesses that can be exposed by certain matchups. He would be a good fourth guy on a championship team. In other eras he might be a decent third option, but in this era of super teams he won’t be the guy that can put you over the top without two legit superstars.
Wow Philly just doesn’t know how to will a win. Playing putrid basketball. I guess it’s all part of the experience.
Will make for some great learning material in the film room.
It’ll take about five minutes to dissect their mental mistakes on each possession.
Most young teams/stars have to make mistakes to learn how to win later. Impressed with philly tonight no matter the outcome.
Celtics on a run. Up 6.
Embid and Simmons costing the Sixers this game. Just awful Shump like decisions.
LOL. Facebook and Wells Fargo apology commercials back to back.
Fraud is their business model.
Wells Fargo stimulating the Akron economy via the Black Keys
Embiid & Simmons combine to take four dumb shots in a short span.
Every time Embiid thinks ‘I should take this three!!!’, he should think again, and not do it…
Embid hijacking the offense and chucking like Clarkson.
He is their worst outside shooter & has put up 3 jumpers in the last 2 minutes.
If Brown sits Embiid, Philly has a shot.
Embiid takes some dumb*** threes
Five point swing.
That’s some crappy basketball being played right now
and then doesn’t get back on defense
And dumb long twos
Philly up 2 but Cs in the bonus.
Sixes have made some of their best runs in this series with TJ at the point and not Simmons
TJ is a better decision maker and gives them another off the dribble guy. JJ, Covington, Belinelli, & Ilyasova & Saric do not give you much off the bounce.
I think he moves the ball better…. Simmons looking to hit too many home runs instead of staying within the offense.
Jaylen Brown playing like an absolute stud tonight. Boston has two young fantastic wing players in Brown and Tatum.
The total disappearance of Philly’s 3 point shooting this series has me concerned for next week
Nah, Cavs are better creating more open looks and have better shooters.
Embiid just isn’t a very smart player.
He’s got the tools to be great. I also think that mask is messing with him.
Letting Barnes out hustle him.
He’s too emotional. Not enough mental toughness yet… he’s only 24 so hard to expect him to have it.
Plus he didn’t start playing until he was 15…and has missed at least two seasons. So he’s still about as green as an NBA player can be.
True.
Philly gotta adjust. More Covington. They need size at the wing with the way boston is playing.
Celtics with a fantastic finish to the half. I think they got it. Philly would have to blow this team out in order to win tonight. No way they’re winning a close game on the road IMO.
Sixers are some phenomenal bricklayers…
And now for something completely different (from how the Cavs manage their rotations)
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23441223/zach-lowe-philadelphia-76ers-lineups-joel-embiid-ben-simmons-nba-playoffs
Would much rather see the Celtics than the Sixers in the Conf Finals…the Sixers are a tougher matchup and just look like the better team…
Hard to say about a matchup with Cavs, Sixers may be tougher, but the Celtics have been the better team between these two all series…
only thing that scares me with the Celtics is they turn it into a ” street fight “——-guess that is why we picked up ANGRY SMURF
https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/994313207270559747?s=20
I tell you what. This Boston team doesn’t scare me in the least. The Cavs have already played the two best teams in the East.
‘elts can’t defend without fouling. TJ has unlocked the 76r offense
I think Philly is most talented, but least experienced.
76ers with a nice start.
Heard an interesting stat today… Bron, Love, JR, and TT have played in 50 playoff games together. Experience matters.
Just read this: DeRozan has played in 14 playoff games against the Cavaliers and has not made a single 3 across three different series.
Wow.
Amazing stat
I guess NBA coaches don’t consider Genius Brad a “great” head coach either…
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23455672/brad-stevens-coach-boston-celtics-downplays-not-receiving-single-vote-peers-coach-year-award
You know he is a top tier coach. He did have Kyrie for much of the year. And as far as Dwayne Casey winning over McMillan, D’Antoni, Quinn Snyder, or Brett Brown, well that pretty much tells you all you need to know about that award doesn’t it? Didn’t Mike Brown, Hubie Brown, Byron Scott, Scott freaking Brooks, Avery Johnson, and Sam Mitchell all win coach of the year….? Not sure what Avery Johnson and Sam Mitchell are doing, but pretty sure they are way way out of head coaching. Scott Brooks is…well…the worst coach in the league and likely… Read more »
Still… pretty odd that not one of them voted for him… maybe they’re not big fans of hyperbole either…
Trying to psychoanalyze a group of anonymous voters to garner their motivation without knowing who voted for who is a pretty thin argument and big stretch in my opinion.
Anonymous? They’re the other 29 coaches…
And the point is, Stevens’ peers don’t believe he’s “great” enough to be COY in their opinion…
Also, I don’t really get your obsession with this… you think Stevens is a “great” coach… I think he’s just “good.” I’m not trying to convince you to change your mind… but you’re also not going to change mine…
I meant anonymous as in who individuals actually voted for, but that is fair. Who knows he could have been the second leading candidate on a ton of ballots. I don’t have an obsession, but I do respect what the guy has done without top 10 guys and I get your view. Sometimes I feel like there may be some homerism with cavs fans, not just on this blog, affecting with people’s views on that team and Stevens considering the history with the cavs and love. Not saying that you are affected by that, but on FTS I have seen… Read more »
Are we better off if the Celtics end it quickly or if they push it. We’ll have enough rest either way. They are such a young team I think tired legs won’t be much of a factor. And the game planning doesn’t need to be that extensive. We’re not a big complicated beast to understand.
Part of me thinks that for the inexperienced team they are, having more time to think about Lebron and not play a game may be worse for them than having an extended series, which would include gaining more experience.
anyone else feel like Philly could totally come back from 3-0 down if they win tonight?
Absolutely
I guess though its never happened
I think they could. It’s the right set of circumstances – they have superior stars, the Celtics are limited in how they can ultimately adjust, i.e., they rely on their system so heavily since they are lacking the big playmakers, the Sixers have a smart enough coach. It’s unlikely, but it wouldn’t be shocking, per se.
Put no stock in that old saw that this has never happened. Most 3-0 leads have a large imbalance between the teams and I don’t believe that’s the case. It could be 3-1 in the other direction right now. In any event this is now 1-3 going to the other team’s gym. We know that has happened before and I’d say the odds are better for Philly right now than they were for the Cavs for the talking-heads. Win one at a time and win this one and it’s 2-3 going home. Why not?
Yeah that’s my thought process as well. Boston is overachieving. If philly has learned enough about intensity and situational decision making in the last 9 playoff games…this series feels like it could turn quickly