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!
Atlanta might just hang on here!
CJ is clutch.
Oof maybe not, but got it done!
Playoff hoops!
STILL HOPING “ PLAYOFF “ SCHROEDER SURFACES FOR AT LEAST 1OR 2 GAMES
ANOTHER TRACK MEET/ BASKETBALL BANQUET—— BOX SCORE——- OUR OLD NEMISIS SURFACED ( REBOUNDING) —- CAN OUR RESERVES ( OTHER THAN STRUS) SCORE ——-RAPTORS RESERVES TOOK IT TO OURS —— WAITING FOR JA TO HAVE A 20 PT GAME—— NEED TO GET 1 “ W “ IN TORONTO—- CAN T LET THEM EVEN IT UP
Followed it old school via the radio broadcast (incl Jim Chones) and gamecast. Will catch the video tomorrow. Several similarities to game 1, esp wrt to Brandon Ingram. Hopefully bench guys get to contributing more in the upcoming games, but another solid outing w many contributing.
more contribution from the bench would be a big plus and surely needed soon. Merrell, Tyson, and Strus seem to be having an off month. I don’t know that there is anything you can do when Harden takes a breather than play Schroedinger. would be great if anyone else could play PG. Figure out a way to use Tomlin?
Shroedinger lol.
I feel like Tyson is finding his feet. Fatigue will start to become a factor, yes Cavs need bench to function at both ends.
He’s a German cat, so……
Cavs have played at a really high level tbh.
Yeah, this is a hard one to nitpick in terms of effort and gameplan discipline. Bench has to find their footing and make shots, but the process offensively has been good and the late game offense is unstoppable.
It’s going to take a lot for Toronto to get even.
Raps play all the way to the wire. That and the Tyson – Barnes stink, there’s a little niggle that might boil over game 3.
I guess no one’s ever waving the white flag against the Cavs after watching the Pacers series. Even 12 down with a minute left, you never know!
Solid point!
Schroder with two good free throws down the stretch. Let’s give him that.
Not too many 2 for 2 trips tonight.
I will say our D has been better.
I will take up 2-0 anyway I can get it.
Harden, Mitchell, & Mobes + good D + just enough from everyone else.
Quickley out helps us.
Spida with a whole mix tape in this 4th quarter.
Spida Bank.
Spida with the hustle.
Yeah, Cavs got super lucky there.
Amazing Spidaman!
Sandro is a pylon on D.
SPIDA MVP
Spida takeover.
Too early for prevent offense… until Mitchell corrects me.
We have not beenoney at the line. Up 11.
Okay Strus is that dude. Wasn’t scoring, but sub him back to start the 4th when the game’s tighter than it should be, and his first shot is pure.
Shoot it Dean.
Strus!!!
KA going with 1 big with Raps small.
Strus!
Timely
Outside of the big 4, we have been crap offensively.
Raps are up 11-8 on the offensive glass, but it feels like more.
They have 20 TOs to our 11 and we are still only up 6.
Get Tyson off the floor.
Tyson clobbered. Ellis has to step up there on defense.
Danger time
Fucking shoot, Tyson
Seriously!
TYYYYSSSOOOONNNN
And Tyson is on the hoard!
Schröder off the floor. Thank God
Kenny, throw this lineup in the toilet
Merrill, finally!
Merrill finally!!
Rebounding is dog shit tonight, Cavs are winning due to turnovers.
PLAY BIGGER KENNY GET IT THRU YOUR HEAD
who are these big players?
I noticed in the box score that Ingram seems to have been contained. Is that because of Wade’s defense?
1000% Wade defense winning us the game.
I suspect so. He didn’t score until the 3rd quarter.
Spida choked on that last possession.
Someone has to shoot
I would sub Tyson or Keon for Merrill’s remaining second half minutes to see if someone other than the Core can hit a couple shots, bc Merrill is uncharacteristically off for the 2d straight game; shots don’t even look good off the release.
This is a crazy take when Dennis Schröder is getting minutes
I mean I’m accepting the status quo that Schroeder’s cemented in the rotation, I don’t necessarily endorse that. Lol!
Maybe Schroeder can go to the medical bay and give someone else a turn.
Something-vili should have been called for over the back against Mobley 10 mins ago. Now he’s beating up on Schroeder, but at least they’re calling those.
Our bench better step up. Nobody iscontributing tonight.
Wouls like to see more Tyson.
Cavs suddenly easing up on transition D. Good timeout.
Schroeder has been awful. Good timeout.
Lookslike the sites back up!
Upstream of me. Sorry, guys
Barnes tried to posterize Allen but got erased instead. A beautiful thing!!!
Sorry about the LT, site went down just as Nate tried to work on it… looks like it’s finally back up!
Noone outside of Harden & Spida seem to be able to score. Mobley dominating defensively.
Mobley’s having a good night, even had a couple 3 point plays (one the old fashioned way). But no offense outside the Core 4. Still waiting for Merrill or Tyson to get going one of these games. Wade hit a reluctant 3 after trying as always to swing to someone else.
From the box score, Harden has 5 turnovers. Looks like the Raptors are focusing on him defensively.
Toronto’s non-shooters suddenly not shooting so well…
Well, I went to two bars and neither had Peacock, nor do I. Depending on y’all for color commentary.
That sucks, man!
I had to decide whether to try another bar or get pizza. I got pizza.
Well, too many TOs, fast break points, and 2nd chance points allowed. Big 4 good on offense, everyone else? Yeesh.
D good when set. 2nd chance & fast breaks keeping them in it.
Need to feed JA & Mobes inside more. Raps can’t compete.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE FEELING s OF WHICH TEAM WE MIGHT PLAY——- I LOOK AT THIS WAY —- HAVING CONFIDENCE IN OUR PLAYERS/ COACHES/ FANS/ ETC ——IF WE ARE A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM—— IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHO / WHEN WE PLAY———- “ BRING ON ALL PRETENDERS ———- WE/ CAVS ARE THE ONLY CONTENDERS 👍💪🏀”. —— “ ALL IN THE LAND “👍💪🏀——- GO CAVS
With Wagner healthy, Orlando would have easily been the 5 seed. I did not realize he could be back for the POs. They destroyed Charlotte and beat Detroit comfortably. They took us 7 not too long ago and are better now. They have to be believing now. Hard to see Detroit winning in less than 6 at this point.
In terms of what it means for us:
A Carter, Wagner, Banchero frontline means Wade has to start for us, I think. If they get through. Likey true with Boston or NY as well with Brown/Tatum and OG/Bridges on the wings. Wade is the guy unless he struggles mightily, then Strus.
It shouid give us a consistent lineup and rotation (knock on wood) as Wade’s size on Ingram is wisely preferred. Some lineup consistency should help us.
The way Orlando played in that last play-in game, and then tonight in Game 1 against Detroit – it’s not a gimme that the Pistons make it to the second round.
Add in the Pistons’ lack of recent playoff experience as another factor.
Getting way ahead of things – could the Cavs have home-court advantage in the second round?
Yeah. I just want it to go 7 either way.
Too early to start the “post-season JB doubts” thread? I wish him the best, and he just won the coach of the year award…
same
Orlando shot 29% from 3 too.
Not at all. Have been saying for a while their age/experience is a major negative. Orlando are the danger team in the East with Wagner back and playing full games. I’d much rather Cavs were playing the Raps than Magic.
Someone on Reddit tracked Dean Wade’s possessions guarding Ingram. 28 possessions, on which Ingram attempted only two shots total hitting 1. Which is why only 2 of his 17 points came with Wade’s handcuffs on him.
Danny Cunningham (Locked on Cavs) emphasized that Ingram got only 9 attempts all game and credited DW with keeping BI out of his preferred locations (inside 17 ft).
Nice result to wake up to, a pleasure to watch the replay.
Very happy that Mobley took on the challenge in the paint against Barnes, bullied him nicely.
Got to attend the game this afternoon. Some reactions: Cavs managed to battle through a close combative start and convincingly win an afternoon start officiated by one Tony Brothers. Little playing w food by the good guys. I think KA had at least one of {JA, EM} and at least one of {JH, DM} on court until the outcome was not in doubt. As it should be. Tyson was definitely getting young guy jobbed by officials. Not sure if prime had it, but DM was consoling/explaining things to him during stops in the game. Nice. Dean Wade had a solid… Read more »
Yeah,broke the early game curse.
Man. This rockets Lakers game is good. Lebron looking vintage.
That was great to see,
WHAT IS BRYANT s HEALTH STATUS/ WHAT IS HIS INJURY?
Calf strain.
BRUNSON 22 AT HALFTIME—— THOUGHT HAWK s GD s WOULD DO A BETTER JOB SHUTTING HIM DOWN
🙏🙏🙏CLF —- THOUGHT I READ BRYANT WAS OK TO GO —- OR GAME WASNT CLOSE TO RISK PLAYING HIM ?? —— IS SCHROEDER GOING TO BE PLAY OFF PLAYABLE
Bryant didn’t dress
Radio broadcast said they gave up almost no offensive rebounds and no transition baskets…. Raptors best offensive transition team in the NBA. Our boys are locked in
HOW DID JA LOOK—— BOX SCORE INDICATES TYSON/ SCHROEDER STRUGGLED —— NO BRYANT?? — STILL WORKING ON GETTING HEALTHY??
Bryant injured, Tyson and Schroder struggled though Tyson was getting a BS rookie whistle… JA looked fine, he got the Cavs started on the right foot in the 1st quarter.
Cavs were going to JA every possession at the start of the game to establish the paint threat, and JA had 3 Statue of Liberty dunks where he took off from a pretty good distance. So I think his knee feels better. And Wade played a good number of backup PF minutes with Mobley sliding to C when Allen sat, so they didn’t need Bryant. Tyson got some run which kept the backup lineups from getting uber-small.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT KA TAKING MY ADVICE OF HAVING “ MATINEE PRACTICES “ 👍🤪
MAN SORRY I COULDNT MAKE—- HAD THE “ PRIVILEGE “ OF COACHING TRACK MEET- 5HRS / WINDY/ RAIN — “ GOTTA LOVE IT !!
We got a max Strus game tonight. If the big 4 are all decent or better, an en fuego Strus game is usually getting us a win.
Good win. Raps still shot 52/48.
Also on Mobley – he had several post-ups where he kept the dribble for an extended period until he worked close enough for the shot (or in one instance finally kicked out to Strus for a made 3), and to me his handle looked tighter than in the past.
It’s not even the handle, it’s the deciveness. He surveys too much normally. He’s playing for the shot first, and the pass second, which is making him more decisive and guys who try to swipe are whiffing.
Great game. I would rank this pretty high among their playoff performances in the Core Four era. Not that the Raps are world-beaters, but they’re certainly better than the depleted post-Jimmy Heat were entering last post season. And they were playing well early in the game, but the Cavs took control and never let go. Most happy with how much more forcefully Mobley played after his shaky first rotation.
Yep,played with intention,,,,,,,,,in a game that started early.