Playoff Live Thread: Cleveland vs. Toronto
2018-05-05
The Cavs are home, up 2-0 on the Raptors, who have to be feeling desperate at this point. A loss tonight, and this series is pretty much over. Justin May is on assignment at the game tonight, covering the Cleveland release of the LeBron Soldier I “25 Straight” to celebrate the Cavs Playoff run. The shoe is part of the recently launched “Art of a Champion” collection which highlights several NBA moments and iconic shoes that define basketball glory. https://news.nike.com/news/art-of-a-champion-nike-basketball-collection. Check out Baker Mayfield above with a pair at the local Cleveland concept shop Xhibition. Thanks to @nike and @LeBronJames for letting us cover it.
More on that to come, so for tonight’s live thread and recap, you’re stuck with me. Next up, check out Evil Genius recapping the series and what it’s like to be an L.A. Cavs fan with Mark Schwab for WOIO.
Cleveland 19 News Cleveland, OH
As if that weren’t enough, we get to watch the Cavs tonight! No changes as far as I know. I think the Cavs come in focused with a crazy Cleveland crowd and go up 3-0 with a 115-108 victory.
LeBron with a whiskey endorsement? Wearing a Seagram’s 7 hat for the postgame.
Bucci says the hat was swag from a charity golf tournament.
I honestly don’t think it’s unreasonable at this point to assume Lue knows what he’s doing with Hood. I think he knows we have some rope with Toronto and he’s just trying to see if he can eek anything out of him before shelving him.
That’s what I think too. Have to see if we can get anything out of him. He’s a much better player than he’s been showing. Gotta think a lot of it is mental.
Wow… ESPN just put up a graphic showing that LeBron has as many playoff game winning shots (5) as every other active NBA player combined… and that list includes Vince Carter who’s 100…
That’s ridiculous
I can think of 4. Was the fifth with the heat?
The two versus Cavs wizards or game 5 in Detroit? Wasn’t one of those a buzzer beater? Should be 7/15 overall now. Not all buzzer beaters, just go ahead within last five seconds of fourth or overtime.
Toronto, Indiana, Chicago, Orlando………… hmmm will look it up
Washington twice and Detroit game 5. Has to be one of those. Think Washington baseline layin is the one.
Buzzer beaters specifically- the fifth is the lay up against Indiana when he was in Miami
Ah. Don’t remember that. Could have sworn that baseline lay in was a buzzer beater but there may have been a small amount of time left.
He made a layup against Indy in OT at the buzzer when he was with the Heat
Dwayne Casey looks like he ate some bad fish…
But it’s so fun to watch him get mad and stomp around the sideline – reminiscent of George Jefferson!
The rotation should be Hill, Korver, Lebron, Jr, Love as starters; then Green, Cedi, Calderon and TT; thats your 9 man rotation; if necessary play Nance; have Clarkson and Hood sit at end of bench in street clothes, there proven in 10 games they are useless and can’t handle playoff basketball; at least TT and Love have stepped up after some brutal starts
100%
Unfortunately Lue happened.
The Phantom Cam:
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/992972568243113984
LOVE IT!
You know who would be a great head coach for us? Larry Drew.
Anyone predict both these series would be 3-0 right now with Cavs and C’s on collision course?
nope, not even close. To think the Western conf. series are closer, wow
76ers are still a year or so away; Celtics just being coached extremely well and everyone is making plays….be very interesting series, they play physical like Pacers but also have solid offense, not sure about their bench, don’t think it will be repeat of last years ECF unless Cavs just go crazy that round
No. More surprised by the Celtics honestly
Yep I thought sixers in five. Didn’t count on their inexperience causing them so much trouble, or think about how Simmons can be game planned for, or that Baynes is strong enough to challenge Embiid in the post.
I thought the Philly/Boston series would be 3-0. Do I still get points if I thought Philly would be up.?
I did think it would be a sweep mainly because Boston has 3 years experience in playoffs. I was wrong about Toronto though. They did so much to change the way they play because of LEBRON. Bismack Biyombo gave Cavs more problems than Ibaka
Lue may be the worst head coach in the league right now.
OG Anunoby won my respect.
What a great game.
probably career game like Bogdan’s game 3 last series; wouldn’t expect to do much next game…Cavs will put more focus on him
Still Bogdan actually defended James better for a few games. Bigger, stronger player. I don’t think OG has a chance if James actually wants to go to the bucket. Why I never felt this game was in doubt. Only reason LBJ shot 40% in game one was likely because he was gassed.
Lebron is the GOAT, people. He’s the GOAT.
Playing awesome ball and hitting game winners in rounds 1&2 does not make one the GOAT. Nor does beating the Raptors.
Still freaking awesome to watch.
All four of LeBron’s makes outside the paint tonight were in the fourth quarter.
Lue sounds so dumb lol
Trump was in Cleveland today. Along with all the Raptors players, that sure is a lot of “bums” in one place. The GOAT approves this message.
Dumb take.
Agree.
Vardon just asked Ty Lue if he feels like they got lucky… LOL
He does not like Vardon. His demeanor, tone and facial expressions change when it’s his turn to ask questions.
https://twitter.com/mcten/status/992967703513182208
And surviving Ty Lue’s lineups
AMEN!
https://twitter.com/SONTSports/status/992968724041809926
not to bitch too much after an incredible game winner, but if Lue plays Clarkson and Hood anymore he should be put on leave ASAP…play Calderon and Cedi instead for 5-7 minutes and stop effing around with lineups…GO CAVS!
And if TT isn’t making an impact go small or play nance or ::gasp:: Zizic.
clarkson and hood have sucked for 10 games now, its apparent the playoffs are too big for them, get a veteran and an unique rookie who probably doesn’t realize its the playoffs and plays hard all the time (ala Delly) and see what happens…it can’t be any worse
Calderon destroyed the Raptors regular season. It makes zero sense not to give him a little time. He can shoot 3’s.
Is there a link to a ‘Drake Cam’ on the interwebs?
GOAT.
It was inevitable. At least that’s how I felt all game. Raptors had too far of a hole to dig themselves out of.
Ty Lue tried to make it a reality
I get that but for some reason I just never felt worried. Probably how Lebron felt. I don’t usually have feelings with nebulous origins like that but I do against the raptors. Somehow once the lead ballooned to 10 it just felt out of reach. Mostly because they can’t stop LBJ at all if he decides to go to the bucket. He doesn’t always, but he could against OG and especially Miles.
Maybe – Toronto is pretty good – I don’t feel like waiting for both Lowry and Derozan to have a good game together. And Cavs will get smoked by the West if they play terrible lineups. Rodney hood should not step on the floor again. Even when they mic’d up J.R. it was just him trying to get Hood to get out of his own head. He is uunplayable
Hey I have been on the sit hood bandwagon for quite awhile. Since about game 2 of the Indy series. I am just realistic. I don’t think it will happen.
Also, I will be just happy to get to the finals. Don’t think hood versus Cedi will make much of a difference in the actual outcome of how many games the cavs win versus the warriors. Either way, I can’t see this team challenging them. Think we have a shot against the Rockets but we would still be hugely massive underdogs. Moot anyway unless gs suffers injuries.
Moo point. Like a cow’s opinion.
¿Que?
Does anyone recall LeBron ever taking that shot before tonight?
Once or twice this year but never in a situation like that
I remember an end of qtr buzzer beater way back in the day like that. Not from that far out though.
I have seen him try that running one hander off of one foot before. Usually closer to the baseline & not off the glass.
I think I remember a game he hit a shot like that & Kyrie made a MORE ridiculous three later.
definitely one of the best buzzer beater shots Ive seen in my lifetime….not being hyperbolic either, I mean the degree of difficulty and to kiss it off the glass?? damn!! GO CAVS! finish this team Monday
DeRozan -23…
Fitting….”23″
need to see some Lowry memes
LeBron is so clearly the best player in the league still. I wonder when it will be up for debate. 2020?
His jumper’s getting better. He’s got another 5 years.
Which got me thinking, is it possible for the torch to bypass Durant and goes to either Anthony Davis or Giannis when Bron eventually steps down the throne? Durant is already 30 this year and is not exactly the paradigm of durability.
https://twitter.com/cavs/status/992967719015387136
Wow… KLove was +20 tonight!
In a two point win!
While Hill isn’t anywhere near as good as Irving, I think he does compensate for some of it by enabling Love’s game… perhaps similar to what Rubio did for Love.
Good point!
^ This.
I want the Cavs to get Lowry just so he can experience the other side
Or so Lue can sit him and play Hood ahead of him.
Lol
you win the comments
Comment of the night right here haha.
Cavs should have won this by 9-10 or more with no stress…just happy it didn’t go to OT…
Man… it’s good to have the King…
Valenciunas reactions to some of LeBron’s baskets are priceless lol.
Are you not entertained!
Media: “Demar, walk us thru that 4th quarter of play…”
Derozan: (crickets)
He still could. He had the same view as the coaching staff and press.
Raptors have gone from being unofficially forked, to officially forked.
I can’t stop laughing.
The most insanely good part is that LeBron banked the shot to leave no time on the clock… amazing
DeRozan is not a superstar… superstars don’t sit entire fourth quarters when they’re healthy…
He’s injured. His heart was ripped out.
Good point LOL
wow you’re on fire Boogieeels
I hope Lue has finally learned the ‘Pestak Lineup’ is not freaking playable. But I’m sure he hasn’t.
Just unreal
This is actually comical. If you think about it, this is just comical.
Unless you live in Toronto.
LeBron once again rescues Ty Lue from his own ineptitude…
Another special memory of Lebron for Raptor fans…
And for Cavs fans. He’s leaving to go to the Lakers, remember?
Never, in my life, have I literally laughed as hard as I did and as loud as I did following a game winner.
https://twitter.com/World_Wide_Wob/status/992966824689102848
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO? WHAT ELSE?
https://twitter.com/JzoSports/status/992966721043685376
Lue not strong enough to stop the goat
Hahahahaha
The real story of the night
Ha hahhahahahahahahahahah
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL I CAN NOT DEAL
How can people hate on this man. Unbelievable
LeBron being interviewed by gray worm!
well done
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Would you have taken that one Evil?
Unreal!
Yeah, just a casual one hander off one leg off the glass DAGGER!
WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Goooooodnight Toronto!
Wow! Unbelievable. But also not.
Lowry looks like his dog died…
LMFAO
Come on Lue draw a good play.
LOL. That was an awful playcall!!!!!!
Woof.
Justice prevails. Thank you, Lebron.
LeBron with the dagger!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!
GOAT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y_cl3WIO6A
Good lord
Tirico is not calling this game. It’s Mark Jones.
My bad. He is awful.