Live Thread: Raptors @ Cavs, Game 1
2016-05-17The Cavaliers finally get to recommence their 2016 playoff run tonight against the Toronto Others… er, Raptors.
The Raptors hit The Q trying to keep the momentum of their closeout game against the Miami Heat going. That win propelled the team into the franchise’s first ever appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals and a date with the Cavaliers. Despite winning the season series against the Cavs 2-1, Toronto finished a game behind the wine and gold for the Eastern Conference’s top seed and have not looked nearly as sharp as their Conference Finals opponent in advancing through the first two rounds of the playoffs.
DeMar DeRozan leads the Raptors in scoring this postseason at 20 points a game and right behind him is his starting backcourt mate and resident bulldog, Kyle Lowry, at 18.6 points and 6.7 assists per game. The two Raptors All-Stars are shooting just 36% from the floor over 14 playoff games, though, as the entire team has struggled to score the ball. The Raptors also took a hit when they lost starting center Jonas Valenciunas to an ankle injury. Valenciunas is out for, at least, the first two games of this series.
The Cavs have been off since May 8th — a span of nine days — since their Conference Semi-Finals series against the Atlanta Hawks that saw Cleveland creep back into the conversation as a possible title contender, regardless of which team comes out of the West. The biggest question facing the Cavs is whether or not they will be able to keep up the torrid three-point shooting that carried them through much of the first two rounds.
If the Cavs have any rust, they’ll have to shake it off quick if they want to avoid a let down against a Raptors team determined to show that they are more than just the “Other” of the 2016 NBA Playoffs.
Rust stays for 6 minutes, rest lasts 48. Rest vs. rust is almost always a bogus story line. No player opts for less rest.
What is going on in this press conference? Somebody is hollering in the background & Lebron is cracking up.
This is what LBJ was laughing at on the podium…
https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/732785277253652480
He dresses better than the reporters. Looking good!
Lil Kev on the Fox Postgame!
I made this for tonight… http://imgur.com/XdMfY9y
Bravo nick! Very well done!
Okay wait a minute. Not nearly enough credit to Kyrie for how he completely shut Lowry down!!! Wow.
Fair to say, Kyrie is more than a competent defender when engaged. Tremendous job tonight.
He certainly had help from his big men flashing on the perimeter, but gotta give him credit… he came to play on both ends tonight…
https://twitter.com/TonyGrossi/status/732768091357077505
I didn’t realize that RJ was the Cavs’ leading rebounder with 11! Also, Shump a game high +24!
I hope Shump’s knee is ok tomorrow.
Seriously… I was kinda surprised he continued… looked bad when it happened…
Instacap is uploading. Hope you guys like it
More singing?
Only 22 assists tonight! But they also had about 22 uncontested drives to the hoop.
My goodness. Total destruction. Raptors got some rest in the 4th. Hooeee the Cavs crammed it down their throats tonight. Look for some outside shots next game.
LOL Cavs dance teamer is absolutely CRUSHING Screamin A with a video bomb!
Definitely the most entertaining part of the postgame.
https://vine.co/v/i0TT6jiHPz3
I like the security guy standing there doing nothing to stop it.
He doesn’t care for Screamin’ A…
This totally gave me the giggles.
Cavs #2 , Kyrie #7, Richard Jefferson #9 Trending on twitter
God, Stephen A. is stupid…
Honestly, he does not actually know anything about the game. Nothing. He just has a persona that’s entertaining. Entertainment can kill the intellect.
Good night all. Thanks for the thread.
Ty Lue in rare company… only other rookie head coach to start playoffs 9-0… the sockless curmudgeon himself… Pat Riley…