Live Thread: Cavs vs. Raptors (#HeavyLiesTheCrown)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8xT_afGr-c

[Video contains explicit language: Viewer discretion advised]

It’s only Tuesday, but it’s already been kind of a heavy week for the King. Off the court, there’s been a lot of hullabaloo about Phil Jackson taking shots at LeBron and his “posse.”  One of LBJ’s Horsemen, Maverick Carter, had already provided a rebuke to PJ, and LeBron himself proclaimed his loss of respect for the Knicks’ President.

On the court, the King had his two week reign as Eastern Conference Player of the Week brought to an end by one of tonight’s opponents, DeMar DeRozan. All DeMar had to do to overcome LeBron was average 34.7 points a game, while shooting 54 percent from the floor during the Raptors’ perfect 3-0 week. He also currently leads the league in scoring, at around a similar 34 points per game, and is the first player since Michael Jordan in 1986-87 to score at least 30 points in eight of his first nine games to start a season. All this despite taking just 14 threes and making just three of them (21%), meaning all of his damage is being done from mid-range on in.

This is already the second time the Cavs are meeting up with arguably their closest thing to a rival in the East thus far this season. Cleveland put down the revolt in the Air Canada Centre, 94-91, in the second game, but Toronto is unquestionably gunning for the throne. Both teams sit atop the standings once again at 8-1 and 7-2 respectively as they clash this time at the Q.

The Cavs are on a hot streak of their own as a team, breaking the league record set by the Houston Rockets two years ago as the first team to make at least 10 triples in every game to start the season. And, while the wine and gold are on pace to hit more threes than any team in history, Ty Lue still thinks they can shoot even better from beyond the arc than they already have.

The Cavs will be without JR Smith for a second consecutive game (sore right ankle), but this time it will be Richard Jefferson replacing him in the starting lineup over a struggling Mike Dunleavy. The Raptors will be without DeMarre Carroll.

Prediction: As Jack Nicholson says in the above clip “The only one who can do what I do… is me.” And the only one who can do what LeBron does… is him. Cavs protect the throne, 105-98.

Catch all the action on NBATV at 7pm EST… And chime in here…

GO CAVS!