Playoff Live Thread: Cavs vs Raptors (Game 5)
2026-04-29After one of the most frustrating losses in Cavs playoff history, Sunday, the wine and gold look to bounce back against the Raptors tonight. Vegas favored the Cavs by 8.5 last time I checked, and the conventional wisdom is that the Cavs will right the ship offensively tonight. I’m less optimistic, but Cleveland could definitely use some home cooking. I hope we see some Thomas Bryant, who’s a willing shooter from three, a rebounder, and a banger. I hope see some Craig Porter Junior, who likely couldn’t be worse than Dennis Schröder at guard, but I doubt the Umlaut gets the hook.
I thought Jaylon Tyson gave em good minutes last game and improved over his previous three games, but despite seven turnovers, the Cavs offense was lost when James Harden wasn’t on the floor, and Jaylon was -11 because of it.
More than anything, the Cavs have to hope that Donovan Mitchell gets out of his bizarre tunnel vision funk. The wide open passes he missed to the corner and wing last game were maddening.
We have to hope Spida learns to trust his teammates, and that his teammates learn to trust themselves, as everyone was passing up wide open trips to the basket.
Ultimately, this will come down to Evan Mobley pulling his head out of his ass, and Kenny Atkinson getting him to stop overthinking everything and just playing basketball. Ihope it happens, and I hope Jarrett Allen plays another steller game, and actually gets some appreciation for doing the dirty work. We’ll see how The Land defends themselves from a Raptor home invasion. Go Cavs.
THE REBOUNDING DISPARITY IS STILL A CONCERN AS THEY DISCUSSED / EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS AND STILL DIDNT GET IT DONE
UGLY WIN IS BETTER THAN A PRETTY LOSS ——- “ WARTS “ ARE STILL EXPOSED—- WILL PREDICT A “ WIN OR GO HOME “ GAME ON SUNDAY ( can’t see us winning in Toronto). —- CAN CAVS COUNT ON THIS TYPE OF GAME FOR EVERY GAME?? —- HARDEN s ASSIST/ TO RATIO HAS TO GET BETTER—- REALIZING JA IS NOT 100% —- WOULD STILL LIKE TO SEE HIM “ EXPLODE “ FOR 15 PTS OR MORE——WHO HAS ADVANTAGE OF ONLY 1 DAY OFF ——— GO CAVS — END THIS ON FRIDAY NIGHT 👍💪
At least ORL/DET is going to 6 too.
A win is a win…except when it’s not. Discouraging.
I wasn’t discouraged. The team kind of figured out their vibe: weird.
Which might be their secret weapon. Opponents will be bamboozled. /s
hey it worked for Muhammad Ali… why not us??? LMFAO
I mean seriously though. Just surviving this game had to be a psychological boost.
And maybe it’s “yeah, the chemistry is weird, we do dumb ass shit, we completely lose focus, but we can also be really good”. They’re just a bunch of adhd weirdos.
For sure, had no business winning the game… and pretty much everybody found something in the 2nd half thank god
Agree 200% with Nate. Can’t build up your chin without taking punches
I am with you.
One the discouraging side. They are on the road, down two starters, and we have to rally to win it and Dennis Schröder has to rally us to victory because Mitchell is mostly MIA along with Allen. Got crushed on the boards again.
But we DID win it. Mobley played well.
KA took my advice & played Bryant some, that did not go well. Stop listening to me, Kenny!
The G4 choke sucks so bad. If that hadn’t happened we’d be crowing about having figured out the physical / mental toughness piece.
This team has the weirdest vibes ever.
So…the Bryant minutes were part of the worst quarter and the four guard lineup took control of the game.
Nobody knows anything.
Lol. Barnes and Ingram injuries made it playable. Likely saved Cleveland’s season.
Don’t forget Nate we were told bench play doesn’t matter LMFAO…. good times…
They literally started a bench guy…
Also, the lineup that got it done was Harden, Schroeder, Merrill, Strus, Mobley. That’s two guards, two wings and a center.
No no you don’t understand we “know nothing” Nate SMDH!
There’s only one truly enlightened dipshit that posts here and it’s not us :(
you are the dude who has been calling to play the corpse of Larry Nance and two summer league guys – in actual meaningful games!
judgment very sus
Uh oh somebody’s diaper is full again!!!
That isn’t close to wit you sad undereducated jabroni. Stay in school
Yikes, looks your mommy’s gotta clean up a big mess :(
don’t flunk out! Hope your Make-A-Wish is learning how to read
Let it all out brother, you don’t look pathetic at all <3
Sorry I can’t come up with gems such as “Isaac Okoro is a better shooter than Sam Merrill” :(
Strus and Merrill have played and started at SG
hey everyone — we won!!! quit bickering.
EYE said “nobody knows anything,” including myself – I certainly didn’t think Schroder should be in the rotation, let alone closing games.
Chris took “nobody knows anything” as a personal attack – telling!
… and brought up a time when I pointed out – correctly – that there was a point in 24-25 where Isaac Okoro had a better 3P% than Merrill, which lasted until the ASB.
That’s good, it worked! Things that work rule even when they aren’t your preferred method
Schröder > Mitchell. Wtaf.
The Mobley “line drive” free throw technique.
Jfc. I know it’s over but ffs hit a free throw.
Not quite as bad as Barrett stepping on the sideline I guess.
Run a fucking offense!
This prevent offense bullshit is ridiculous
What are these guards doing?
WHat is Mitchell doing?
Great block harden.
Dennis!
Pretty good 90 seconds w DM sitting.
What happened? Only saw bunch of bench players run to crowd at other end.
The dust-up? Harden went to collect the ball from in front of the TOR bench. Barrett tried to take the ball off him.
The Cavs unveil their secret weapon: Schroder!
yeah, he didn’t look as bad as everyone keeps saying
Let’s go Cavs!
There’s a Dennis special 🙄
This game gonna kill me
Body language so bad on this team. Tear it down
I feel like they are actually trying today
Like they waited until the last moment to wake up. Home crowd might get them there, but real concerns going forward from here.
Yeah,there’s something off.
It ain’t pretty, but my guys are fighting. Keep it up!
Finally a few easy buckets.
Barrett fuckin pushed him. No call
Sam. I am.
JFC with the dumbass giveaways.
JA!
Big to big
Showing life
Finally, right?
This half so far, our guys outplaying Poeltl and the rookie.
To be honest, I had concerns about Strus’s defence in future rounds, against better teams. I didn’t expect him to be exposed against TOR, but they are much more athletic than I thought.
Oof. Mitchell talking to Harden. Harden says not much back. Mitchell looks at KA and shrugs. Hard to watch.
Time to pull Harden off the ball.
They seemed to do that a little in the second half so far.
THEY ARE SHOOTING 70 % FROM THE FIELD, THEY ARE OUTREBOUNDING US THEY HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLE THE ASSISTS
Jesus, Harden.
FINALLY WE USE TYSON AS A KEY FLASH 4V3 WE GOT A WIDE OPEN DUNK FOR WADE
Merrill contested midrange shots are unlikely to get it done…
Schroder with the three point shooting variance. I’ll take it.
OK, checking in!
Glad to see Bryant getting some time. Noticed Wade being physically removed from under the boards earlier. We need some muscle.
THERE WE GO NICE READ BRYANT I CANT BELIEVE IT
Jakob!?!
I’d like to see it again, but I thought Bryant set a good pick.
yup, regular season foul call sucks
https://x.com/JacksFlickinger/status/2049643361498268111?s=20
MAYBE DEAN WADE SHOULD STAY ON THE COURT KA YOU BOZO
Harden is the only Cav that wants to win, guys need to get with the program
Great pic for this post, Nate! GO CAVS!
Took me second, but I got it.
TRY PLAYING SAM AND WADE 30 MPG KA YOU MORON
In the bonus early. Painting time!!
Just too easy so far for TOR
yup, we’re never beating the soft charges.
Nice change KA, really paid off there /s
Harden’s the only Cav who’s showed up tonight looks like. Pathetic defense.
THANK YOU NATE! YOU DA CTB MVP!
Yup, Mobley absolutely shitting the bed, only starter with a negative net rating and its not even close.
At the arena. Early fan energy appears solid. Let’s go Cavs!!!!!
OK. We got CtB in the house. We got this.
you go!