Series Thread: Eastern Conference Finals: 1) Cleveland Cavaliers (57-25) vs. 2) Toronto Raptors (56-26)

[CodeBreaker]

Just as bad as last year IMO.

At least back when LBJ in Miami, he actually faced 4 teams who made him earn that trip to the finals.

Bulls, Celtics, Pacers were legit squad with great defense. This Raptors ....

 

[WiggyRuss]

this rookie guard is playing hard on the Raptors...he actually looks like hes a decent athlete too.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Kyrie Irving is CLOWNING Kyle Lowry, lol...unreal...Kyrie looks freaking amazing right now.

Toronto is just undermanned and outgunned. This isnt the Heat or the PAcers here.

They'll win a game.
Cavs are playing well, def earned the rest they got.....but come on.
They're playing a tired, wounded warrior tonight, who was playing in an emotional game 7 2 days ago.
This is no shocker to me, and why I wasn't upset when we lost on Sunday.

 

[WiggyRuss]

They'll win a game.
Cavs are playing well, def earned the rest they got.....but come on.
They're playing a tired, wounded warrior tonight, who was playing in an emotional game 7 2 days ago.
This is no shocker to me, and why I wasn't upset when we lost on Sunday.

I dont think any team has ever swept their way through a conference before...

do you ever remember it?

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

This has been the worse NBA playoffs in a very long time. There's really only been 2 good series up to this point

For most fan bases.
If I were a Cavs fan, I'd be thrilled with it.

 

[bksballer89]

For most fan bases.
If I were a Cavs fan, I'd be thrilled with it.

No question about it

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

I dont think any team has ever swept their way through a conference before...

do you ever remember it?

Not that I recall.
I'm not saying these Cavs can't, I just don't think they will.
Toronto at home will get hot for a game.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Cavs have a 15 game winning streak in the Eastern Conference playoffs...ive never heard of such a thing....

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Cavs have a 15 game winning streak in the Eastern Conference playoffs...ive never heard of such a thing....

Yep.
I told Gordon before the playoffs that I wouldn't say the competition was weak this year so I won't.
If someone else wants to, I certainly won't argue.

 

[CodeBreaker]

I dont think any team has ever swept their way through a conference before...

do you ever remember it?

What was the 2001 Lakers record? Didn't they sweep their conference?

 

[starbigd]

I think the Lakers lost two games that year on the way to the Finals.

I'm calling a sweep. I see no way how THIS Toronto team can win, even at home. Them getting hot is what, two players shooting well?

They can't keep Cleveland off the boards. They don't have size. They don't have shooters. HOW do you expect them to win a game?

Cavs simply go ice cold for a quarter or two?

 

[Shanemansj13]

Wiggy got the Cavs winning every game by 17.2 PPG

Toronto will need a close game to close the gap

 

[CodeBreaker]

Cmon guys, Raptors lost game 1 on both series against Indiana and Miami. And they came from there to win the series.

Raptors loses game 1 again. We all know what's gonna happen...

 

[Shanemansj13]

Cmon guys, Raptors lost game 1 on both series against Indiana and Miami. And they came from there to win the series.

Raptors loses game 1 again. We all know what's gonna happen...

Lol All I have to say is they got outrebounded 45-23, the Cavs only made 7 3's and the lost by 31

 

[Rockinkuwait]

Always have been impressed with Lebron's memory and knowledge of the game. He talked about 56 points in the paint, and that's what they had. Talked about the bench being the hero of the game and being +24, +18, +17, and now I am looking at the box score...

Shumpert +24
Delladova +18
Frye +17

Just impressive memory there to have that off the top of his head like that. I've heard all the stories before of him remembering a play or shot or something from years past, but being able to randomly recite off the box score like that is kinda neat to see right there.

 

[Heatles84]

I will give the Cavs credit. They're getting easier opponents than what the Thunder and Dubs are getting. However, they're taking care of business, and tonight they looked pretty god damn dominant. You can only control who you face.

Being that I'm cheering for anyone not Cleveland, I'm upgraded to mildly concerned. There's me giving the Cavs some credit, so I don't get any butt hurt betties later on in this thread.

 

[Heatles84]

What was the 2001 Lakers record? Didn't they sweep their conference?

They did. Their only loss was game 1 of the Finals to the 76ers. From there on out, poor Iverson didn't stand a chance.

 

[Rockinkuwait]

I will give the Cavs credit. They're getting easier opponents than what the Thunder and Dubs are getting. However, they're taking care of business, and tonight they looked pretty god damn dominant. You can only control who you face.

Being that I'm cheering for anyone not Cleveland, I'm upgraded to mildly concerned. There's me giving the Cavs some credit, so I don't get any butt hurt betties later on in this thread.

They are looking good. I thought last years Finals would have been one of the best had Cleveland been healthy. Lets just hope no big names go down the rest of the year on any of those teams.

Tough to say the Dubs are getting a tougher matchup. Both OKC and Tor were pretty even this year. Even their records vs. each others conference. I thought Rockets were imploding and Lilliard is Portland's only real threat. I'd take Det and Atl over them.

If OKC makes it, I can't think of a tougher road ever to the finals.

 

[Rockinkuwait]

They did. Their only loss was game 1 of the Finals to the 76ers. From there on out, poor Iverson didn't stand a chance.

How crazy was that team... #2 scoring option... Dikembe Mutombo. And the series where Tyronne Lue had his top moment.

 

[Heatles84]

They are looking good. I thought last years Finals would have been one of the best had Cleveland been healthy. Lets just hope no big names go down the rest of the year on any of those teams.

Tough to say the Dubs are getting a tougher matchup. Both OKC and Tor were pretty even this year. Even their records vs. each others conference. I thought Rockets were imploding and Lilliard is Portland's only real threat. I'd take Det and Atl over them.

If OKC makes it, I can't think of a tougher road ever to the finals.

I think regular season is bullshit to a certain point. Certain teams are built for the playoffs, others are built for glitz and glamor of the regular season. Put them in a focused centralized environment where every possession counts and they can't beat you with depth (Warriors excluded from the depth argument) because you're limited to a 8-10 man rotation, talent eventually takes over. This is why that, although Toronto finished with 1 more regular season win than the Thunder, I'll take the Thunder hands down over the Raptors any day of the week.

Also, Lillard wasn't the Blazer's only threat. McCollum played big the entire season and in that series, he's no scrub. And Portland has a nice complement of players that the coaching staff developed over there.

Houston's a mess, not going to deny that. But Atlanta is a consistent choke job in the playoffs, and Detroit is young and immature as was evident in the playoffs. I'd take Portland over any of those teams in a minute.