[joe2324Participant]

I’m sorry, but you CANNOT miss 7 or more WIDE OPEN tip ins under the RIM like that in clutch time. That was brutal. I’m turning the game off with .6 seconds left. I careless at this point who wins. Pissed off

[ChewyParticipant]

 have given away like 6 golden chances to win this game in regulation! Lebron’s shot looked way to good considering he only had .6 sec to shoot. Now CLE up 4 with a few mins to go.

On a side note: Lebron looks like a video game player right now. You know the guy who picks a team on 2k and shoots with just one player with the fatigue setting turned off, while you play good team bball and lose by 4-8pts. It’s like that, but in real life.

 

[halfdecayedParticipant]

 OhCanada be mad right now..

[OhCanada-Participant]

Or just very drunk.

[Reptilian MonkParticipant]

 Thats a Bad loss by Toronto in game 1. Cavs didnt lead all game untill OT. Lebron is on the court and the Raptors just melt down. They mentally just might not have what it takes to beat Lebron 4 times in a 7 game series

[joe2324Participant]

I don’t watch much many raptors games, but Jonas looks so clumsy out there its almost hard to watch. ‘i’m still dumbfounded at how many wide open, under the basket, 2 inches away tip ins he missed tonight. this series is over.  

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 Same old Raptors. They need to blow this roster up. Give me Mike Conley Jr over Kyle Lowry all day.

[Wavy BagelsParticipant]

 I was thinking about Lowry and Val for Conley and Marc Gasol. 

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

OH Hell 2 Da Naw!!! We Keeping Marc and Mike…lowry use to be Conley’s backup..Lowry is built for the regular season….

[HitsterParticipant]

 The trade idea is interesting one – Jonas for Marc Gasol could really interest both teams. Memphis get a guy 7 years younger and could save some salary cap whilst Toronto possibly upgrade their C and go even more win now.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Conley is DONE.

He couldn’t get by anybody BEFORE he was supposedly hurt earlier this season — even in wins against the Warriors and Rockets, he just ain’t the same guy.

Gasol is DONE.  

That potential trade would be a wash.

Move on from Lowry, like, NOW.  

I am trading Kyle Lowry to the Bucks for Delly, John Henson, Tony Snell, and the 17th pick on draft night.

Oh wow.

I am gonna throw some more dumpster on this fire.

Bucks ALSO send out Bledsoe and Tyler Zeller to the Raps and bring in Serge Ibaka — a solid 3rd big man in a 2 big man league.

The Bucks clean out some drift wood, pairing some vets (Lowry and Serge) with a young core of Giannis, Middleton, Jabari, Brogdon, and Thon Maker.  

Then the Bucks go with a starting five of Lowry, Brogdon, Middleton, Giannis, and Thon Maker with Jabari and Ibaka off the bench.  

The Raps rearrange the deck chairs around an Axis of DeRozan, Anunoby, and Siakam with Van Vleet and Delon Wright heading up their guard corps (along with Bledsoe, Delly, and Snell).  Jo Val, Tyler Zeller, and Poetl give them a 3 headed center rotation.  The Raptors reload their identity around depth, length, defense, and versatility.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jmarg25Participant]

 The Raptors lost even with Lebron going 1-8 for three and 1-6 from the line. I really doubt the Raptors take this series. Cavs only had 5 turnovers on the night 

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

whats wrong with these rappers? kanye lost his mind talking bout slavery was a choice..now drake wanted to Fight Kendrick Perkins after last night’s game!!!

[OhCanada-Participant]

 As bad as Yeezy’s comments were Drakes still crazier. Perkins is built like a grizzly bear with an attitude problem.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Tough L, but it’s only one game. 

I think this will be a seven game series. 

 

 

[joe2324Participant]

I mean, I really do, but there is no excuse for what happened last night. I have a seething, burning hatred for Lebron and JR Smith so I watched this game very closely, maybe too closely and wow. When you are that tall and that close to the rim, JUST GRAB IT AND THROW IT THE #@$@# DOWN. If I’m Dwayne Casey, Jonas is staying under that god damn rim in practice for 8 hrs taking god damn rebounds and slamming them home with aggression.  

[dmo21Participant]

 Im a JV supporter and agree that he messed that up pretty badly (and throughout the game). He’s a huge mismatch in this series and a had a big impact throughout the game by getting fouled or scoring on plays ran through him as well as his defensive rebounding. But he became reliant on the whistle and stopped trying to finish strong. He’s a difference maker in this series as Cavs don’t have someone that can stop him. Hopefully they pound the ball to him next game. Hopefully that one horrific play doesn’t scare them away from it.

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

Jonas had 20 & 20 Cavs had no answer to keep him off the boards. Despite the misses .Jonas seems to be co into his own as a player. He also played well against the Wizs.  

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Cavs outsmarted the dumb Raptors. JV got tired chasing Love on the perimeter and Thompson on the glass wasnt able to leap to the rim for his finishes. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Well now that Ive sobered up somewhat heres my takes on the game.

 

Overall this is what happened.

The only player on Toronto that knows how to rebound is Valanciunas. Cleveland is a 3point shooting team which means long rebounds so if you dont box out and chase balls James, Thompson, Love and potentially Nance are gonna win games on that alone. This wont change so Valanciunas has to play 32+ minutes a game. They have him chasing around Love on the perimeter and trying to box out Thompson the best offensive rebounder in the league. JV got tired and was not able to explode late in the game. I now realize why Casey doesnt play him for huge minutes and always thought it was because of his lack of switching abillity defensively. For Toronto to have a chance JV needs to play about a quarter (8-12 minutes) more than his season average (22 minutes) effectively without making fatigued mistakes. 

Thoughts

-Thompson has a very high IQ. Much smarter then JV. This is a problem. Watch how he positions himself for his offensive rebounds. He always runs to the spot he wants to begin his rebound attempt from so you either have to hold him or properly box out before he is in position for the rebound. He’s making Valanciunas work. He doesnt always muscle for boards he is slippery. He also forced Valanciunas into positions under the rim where he was ineffective just by using his head. He knows he cant box out Jonas but he also knows Valanciunas isnt used to playing 30+ minutes so he gives him certain spaces where he is ineffective. JV gets the offensive rebound but his position is too deep. Valanciunas needs to gather the ball turn to a spot he can be effective and go up strong but he rushed under pressure and missed a million shots.

-Valanciunas will likely adapt and dominate this series. If he doesnt Toronto loses. The battle between him and Thompson/Love will likely decide the series.

-Bron was tired. People are saying Lebron played amazing but to me he paced himself. Settled alot, swung the ball without driving alot and wasnt in his dominate mode. I think he decided "well game… 1 rest for the other 6 games is most important" and in the end they had a chance to win and they closed. Raps wont get that chance again he is gonna attack in game 2.

-Lowry and Derozan played amazing and people should stop attacking them. They made almost every right read. Who wouldve thought Van Vleet would miss 2 wide open jumpers, Valanciunas missed like 6 layups and Toronto missed thier last 11 shots in regulation. Demar was getting doubled on screens and the Cavs brought high pressure all the way to the 3pt line. Derozan had 3 blocks and played great defense the best defensive gamde Ive seen in his career. He even gaurded Love late in the game too.

 

 

 

 

  

 

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

Yeah Lebron was tired it showed. And he also had OG guarding him most of the game. OG is amongst the league leaders in stopping guys from getting into the lane.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Also, sticking to my guns Id like to mention Derozan took a full elbow to the jaw by Kevin Love late in the game which should have been a flagrant foul easily judging by todays standards and it didnt even get reviewed. Lebron also purposely stuck his leg out on Ibaka’s jumpshot and Serge rolled his ankle. Both shouldve been flagrants. Not that it wouldve mattered Toronto still wouldve found a way to lose.

 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I used to get pissed and yell bull sh*t when Val would miss layups on NBA 2K. Now, I won’t. Props to 2K for making him realistic as hell. 

[Author]

Posts