Cavaliers vs. Raptors Game 2 – What lineups will the Cavs use?
May 19, 2016
C-Cap Recap: Ohio Cup Sweep Revives the Tribe
May 20, 2016Toronto Raptors – 89
Cleveland Cavaliers – 108
Box Score
Cleveland Cavaliers lead Eastern Conference Finals 2-0
It sure didn’t seem like the Cleveland Cavaliers were going to roll through the playoffs like a steamroller over a bunch of DVDs back in December … or, for that matter, January, February, or March. (Why DVDs you ask? The combination of borderline-obsolete media and brittle composition gave me the impression that they would make a delightfully satisfying crunch, were they to be run over with a steamroller. I devote great thought to such matters.) But here the Cavaliers are, 10-0 in the playoffs so far and looking head and shoulders above the rest of the class of the Eastern Conference; an Ivy Leaguer amidst the crowd at Barely Literate South State School.
After defeating the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night, the Cavaliers are one win away from tying the best start in NBA playoff history, tying the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers (they won the Finals) and they 1989 Lakers (they lost to the Bad Boy Pistons).1 This brilliant start could be interpreted one of two ways, with no middle ground: a harbinger of an imminent championship and basketball immortality; or a devilish omen of inevitable, cruel, soul-crushing doom. It being Cleveland, I’m conditioned to brace for the latter. We have a flair for the tragic, what can I say?
Anyway, the Cavs laid another black eye on the Raptors on Thursday. Let’s take a peek behind the box score and see how.
23, 11, 11 – LeBron James finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in Game 2, his 15th triple-double in the playoffs, second only to Magic Johnson. (Basketball-Reference only shows Johnson with 17 career playoff triple-doubles, but their records only go back to 1984. I think the ESPN broadcast showed Johnson having as many as 30, which is obviously a lie because that’s just silly.) Oh, James also passed the great Kazaam to become the fourth highest scorer in NBA playoff history, finishing the night with 5255 career playoff points. The second-leading scorer on that list, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was in The Q on Thursday, which seemed a little unusual, as I don’t think he goes to a lot of games these days or has any excuse to spend time in Cleveland. But there he was.
A little video from back at the @cavs pic.twitter.com/ETVz8LUUxz
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) May 20, 2016
James was great in a number of ways on Thursday, picking apart the Raptors from the get-go (six (!) assists in the first quarter), and attacking the basket like a man possessed (just like he did in Game 1), with eight of his 13 field goal attempts coming within mere inches of the hoop. He’s constantly finding teammates for open shots, and it’s hard to overstate how crucial all of his rebounds are for Cavalier game-control; no one is going to take a live ball within his reach away from him, and that’s slightly demoralizing.
To add to the triple-double, the playoff scoring leaderboard climbing, the Force-like manipulation of the game, and the unwavering intensity with which James played on Thursday, he also unleashed a gorgeous in-game dunk that, were anyone else to pull it off in a game, would have blown people’s minds. But because it’s James, we hardly blink. Casual greatness — conditioning people to neglect the spectacular by doing it with such regularity. Just like we shouldn’t take it for granted every time Stephen Curry makes eight three-pointers that don’t touch the rim, or every time he scores 15 points in 90 seconds, we should appreciate every time LeBron James shrugs his way to a playoff triple-double or uncorks an exquisite in-game dunk. Recognize, people.
37 to 18 – Given my journalistic integrity, I’ve made it a point to never complain about officiating in this space (just kidding). But the Cavaliers paved a path to the free throw line on Thursday, attempting 37 free throws compared to the Raptors’ 18. The Cavaliers weren’t beneficiaries of too many bad calls (the three free throws Love received for jumping into a Raptor defender may have been superfluous), instead using their determination to generate free points. James attempted 17 free throws, only the second time he’s attempted that many freebies this season (the other being a February loss to the Boston Celtics), and only the third time since he returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 (the other time being Game 2 of the 2015 NBA Finals). It seemed James’ 17 free throws (as well as Tristan Thompson’s six) were less a result of cheap officiating than a deliberate alteration in strategy by the Raptors (foul James instead of letting him, you know, dunk at will). Despite James’ greatness on Thursday (see above), he only made nine of his 17 free throws, meaning he shot better from the field (53.8 percent) than from the free throw line (52.9 percent). So, I guess there’s room for improvement.
Meanwhile, the Raptors, who attempted the third most free throws in the league during the regular season (26.7 per game), have only been to the line 38 times in two games. DeMar DeRozan (8.4 free throw attempts per game in the regular season) and Kyle Lowry (6.4) have eight free throw attempts combined in the series. Maybe the Cavs are benefiting from some home-cooking and some free contact, but the Cavs were in the bottom half of the league in personal fouls committed this season and have done an admirable job cutting off the path of Raptor ball-handlers to the hoop, causing them to settle for contested jumpers. Savor the free throw disparity while it lasts, Cavs fans, because you can bet your life savings that it will change in Games 3 and 4; and I have a feeling the Cavs unblemished postseason record gets a zit in Toronto on the back of let’s say 60 Toronto free throws.
26 – Kyrie Irving led the Cavaliers in scoring yet again, with 26 points on 12-of-22 shooting (54.5 percent). Irving used his ball-handling magic to generate a few dazzling layups, but Thursday night’s production was largely courtesy a silky smooth midrange jump shot, which looked as good as it has all season as he made 7-of-11 (63.6 percent) of his shots more than five feet from the basket yet within the three-point line. In the playoffs, Irving is scoring 24.8 points per game (leading the team) with 5.2 assists, 1.8 turnovers, and a 60.6 true shooting percentage. As good as some of the remaining duos in the playoffs are (Lowry-DeRozan, Durant-Westbrook, Curry-Thompson/Green), the Cavaliers may be the hardest to beat when their top-two scorers are in the zone — as both James and Irving are right now.
4-of-14 – Kyle Lowry made 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) on field goal attempts in Game 2, finishing with only 10 points. Lowry is shooting 35.7 percent (25.2 percent from three) in the playoffs, and has scored a grand total of 18 points with two free throw attempts in the series against the Cavaliers. DeMar DeRozan is scoring (18 points in Game 1 and 22 points in Game 2), but the Raptors are not going to beat the Cavs at all without stellar play from Lowry. His shooting sight has been crooked all playoffs, but credit the Cavs for cutting off Lowry’s path to the hoop and forcing him to take bad shots. Irving has played solid defense on Lowry in the series, and Kevin Love did an applause-worthy job on both Lowry and DeRozan when he was forced to switch onto the Raptor guards. But for the Basketball Gods’ sake, Lowry can’t keep settling for long jumpers he isn’t making.
Reminder: Kyle Lowry, 2016 NBA All-Star. Kyrie Irving, Not an All-Star.
50 to 21 – The Cavaliers scored 50 points in the paint in Game 2 compared to only 21 points on three-pointers. That’s an impressive change of style for a team that entered the series scoring an average of over 50 points per game from long-range in the playoffs. The Cavaliers outscored the Raptors by 22 on the painted wood, pushing around the team that was supposedly the “grittier” of the two. The Cavs aren’t shooting “bad” from three (34.1 percent in the series, just a hair below their regular season average), but it’s been nice to see them adjust after two “normal” games on the heels of a bananas 46.2 percent in the first eight games of the playoffs.
2 – Two points for Timofey Mozgov in Game 2! He’s on a scoring streak! Don’t call it a comeback! Seriously though, don’t call it a comeback.
0 – The Cavs head to Toronto with zero losses in the 2016 NBA Playoffs. Zero is also the number of championships the City of Cleveland has won in the last 51 years. Coincidence??? Yes. To equate the two figures would make no more sense than comparing the number of Cavs losses to the number of Super Bowls won by Elvis Presley. But that’s why I’m here. It’s nice to be 10-0 so far, but I have a feeling the Raptors have a loss or two for the Cavs before they have a chance to wrap this series up.
- Stat courtesy the ESPN broadcast. [↩]
25 Comments
Boom!
I love that RJ turns his back to the basket to make sure no Raptors were going to interfere with what surely will be an epic LeBron dunk. What a pro.
I will call it a comeback! Seriously, though. If somehow OKC manages to upset the Warriors, won’t we need Mozzy Bear to body up Adams?
I noticed that too!
Lowry has been completely taken out of this series. DeRozan only do so much. If this continues I see a sweep coming.
I haven’t been reading much about this series outside this site because, honestly, there’s not much more than needs to be said, so I’m curious – has there been a lot of complaining about the officiating and FT discrepancy? Anyone who actually watches the game unbiasedly can see that the Cavs are attacking the rim, the Raptors are not, plain and simple. But there will be those who play that card regardless, as I’m sure there would be Clevelanders doing it if the numbers were reversed.
Biyombo – dude gets pissy because Irving gives him a little forearm shiver. Stood over Lebron glaring at him after taking him to the ground in game 1. Congrats, you’re “tough.”
P.S. this is one of the funniest tweets I’ve ever seen: https://twitter.com/TH_Da_06er/status/732756709081554944
Lowry – I’m just waiting to hear some excuse like he played hurt during the playoffs. How has this guy – an All-Star! – fallen SO far off in the postseason?
If the Warriors or Spurs or OKC were the facing the Raptors in the eastern conference finals, what would the games look like? A lot like this: 20 point victories with starters sitting out the 4th quarter, and one loss or maybe a close game in games 1 or 3. So let’s not moan about the Cavs “needing” a better opponent or a loss to sharpen them. I’m most impressed by their relentless concentration throughout these games. Guys like Love and Kyrie are really playing defense each play, screens and passes are sharp, they can’t be accused of playing down to Toronto. Just a few things:
– Agree fully about LeBron. This is the best I’ve ever seen him play. He’s Harvey Keitel as the Fixer in Pulp Fiction: expertly sizes up the sitch, barks out what’s needed, quickly makes sure it’s done and leaves. And everyone’s in awe.
– I love Lowry, but this is the diff between having a couple NBA stars and having LeBron. When LeBron’s shot goes AWOL he’s still playing defense and passing and engaging. Lowry will probably get off tomorrow for 25 points, but team alphas cannot disengage.
– [Obligatory criticism: Shump – you were back! Stay with us! Channel your inner J.R. and when the ball is swung to you shoot that thing – stop thinking!]
– The Raptors know. You can see it in all their eyes. They’ll go balls out Saturday because they are competitive, elite athletes and have pride and want to thank their fans and not have people calling them roadkill after a breakthrough season. But they know.
I’m so ashamed at myself for LOL’ing at that tweet. I actually love the guy. To me he’s JJ Hickson with a heart, but same hands. If he can learn to shoot something from some distance – any distance – he’ll be in the league for 15 years.
I actually really like him too, just don’t care for the tough guy act. I don’t mind a little mean streak, prefer it actually, but don’t throw a guy to the ground and then stalk over him, and don’t get upset when a guy a foot shorter and 50 lbs less than you tries to go through a pick.
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“I’m most impressed by their relentless concentration throughout these games.”
This. How many times in the regular season did we go into halftime with a nice lead, only to let the other team back in the game in the 3Q? Now, we’re coming out of the locker room wanting to push the lead from 10 to 20 (I’m ignoring the 6-0 run to start the second half of game 1). Further proof that they know regular season == playoffs.
well, Kyrie was giving him what-for with the extended arm, kind of lifted his leg on the dude to make sure he remembered a beat down was under way. Speaking of which, I actually like that Kyrie has gotten physical lately. The announcers were noticing it – he’s bullying his way around the court. Must be all that weight-lifting during his rehabs.
I saw what Kyrie did. I’m just saying that if you dish it out – especially to Lebron – be ready to take it back. And when it comes from someone smaller than you, don’t go all KG.
I was wondering about that too – does OKC ever run the twin towers of Adams and Kanter together? I obviously don’t watch them much, and I don’t even know how big either are, so I don’t know if Love could body up one of them.
Lowry… When he went to the locker room last night? He said he needed to “decompress”. Translation… “I’ve thoroughly cracked under all of this pressure”.
It was interesting/fun to read some reaction to that on Twitter. Some people pointing out that if Irving or Westbrook did it, they would be raked across the coals. I pointed out that if Curry did it, ESPN would spin it into a positive: “SPECIAL FOOTAGE OF THE MVP HEADING BACK TO THE LOCKER ROOM!”
That thought would never have crossed the minds of any of those three. Ever.
They were on the floor together for the end of the third and start of the fourth, in game 1, and it paid off.
RJ was asking “are watching? I want to make sure you are witnesses”
It really the only reason why the Warriors had the great season. they didn’t take time off during a game. It wasn’t “they are the best” they just didn’t take a rest.
I don’t think the Cavs had a “rope a dope” strategy, but they were not going to play any harder than they needed to.
Other than Curry taking off entire 4th quarters after putting up 30+. Man I hate how good that guy is.
So much for all the hand wringing about what Kyle Lowry was going to do to Kyrie Irving…
Agreed, I think at first RJ was thinking “maybe he’ll go with the easy assist and let me dunk it” and when he saw that LeBron was going full speed with only one intention, he turned back around to make sure no Raptors did anything stupid. The guy’s a pro, and I’m grateful to have him on the Cavs.
It’s a bloodbath on Twitter. Raptors fans were so sure of how much better Lowry is than Kyrie, and they’re getting super defensive now that Irving is eating his lunch.
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