Round 1: Semifinals: Conference Finals: (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (2) Toronto Raptors Game 1: CLE 115 TOR 84 Game 2: CLE 108 TOR 89 Game 3: CLE 84 TOR 99 Game 4: CLE 99 TOR 105 Game 5: CLE 116 TOR 78
Some interesting match-ups here. I'll be honest, I've very rarely watched any of these teams play. Detroit has a good chance of making things hard for the Cavs, they match up well against them. And Drummond can give them a ton of problems, similar to Hibbert a couple years back. Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris can take advantage of Love's weak defense. Raptors and Pacers, I think Raptors will make quick work of them. Paul George is the best player this series but I think they'll have a hard time containing Lowry. Heat and Hornets will be a fun series to watch I think, it would be easier for Heat if Bosh can play. Otherwise it's a pretty even match up, Whiteside is the X factor. Hawks and C Bags, a really even series that can go either way. Lack of any real star player on both sides. IT and Horford? C Bags will probably lose this one because of inferior talent.
Maybe for the first time in his life, LeBron will not have a free pass to the Finals. Still has quite a discount, but at least doesn't seem like it's going to be a free pass.
Everyone thinks LeBron is going to skate to the Finals, but I don't think so. His team has some serious issues and I think Toronto is a legitimate threat. Detroit won't be an easy out. The road isn't paved for him, that's for sure.
He has been great and he is great. Paul is one of my favorite players to watch. Hope he's a Laker one day. He doesn't have much around him and has taken this Indiana team back to the playoffs. Had that gruesome injury and made a phenomenal recovery. Top ten player in the league easily to me. Just outside of my top five. (Curry, LeBron, Kawhi, KD, WB). If AD is healthy he's in there, but obviously can't stay healthy.
Not the most popular opinion this year, but give me Paul George over Kawhi Leonard any day of the week. Kawhi might be a bit better defensively, but Paul George is definitely de better offensive player, and more importantly, I don't think Kawhi is capable of taking over a game in the way Paul George can. Not really sure where I rank PG (or Kawhi), but I do know I prefer Paul George of Kawhi Leonard.
I don't think you can go wrong with either one. Leonard is fantastic on both ends and more efficient offensively, but what Paul has done with a limited roster has been terrific.
DeRozan and Lowry came up small yet again. It was still a relatively close game, but you can't have your supposed stars be so cold and win against a team with a true superstar.
I think Paul George's offense is overrated. Despite his "break out" year, he only shot 41.8%. Leonard is the superior player.
Didn't know this, apparently Detroit has the best transition defense this season. That should be helpful. Queen and the Cavs are already getting some ref love this game. Lebron got away with 2-3 offensive fouls early in the game right in front of the refs.
Even if the Cavs sweep this Detroit team, they're going to have their hands full. Drummond wasn't all that great and they barely pulled this win out.
Drummond and Reggie Jackson weren't great at all. Cavs big three all had huge games and barely won. But Detroit stayed in the game by being super hot from 3 during the first half. Love at the 5 gives Detroit issues though. Also your boy Stanley Johnson played some decent D on Lebron when he was in.
Stanley has been more disappointing than I'd hoped, but I still like him. He needs to settle down, find a jumper, and he can ascend to the next level at SG/SF. He's got that great defensive ability in him.
Didnt the Cavs have a franchise low 5 turnovers? And yet, they barely won. Detroit can pull this out.
-This Harris/Morris combo at the forwards position is a defensive disaster - Pistons need to adjust on the Kyrie/Lebron PNR , they can't switch it , Jackson on Lebron isn't going to work I know this is more difficult to execute on the floor than just me saying it but why every team in the league (except SAS and Warriors ) still hasn't get you have to make Lebron a scorer (and a jumpshooter) ? He's at his best when he's playmaking for open shooters ....
