Minnesota Sports Forum

longstrangetrip wrote:

TRKO wrote:It sucks the Eastern conference finals aren't at the same level. Toronto is a nice team, but I don't think they have a chance. The western conference finals are two heavy weights going at it.

I don't know, TRKO...Toronto beat the Cavs pretty handily in Game 3, and now they may be getting Valencuinas back for Game 4. Biyombo has played well, but now they get their best rebounder and most efficient scorer back, and both shot blocking centers can play more aggressively not having to worry as much about fouls. I'm not ready to write off this series.

I think Toronto might have better change with Biyombo than with Valenciunas. Biyombo's rim protection and better defense might be more important in this particular series than Valenciunas' low post scoring.

I think Toronto matches pretty well with Cleveland since Cavs lack big wing defenders to slow down DeRozan. Shumpert might be their best wing defender and he is bit undersized against DeRozan. DeRozan has had much easier time against Cavs compared George and Deng in earlier rounds. Also Lowry should be more effective with Irving defending him than he was for example in first round series against Pacers.

Mikkeman wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:

TRKO wrote:It sucks the Eastern conference finals aren't at the same level. Toronto is a nice team, but I don't think they have a chance. The western conference finals are two heavy weights going at it.

I don't know, TRKO...Toronto beat the Cavs pretty handily in Game 3, and now they may be getting Valencuinas back for Game 4. Biyombo has played well, but now they get their best rebounder and most efficient scorer back, and both shot blocking centers can play more aggressively not having to worry as much about fouls. I'm not ready to write off this series.

I think Toronto might have better change with Biyombo than with Valenciunas. Biyombo's rim protection and better defense might be more important in this particular series than Valenciunas' low post scoring.

I think Toronto matches pretty well with Cleveland since Cavs lack big wing defenders to slow down DeRozan. Shumpert might be their best wing defender and he is bit undersized against DeRozan. DeRozan has had much easier time against Cavs compared George and Deng in earlier rounds. Also Lowry should be more effective with Irving defending him than he was for example in first round series against Pacers.

Good point about the Cavs' poor wing defense...it's going to continue to be a factor. As good as Biyombo has been, Casey has to be happy to have both centers available. Even though Biyombo is much more athletic, Valanciunas' greater height makes him a comparable rim protector...for the season, Biyombo blocked 1.9 shots per 36 and Valanciunas 1.8.

Toronto isn't going to win another game. And don't count out the Warriors yet. I think the winner of game 4 wins the series.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:Toronto isn't going to win another game. And don't count out the Warriors yet. I think the winner of game 4 wins the series.

I'm not counting the Warriors out yet, and I agree that the winner of the next game is the likely winner...I just think OkC at home is most likely to win that game.

Almost everyone isn't considering the Raptors, but I am. They just won by 15 at home and now get their best rebounder and most efficient scorer back, and also took 2 out of 3 from a healthy Cavs' team during the regular season. As Mikkeman said, the Cavs don't seem to have a defensive answer for DeRozen or Lowry, and with Jonas back and commanding attention underneath, DeRozen should be even more effective. The pundits jumped on the Cavs' train as they won their first 10 games, but I wasn't impressed with beating an undermanned Pistons team and a Hawks team with their best player not at full strength. Any team with LeBron is a threat to win every game, but I have a feeling we're going to see a fun game 6 in Toronto Friday.

I didn't vote in the poll, but if it weren't closed, I'd be adding a very late vote for "other".

longstrangetrip wrote:

TRKO wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:

TRKO wrote:It sucks the Eastern conference finals aren't at the same level. Toronto is a nice team, but I don't think they have a chance. The western conference finals are two heavy weights going at it.

I don't know, TRKO...Toronto beat the Cavs pretty handily in Game 3, and now they may be getting Valencuinas back for Game 4. Biyombo has played well, but now they get their best rebounder and most efficient scorer back, and both shot blocking centers can play more aggressively not having to worry as much about fouls. I'm not ready to write off this series.

They definately have a chance to win, but Cleveland is the overwhelming favorite and it would be a huge shock if Toronto were to win. I just feel like OKC, Golden State, and Cleveland are on another level.

Here's how I see it right now:

Oklahoma City
Golden State (but lower if Green is suspended)



(pretty big gap)


Cleveland

Toronto

Having said that, I never count out a team with Lebron James on it. But ultimately the Cavs are the worst defensive team remaining, and championships are won with defense.

I think the Cavs are right with everybody because of James (and the preferential treatment he gets from the refs). I'm cheering for Tornonto and OKC. I want something different in the finals.

The Raptors have enough talent to make things interesting. They don't have that superstar but when they are on Drtozen and Lowry can up the ball in the bucket. Lowry has had some terrific moments in the past in the playoffs and Joseph has really stepped up. The problem is Lowry has struggled in the playoffs. If he gets his swagger back things get a lot more interesting.

Toronto has been first team that has been able to slow down Cavs three point shooting. Cavs have hit three pointers just 7/21, 7/20 and 14/41 in first three games. They won first two games easily mainly because they rebounded well and Toronto (especially Lowry) was shooting
horribly.

If Valanciunas will be back for next game and Toronto is still able to contain Cavs three point shooters, they might have a good change to win that game as well. Valanciunas and Biyombo destroyed Pacers with their offensive rebounding.

Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love combined to shoot 4 - 28 fg.

I think that had as much to do with the loss than anything Toronto did...

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love combined to shoot 4 - 28 fg.

I think that had as much to do with the loss than anything Toronto did...

I agree...but that's also why I think they have a chance. Irving and Love looked frustrated by Toronto's defense last game...well, at least when Scola wasn't on the court. Love had a few open looks that he just missed when Scola was "guarding" him, but Patterson really seemed to bother him. Atlanta and Detroit gave the Cavs so many wide open threes, but Toronto seems to be game planning to take that away.

longstrangetrip wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love combined to shoot 4 - 28 fg.

I think that had as much to do with the loss than anything Toronto did...

I agree...but that's also why I think they have a chance. Irving and Love looked frustrated by Toronto's defense last game...well, at least when Scola wasn't on the court. Love had a few open looks that he just missed when Scola was "guarding" him, but Patterson really seemed to bother him. Atlanta and Detroit gave the Cavs so many wide open threes, but Toronto seems to be game planning to take that away.

Patterson is basically a stretch 4 and decently athletic. If asked that helps against Love of Frye if he is on them.