so, the cavs 2 game honey-moon has worn off and now they are back to being a poor team. except this time with less talent.
looking at the standings, cavs could end up anywhere from #3 - #7. they are 1 loss away from dropping to #5
It's too bad the c's are so banged up this year. This could've been our year
Actually they could fall to #8 seed. The 7 and 8 seed (Heat and Bucks) are currently tied.
It would be such a Raptors way for the Raptors to end the best season of their franchise's history if the Cavs fell to the 8th seed and then beat them in the 1st round.
I just have a hard time seeing the Cavs beat the Raptors. They are playing amazing basketball with young guy filling out their rotation that provide some needed athleticism and Demar playing MVP level basketball. I also think the Cavs will be most vulnerable in the first round because they will still be in their first weeks of trying to get Love to play with all the new guys. I am curious if Lue is going to give Lebron any games off. Lue has made bizarre comments referencing how much people played in the 80's and 90's to excuse Lebron's age and minutes. I think I have also read that Lebron wants to play all games as a point of pride and to win MVP (that ship has sailed at this point though) . Both guys being stubborn about that could also cost them in postseason.
I don't think much of this Cavs team, but the Raps are still vulnerable, in my eyes.
Deep teams that win a lot of games on the strength of youth and a strong bench tend to do worse in the playoffs.
Core stars tend to revert to their basic instincts in the playoffs when the going gets tough.
The Raptors still don't have anybody with the size and experience to hound LeBron 40+ minutes a game for seven games. Siakam, Ibaka, Poeltl, and Anunoby might be able to collectively make him work to get interior baskets, but that would entail using a lot of low-offense lineups without Valanciunas.
By all means, I think the Raptors would be and should be favored against the Cavs, but a team of LeBron + shooters can bust this Raps squad.