Hindsight being 20/20: would Toronto have been an easier series for us?

[jpotter33]

I mean, though on paper they're a worse matchup for us, they have a history of criminally underperforming in the playoffs, which was once again validated this year in both of their series.

What do you think? Would we have had an easier time against Toronto than Washington?

I think it probably would have been an easier series for us. One of our biggest problems this series was not being able to hide IT on anyone. The way Carroll played in the playoffs, we could've easily hid IT on him, which would've dramatically helped our defensive effort.

That's also another reason why I think this Cavs series will be competitive. We can hide IT on several of their players that play rotation minutes (Smith, Shump, Jefferson, etc.), along with their perimeter defense being nowhere near the level of Washington's.

[Monkhouse]

I think the problem is...

Cleveland is just that good.

Yes Raptors have been notoriously well known for choking, but I think the problem is players like DeRozan and Wall have given us problems.

Beal and Wall were a very powerful back court, and as evidenced by them taking us to seven games.

I do think despite the changes in their roster, we still are a better team than the Raptors. When healthy, our team is clearly top 3 in the East.

I only see the Wizards marginally having a better roster as of now, with two excellent stars, and a great sixth man in Morris, but their lacking a bench, and a future.

The Celtics are literally in the open to just create a dynasty.

And I think if you try to hide IT, Raptors would abuse him with Powell or Tucker backing him down in the post.

[86MaxwellSmart]

Celtics play better when things are tough..So, it was good to play Washington---team grew up a lot.

[BitterJim]

I don't think so. Toronto has a couple of bigs in Valancunius and Ibaka that can rebound better than anyone we have and score inside. They're like a better version of Chicago, even if Lowry doesn't play

On the other hand, though, their coach is awful and they're w best players are bad in the playoffs.

But the thing is, we were 2-2 against WAS this year and 1-3(?) against TOR, so I'll take the series vs. Washington every time

[csfansince60s]

Maybe not, but the Wiz would've been a much tougher out for Cavs than the Raps were.

[Surferdad]

Maybe not, but the Wiz would've been a much tougher out for Cavs than the Raps were.

Not so sure. This Wiz team has talent but is not good overall.

[csfansince60s]

Maybe not, but the Wiz would've been a much tougher out for Cavs than the Raps were.

Not so sure. This Wiz team has talent but is not good overall.

Don't think they could've done worse than 0-4....all blowouts.

[green_bballers13]

Maybe not, but the Wiz would've been a much tougher out for Cavs than the Raps were.

Not so sure. This Wiz team has talent but is not good overall.

They were plenty good in Washington. No need to disparage the Wizards- they played tough. Wall was 8-23. I would take him on the Celtics in a second.

If Olynyk doesn't go off tonight, I'm not sure the Celtics win. They needed an outlier to beat the Wizards in game 7. Both the Celtics and Wizards are good, not great teams.

Toronto is a tough matchup for a lot of teams. Derozan and Lowry are similarly dominant like Wall and Beal (who scored 38 pts tonight). I think the Celtics could beat them too.

[RockinRyA]

I think its harder against the Raps, but Lowry isnt healthy, so I dont know.

[kraidstar]

Maybe not, but the Wiz would've been a much tougher out for Cavs than the Raps were.

Not so sure. This Wiz team has talent but is not good overall.

They were plenty good in Washington. No need to disparage the Wizards- they played tough. Wall was 8-23. I would take him on the Celtics in a second.

If Olynyk doesn't go off tonight, I'm not sure the Celtics win. They needed an outlier to beat the Wizards in game 7. Both the Celtics and Wizards are good, not great teams.

Toronto is a tough matchup for a lot of teams. Derozan and Lowry are similarly dominant like Wall and Beal (who scored 38 pts tonight). I think the Celtics could beat them too.

TP

Beal's resurgence shows just how good that Wall/Beal combo is.

Porter, Gortat, and Morris are all VERY good role players.

Give them their due. Raps might be a little deeper but IMO Wall and Beal at their best are better than Lowry and DeRozan, and that's what wins in the playoffs.

[CelticSooner]

LeBron mentally broke the Raptors and it was over after Game 2. Not many players in the league can do that. He will try to do the same the first two games in Boston as well.

[Moranis]

If Lowry still gets hurt then probably, but if Lowry stays healthy I still wouldn't like Boston's chances against Toronto in a series. 

[Ilikesports17]

healthy Lowry? Toronto probably beats us
hobbled Lowry? Id say absolutely an easier series.

[manl_lui]

no, Toronto geared themselves to compete with CLE (although that didn't work out too well).

They have Val/Ibaka whom in my opinion are better rebounding bigs than what we have, so the rebounding would have been even more frustrating for us, not to mention I think their bigs are better defensively and are better offensively compared to the Wizards. Derozen and a healthy Lowry will be more or less the same as the Wiz, so with that said, I think Toronto will give the Celtics more problems as they have a more balanced team than the Wiz. To make things worst, with that said, the Cavs swept them, which kinda lets us know how hard the next series will be for us...I say we would be lucky if we aren't swept.