Here we go! The Toronto Raptors improbably, and impressively, have made a series of these Eastern Conference Finals versus the Cleveland Cavailers. When the Raptors left Cleveland last week, they were down 0-2 following a pair of depressing blowout losses. Now? It’s all tied up 2-2, and the Cavs seemingly have no answer for Bismack Biyombo, Kyle Lowry, or DeMar DeRozan. All eyes will be on the Raptors new Big Three, while for Cleveland the focus, as always, remains on LeBron James, who is poised for a monster outing (though, as you’ll see in the video above, former Raptor and Sportsnet analyst Alvin Williams says ‘The King’ has plenty of work to do in the leadership department). Here are some more notes for today’s game.
WINDEX’D
In case you’re just returning from a space mission to Mars, Raptors centre Bismack Biyombo has been a force on the glass during Toronto’s past two games. After grabbing nine boards total in Games 1 and 2, Biyombo averaged a ridiculous 20 (Twenty!) rebounds during Games 3 and 4. His prowess on the boards has played an integral role in establishing a tone/presence down low and also creates a ton of extra possessions for his team. In summation: Biyombo has been very, very, good for the Raptors.
Count Cavs big man Tristan Thompson as one who is acutely aware of that. Biyombo has owned Thompson, his primary matchup, in the rebounding department—Thompson’s nine rebounds per game during the series are respectable, sure, but the Brampton, ON native knows he needs to do a better job in Game 5. Thompson met with the media this morning and talked about why he’s pissed off and prepared to do something about it:
BEATEN BY THE BUZZER
Earlier, at the Raptors’ morning shootaround, the team’s three best players right now—Biyombo, Kyle Lowry, and DeMar DeRozan, also met with the media and laid out their keys to the game (before getting rudely interrupted):
KEYING IN
On location in Cleveland, Sportsnet’s Michael Grange and Eric Smith lay out the blueprint on how the Raptors can extend their series lead to 3-2 before returning home for Game 6 on Friday.
SEEING IS BELIEVING
More from Eric Smith, who caught up with Raptors starter DeMarre Carroll for this exclusive one-on-one in which Carroll, who’s provided a major boost and seems to be getting better with each passing game, outlined why Toronto’s wins at home this past weekend have completely changed the mindset of his team heading back to Cleveland:
‘Good to go’
Raptors centre Jonas Valanciunas was cleared to play ahead of Monday’s Game 5, though he didn’t get an opportunity to suit up (head coach Dwane Casey said he was moments away from putting JV into the game, just before the end of the first half, but a Cavs lineup change forced his hand and kept Valanciunas on the bench. There’s a stronger chance you’ll see the Lithuanian big man hit the floor tonight, though only in spot minutes, which, as Sportsnet’s Dan Robson wrote, should serve the Raptors just fine.
Tonight’s Game 5 tips-off at 8:30 PM ET on Sportsnet, with coverage beginning at 5 PM ET when Tim & Sid hit the air live from Jurassic Park.