Here in Canada, much of the Toronto Raptors chatter, it seems, has already moved on to the off-season, where Masai Ujiri & Co. will face a series of major questions regarding the future direction of the franchise.
Non-Canadian media outlets, however, are still talking about the Raptors-Cavaliers series, in which the Raps returned home down 0-2 after a pair of blowouts in Clevleand. And, wouldn’t you know it, they’re none too impressed with the lack of fight the Raptors have shown through two games. Here’s what they have to say about the Raptors heading into tonights pivotal Game 3:
Cleveland.com— Cavaliers have been privately working on ‘blitzing’ defensive scheme
Following the limited practices they had throughout the season and some of their shootarounds, head coach Tyronn Lue dedicated the final 15 minutes or so every time to sharpening it. It’s been in the defensive playbook for the last three years, a comfortable plan for them. Given their personnel, the Cavs believe it’s one of the best schemes.
That aggressive trapping strategy has frustrated DeMar DeRozan and led to back-to-back blowouts in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
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…In Game 1, the Cavs trapped DeRozan 24 times. He scored three times when faced with it. Oftentimes he tried to pass out of the double team, make the right basketball play. Other moments he appeared flustered, committing four turnovers or jacking ill-advised jumpers. On Monday night, DeRozan finished with 19 points on 7-of-16 from the field. He went to the free-throw line just five times…The Cavs increased the pressure even more Wednesday. DeRozan touched the ball 35 times, seeing a second defender on 31 of them. He passed out of the double 22 times and shot 0-of-9 from the field. It all led to a forgettable night, scoring a season-low five points on 2-of-11 from the field. He didn’t make his first basket until early in the fourth quarter.
DeRozan is the top name on the scouting report, the engine that makes the Raptors go. The Cavs don’t believe Toronto has enough playmakers or accomplished 3-point shooters for the antidote.
Cleveland.com— Cleveland Cavaliers answering playoff questions
Question: Last year, the Cavs beat Toronto by a combined 50 points in the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, then they…
Answer: Went to Toronto and lost the next two games.
Q: Can it happen again?
A: I doubt it. Losing the two games in Toronto last season will serve as a reminder for this team. Furthermore, things were going remarkably easy for the Cavs at that point in 2016. They had won their first 10 playoff games. Toronto looked lost.
Cleveland.com— Can the Raptors big the Cavs reason to be concerned?
[Mailbag question]: Maybe I’m wrong, but with LeBron pretending to swig a beer and Kyrie throwing passes to him off the backboard, the Cavs don’t seem to be taking the Raptors seriously. Do you agree? – Kevin.
Yes. The only way the series could look more like a mismatch is if they played “Sweet Georgia Brown” every time LeBron got the ball.
On ESPN’s NBA Countdown, former NBA champ (and, briefly, Raptors point guard) Chauncey Billups voiced his displeasure over the lack of payback issued on LeBron James for his ball-spinning three-pointer on Wednesday night:
And after Wizards’ forward Kelly Oubre took exception to a physical screen from Celtics’ Kelly Olynyk last night, many are pointing to Oubre’s actions as a model for the Raptors tonight:
https://twitter.com/TermineRadio/status/860296077592993792
Game 3 coverage begins at 6:30 pm ET on Sportsnet.
