NBA Playoffs 2017: Cavaliers vs. Raptors Game 4 live stream: Watch online
By Chazz Scogna
The Cleveland Cavaliers go for their second-straight sweep in these NBA Playoffs in Game 4 against the Toronto Raptors.
What started as a mountain for the Raptors, through three games, has only gotten taller. Or, for those who can’t get enough of the dinosaur analogies, the asteroid just got larger and, somehow, in the vacuum of space, faster.
The Raptors just can’t beat the Cavaliers. No matter what magic Raptors GM Masai Ujiri practices, his roster just can’t conquer LeBron James and the defending champs.
In Game 3, the Raptors led 52-49 at the half. The Raptors only had three turnovers, while the Cavaliers coughed up the ball eight times. DeMar DeRozan finally woke up and had 21 points through two quarters. Jonas Valanciunas, the best offensive player for the Raptors this series, had 9 points on 4-6 shooting.
DeRozan took full advantage of J.R. Smith, who was in foul trouble for most of the game, sitting on the bench. He was aggressive and was able to sink the mid-range shots that weren’t falling in Games 1 and 2.
But it was a ticking bomb. Though DeRozan was able to maximize his efficiency with free throws, the Raptors were 0-9 from 3 and attempted only nine more in the second half. They made two for the game. DeRozan didn’t attempt one. The point is the Raptors can’t shoot. They average the fewest attempts of teams in the second round and make the fewest.
A three-point lead is not large enough to stop a team like the Cavaliers when they start their onslaught of 3s — just ask the Pacers, who found out a 26-point lead wasn’t safe. In Game 3 against Toronto, the Cavs made five of their 11 attempts in the first half, then made eight of 13 in the second half. We’re far enough into the pace-and-space era to know this is how you lose and win games.
Projected starting lineups
Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson
Raptors: Cory Joseph, DeMar DeRozan, Norman Powell, Serge Ibaka and Jonas Valanciunas