NBA Playoffs 2017: Cavaliers vs. Raptors Game 4 live stream: Watch online
By Chazz Scogna
The Cavaliers go for the sweep on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET. Broadcast information is below:
Date: Sunday, May 7
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Venue: Air Canada Centre
TV Info: ABC
Live Stream: Watch ESPN, FuboTV
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Keys to victory:
Cavaliers: At this point, what is there to say? The Raptors just aren’t a match. And with the way LeBron has been playing this postseason, and with that level off efficiency, anything other than saying the Cavs should just keep doing what they’re doing is reaching.
So what is doing what you’re doing? Well, making 56 percent of their 3s on offense helps. On defense, the Cavs should continue to not double Valanciunas whenever he gets the ball in the paint or low post. What’s the point of over-committing? If you’re the Cavs, let him shoot 18-of-23 over Games 2 and 3 or allow him to make four straight shots down the floor. It’s inconsequential. Valanciunas isn’t dynamic enough to earn a surplus of free throws like DeRozan and he can’t shoot. If the Cavaliers want to take possessions from what little shooting the Raptors have, then continue having them force Valanciunas.
Raptors: This series has been so lopsided no matter what changes, what could the Raptors really do? Their makeup naturally lends itself to favoring a 3-point-shooting team like the Cavaliers. The Raptors attempted 26 shot from mid-range in Game 3, eight more shots they attempted from beyond the arc. Worse, they can’t go 2-18 from deep.
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The Raptors could attempt more 3s, but nothing in this series suggests they’d be able to either keep pace with the Cavaliers or completely blitz them from deep. Still, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try. On the verge of a sweep, why not try and shake it up? What’s the worst that could happen? 4-0 is still 4-0.