Cleveland Cavaliers 116 – Raptors 78: bad, badder, baddest

A nightmarish Game 5 in Cleveland for the Raptors puts them on the brink of elimination.

“We started badly, then our game fell off” – variously attributed

The Toronto Raptors fell and couldn’t get up. The Cleveland Cavaliers abused them early and late, on their way to an emphatic triumph over the confused visitors.

This game was worse than the score, if that’s possible (it is). The Raptors actually held a very early lead, and despite losing it to the first of many Cleveland runs, were within four after almost eight minutes. Then their offense cratered, and the Cavaliers couldn’t miss. By the time the Q1 buzzer mercifully sounded, Cleveland had piled up a 17-3 run.

Wait – it gets worse. The Raptors were turning the ball over at an absurd rate, so the Cavs enjoyed numerous easy baskets. Not that they really needed them; Cleveland’s shooting was ridiculously hot. Kevin Love, the object of much criticism, shut up the hecklers by missing only 2 of 10 shots.

The game was over by halftime. Cleveland had thoroughly embarrassed Toronto by then, rolling to a 31-point lead.

The third quarter was further torture, after which the Cavaliers were clinging to a 40-point margin. Cue the end of the bench.

LeBron James was the only Cavalier to play more than 30 minutes, largely as a sop to the fans. Their other starters didn’t need that much time, but still sat down with absurd plus-minus numbers (e.g., Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith, each plus_34).

The Raptors were beaten badly in any stats category you (don’t) want to look at. Thompson had five offensive rebounds – so did the Raptors. Cory Joseph had 3 shots blocked, 3 turnovers, and 1 basket. Cleveland shot 47.6% from beyond the arc, while the Raptors managed 39.1% from everywhere. Kyle Lowry was 2 of 6 from the free-throw line. Terrence Ross and DeMarre Carroll, our trusted 3-ball makers, tried 7 and missed them all.

I could go on, but for your sake and mine, I won’t.

“There were just two problems with our game – offense and defense.” said in different ways by exasperated coaches over the years

We saw Jonas Valanaciunas for the first time in 18 days. He looked better than we had any right to expect, making all 4 of his shots. The Raptors guards clearly weren’t prepared for his presence, as he was little used. Cleveland defenders were in the Raptors’ faces early in the 24-second clock, and our guys weren’t releasing the ball quickly enough. Too often our people were doubled-teamed on the perimeter after picking up their dribble. That seldom ends well.

We also saw a fivesome including JV and Bismack Biyombo, something I called for months ago. Their time together was too brief to determine if the experiment can be successful, but I hope we’ll see this configuration again tomorrow night.

Surely coach Dwane Casey has seen enough of Luis Scola. Every time Love got the ball against our overmatched Argentinian, he scored. James Johnson had 11 minutes to prove his worth, and didn’t. LeBron rolled over JJ.

Pro athletes need short memories. Whether it’s a one-point heartbreaker in overtime, or a monumental drubbing like this game, it only counts as one loss. Let it go.

Game 6 tips off tomorrow night at the Air Canada Centre.