Cavaliers – Raptors dialogue: one last time
By Brian Boake
Wrapping up the series with our man in Cleveland, who’s tapped my shoulder for Raptors insight, as I’ve looked to him for the skinny on the Cavaliers.
Here’s FanSided’s Cleveland expert, Jared Mueller, Editor of https://kingjamesgospel.com/ with his answers (in bold) to my questions (in italics). We had fun passing questions back and forth during the Eastern Conference finals.
Who would the Cavaliers prefer to face: OKC or GSW, and why?
There are reasons for both. OKC seems like an easier match-up, even though they would have taken out the Spurs and the Warriors to get to the Finals, while the Warriors have the whole revenge factor for the Cavs. In the end, I think the Cavs can figure out the Thunder in ways they couldn’t the Warriors, OKC has a penchant for falling apart and would have gone thru 2 tough series to get there. They seem easier for the Cavs and all I care about is a Title.
Do you have a Cavaliers X-factor player in mind for the finals?
Against OKC it has to be Tristan Thompson controlling the interior against Steven Adams and Serge Ibaka. His activity has to be high causing frustration and foul trouble.
Against the Warriors, it is the combination of Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye. RJ needs to be able to guard Harrison Barnes, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green at times. The Cavs had no one his size last year to play alongside LeBron James. Frye’s ability to hit 3s opens the floor up by pulling one of the big guys away from the basket while his length is good enough to play against the small ball lineups of the Warriors. If he isn’t hitting shots, it limits the Cavs bigs to Thompson and Kevin Love.
The Cavs’ record was better under Blatt than under Lue. Yet the team is playing exceedingly well now. Were you worried for a while, and when did you know things would work out?
I was worried. The move was basically made because the players didn’t like David Blatt. Their effort increased when Tyronn Lue took over but he struggled with his rotations and many of his decisions were questionable. Some kind of switch flipped in the Playoffs where his rotations, inbounds plays and overall coaching was very good. I didn’t think he would do well until having a full Training Camp.
If you were the Raptors GM, what would you see as your team’s most pressing need?
LeBron James!
Kidding but I’m not sure that they have the right mix with their 3 best players who all seem to need the ball. Neither Kyle Lowry or DeMar DeRozan are catch and shoot players either so adding a pass first player may not help either. I’d want to play fast with your two backcourt guys, even though DeRozan wants to dribble 5 to 10 times before shooting, or inside out with Jonas. If they can’t find a true #1 player, they need to choose a way to play and make moves around that decision.
Can you envision a Cleveland-Toronto rivalry having special meaning over the next few years?
I think it could and due to 1 factor only: That Toronto crowd was downright amazing and deserving of a lot of respect. They showed they knew the game, were passionate and were engaged the entire time. I also didn’t feel the overt negativity from them toward the Cavs, some LBJ boos, with them instead focusing on cheering their team.
I’m not sure if Toronto will just be the Atlanta Hawks type team: Lots of good players but not good enough. It can be fun series but not sure anyone really thought the Raptors would win the series.