Eastern Conference Finals Game 3 : Cleveland Cavaliers @ Toronto Raptors, May 21st, 8:30pm

[Andrew]

Realistically I knew this team wasn't going to go through the entire postseason undefeated but any sort of loss at this point stings. It sucks this team didn't play with the same heart and hustle that they did in the first two contests but I doubt this is the "adversity" they were bound to hit at some point. I mean the Raptors go nearly nice cold in the 4th and in almost any other game, the Cavs make them pay. While it stinks the shots weren't falling if either Irving or Love had it going this could have been a win.

I am not trying to belittle the opponent in any means, I am just saying one loss for Cleveland and 1 win for Toronto doesn't change the series. While, from a fans' standpoint, it hurts in the grand scheme of things this is nothing more than the series being extended by at least 1 more game.

 

[Real Deal]

Just win game 4 and give us a celebration night to the finals. I'll take it.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Lue did not get out coached. We got outplayed. I mean, it happens... Toronto is an inferior team but it's hard beating a team four straight times.

The Cavs didn't come out of the game with much energy, Toronto did. We looked lethargic. Toronto didn't.

Maybe we got a little full of ourselves and got an awakening call. Games like this I feel can be healthy for a team.

It's not going to be cruise control to a title. They got embarrassed by a team they should have beat. Toronto came out desperate and won a must-win-game.

I think everyone needs a taste of humble pie, re-group, and no more patting everyone on the asses and heaping non-stop praises that they've been getting and get that focus back.

This game doesn't bother me at all. We played really bad, but this stuff happens. It's how you respond to it.

I think this series ends in 5. Just a newsflash: it's going to get much harder from here and much scarier.

Those of you that are scared over this should probably go to bed at 9 when we play the Warriors.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Realistically I knew this team wasn't going to go through the entire postseason undefeated but any sort of loss at this point stings. It sucks this team didn't play with the same heart and hustle that they did in the first two contests but I doubt this is the "adversity" they were bound to hit at some point. I mean the Raptors go nearly nice cold in the 4th and in almost any other game, the Cavs make them pay. While it stinks the shots weren't falling if either Irving or Love had it going this could have been a win.

I am not trying to belittle the opponent in any means, I am just saying one loss for Cleveland and 1 win for Toronto doesn't change the series. While, from a fans' standpoint, it hurts in the grand scheme of things this is nothing more than the series being extended by at least 1 more game.

We lose our air of invincibility. That was worth a lot.

 

[PLaslo]

Both Love and Irving were awful today. So now they have adversity, let's see how they respond.

BTW I don't see what Lue did wrong, this was just an off shooting night

He should be a least splitting minutes between Mozgov and Thompson. Mozgov was a dynamic scoring center last year who could protect the rim and deal with a big center such as Biyombo. He never was given the chance to contribute again to the team. I still can't figure out what Thompson does to deserve the starts or the money he gets. Also, besides hitting open threes Love hasn't had a good game since game 2 in Detroit. We need less Love and more Frye.

 

[bigfoot5415]

He should be a least splitting minutes between Mozgov and Thompson. Mozgov was a dynamic scoring center last year who could protect the rim and deal with a big center such as Biyombo. He never was given the chance to contribute again to the team. I still can't figure out what Thompson does to deserve the starts or the money he gets. Also, besides hitting open threes Love hasn't had a good game since game 2 in Detroit. We need less Love and more Frye.

Biyombo is 6'9...I wouldnt call him a big center. Thompson is the same height, and weighs roughly 10 lbs less.

 

[bigfoot5415]

I wasnt 100% into the game, but was peaking any chance I could. They just seemed off, and Toronto looked to shoot way out of their minds from 3. That combination + sloppy play will cost you the game in ECF. Im glad they took a punch. Hopefully it refocuses them on the task at hand and they realize they arent invincible. Im disapointed because I finally believed they could sweep after I have been saying Cavs in 5 for the entire playoffs. The narrative went from "Cleveland is dominant in a bad conference", to "Cleveland isnt as good as we thought they were". That is embarrassing. Sure theyll get over it, and likely move on. Lets just try and steal it back in game 4 and win it at home.



....if anything, I bet on the Cavs, which I never do. So I may have jinxed us.

 

[bigfoot5415]

Toronto game-planned it.

Cleveland went 14/41 from three tonight. That's 34%. 34% is closer to the season average of 36% than post-season percentages vs. Detroit [41.3%] and Atlanta [50.7%].

If Golden State gets past OKC, they'll be looking at this game. And concluding one thing: "Go ahead and shoot threes because we will too. Ours will fall 41% of the time and yours will fall 36% of the time. Over a series that means we win."

Lue now has to adjust to when threes aren't falling and Toronto's playing actual man perimeter defense. Unlike game 2.

What I dont understand is why they went from attack mode in games 1 and 2, to jacking up 41 3's in game 3. This teams approach should be drive and dish (only if the layup or foul isnt there). Eventually all teams will start missing threes. Why speed up the tempo and give them a chance at a long rebound by settling for shitty shots?

 

[PLaslo]

Biyombo is 6'9...I wouldnt call him a big center. Thompson is the same height, and weighs roughly 10 lbs less.

He killed us under the basket last night. He wouldn't have done that with 7'1'' Mozgov in his face.

 

[bigfoot5415]

He killed us under the basket last night. He wouldn't have done that with 7'1'' Mozgov in his face.

That I agree with, but I wouldnt say his size killed us rather than his energy and lack of ours.

 

[Mr. Orange]

Losses suck for sure, but I'm actually glad we lost a game before the Finals. I cannot wait, I absolutely cannot wait to see how we bounce back for game 4. Great test and this is a positive development. (assuming we come strong and win game 4).

Go Cavs!

 

[Green Lantern]

Losses suck for sure, but I'm actually glad we lost a game before the Finals. I cannot wait, I absolutely cannot wait to see how we bounce back for game 4. Great test and this is a positive development. (assuming we come strong and win game 4).

Go Cavs!

I hated this game...not just because they lost, but how they lost..everyone including a T-REX knew the Dino-bots would come out on a high of energon-cubes ..the Cavs knew this and yet did not match their intensity..it's like they waited for that knockout punch and when it was thrown in the second quarter...they didn't respond like they should have..Love never set up in the post and operated from there..he settled for the 3 amd seemed intimidated by bodies being on him and coming at him..KI had a horrible game and TT allowed Bismark North Dakota to dominate the glass..

 

[shoes22]

You can look at the game thread for game 1...I said before this series even started that games 2 and 3 will be the most competitive games in this series and I still stand by that. We will fix this up and close out the next 2 games.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Losses suck for sure, but I'm actually glad we lost a game before the Finals. I cannot wait, I absolutely cannot wait to see how we bounce back for game 4. Great test and this is a positive development. (assuming we come strong and win game 4).

Go Cavs!

Mr. Orange - All seeing the silver lining. Or the orange lining, of you will.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Losses suck for sure, but I'm actually glad we lost a game before the Finals. I cannot wait, I absolutely cannot wait to see how we bounce back for game 4. Great test and this is a positive development. (assuming we come strong and win game 4).

Go Cavs!

Mr. Orange - Are you REALLY that optimistic, or is this a persona that you've created?