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The Cleveland Cavaliers will be favourites against the Toronto Raptors when they play Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Final battle. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10:30am (AEST).
The Cavaliers have cruised through the first two rounds of the playoffs, sweeping each series. The Raptors, meanwhile, have battled their way through the first two rounds with each series going to seven games.
Cleveland set the three-point line on fire during their eight-game stint while the Raptors have struggled all over the floor in their 14 games.
You couldn’t have two more vastly different narratives if you tried. What does it all mean? Apart from a little extra rest for the Cavs, next to nothing.
Toronto regained some regular-season form during Game 7 against the Miami Heat as Kyle Lowry put together a game we all knew he was capable of. His backcourt running mate, DeMar DeRozan, was also able to chip in with a handy 28 point showing and along with the rest of the starters the Raptors showed why many had them pegged as potential Eastern Conference champions.
Cleveland, on the other hand, haven’t played since May 9, nine days since their last competitive game. However this shouldn’t affect their charge for a second straight NBA Finals run.
Raptors big man Jonas Valanciunas is still listed as day-to-day and likely won’t take part in Game 1. This leaves the door open for Bismack Biyombo to carry on his stellar form against the Cavs.
He shouldn’t expect to own the inside like he did against the small Miami squad with much tougher competition on the glass against Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love.
A team coming off of a nine-day rest would be expected to be rusty early on but this is the Cavaliers and it didn’t seem to affect them one bit during the break between Round 1 and Round 2. With the big three (LeBron, Kyrie and Love) all clicking and the role players taking turns in stepping up, they look like a well-drilled unit.
Prediction
The Raptors will need to come out of the gate firing with the backcourt needing to perform like they did in Game 7. The Cavs have far too many weapons and will take this comfortably at home against a Raptors squad that could be exposed should their stars not fire.
Cleveland by 11
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 10:30am (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
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