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The Toronto Raptors return to Canada under all sorts of pressure for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the in-form Cleveland Cavaliers. Join The Roar for live scores from 10:30am (AEST).
Toronto have struggled badly during this series, while the Cavaliers have been in season-best form, making the first two games an absolute smashing. It has almost been laughable that the finals of the Eastern Conference don’t even look competitive.
It’s not as if the eighth-seeded team has made it either – the Raptors are here, who you have to remember finished in second, just a single game off the Cavaliers’ pace.
It has been the Kyrie Irving and LeBron James show so far as they dominate the Raptors defence, while Toronto themselves can’t get shots to fall. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan for the most part have had a lid on the bucket.
Furthermore, they have been out enthused on the court. Rebounding has gone in the favour of the Cavaliers, as have fastbreak points and points off turnovers. Of course, the Raptors have been turning it over far too much to be competitive in that stat.
Toronto’s offence is their biggest problem – and it is more than Lowry and DeRozan. They haven’t gone past 90 points in either of the first two games, meaning players aren’t getting into position for either Lowry or DeRozan to drop assists and spread the floor.
After a 31-point win in Game 1, it was 19 in Game 2 with Kyrie Irving scoring 26. With LeBron James adding 23, along with 11 rebound and 11 assists, it is going to be impossible for the Raptors to stay in the fight.
The biggest advantage of Kyrie producing like that is LeBron can focus on the other areas of his game – rebounding and keeping his teammates involved with passes. The defence always expects him to shoot and guard him heavily, and that makes his passing game almost as important as shooting.
Lowry and DeRozan seem to take turns in shooting poorly – Lowry had one of eight from beyond the arc during Game 2 in a horrific performance.
In short, every single element of the Raptors needs to improve significantly, or this is going to be another smashing.
Prediction
The Cavaliers form is simply too good. They aren’t going to lose at the moment, even if it is a little bit closer.
Cavaliers by 11.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores from 10:30am (AEST) and dont’t forget to add your own comments in the section below as the action unfolds in Toronto.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde