The Cleveland Cavaliers are officially through to the 2016 NBA Finals after a comprehensive 26-point win over the Toronto Raptors saw them claim the Eastern Conference Finals series 4-2.
REPORT: CAVS SMASH RAPTORS, MAKE FINALS
Final score
Toronto Raptors 87
Cleveland Cavaliers 113
The Toronto Raptors will need to forget everything about Thursday’s 116-78 drubbing at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers if they want to force a decisive Game 7. Join The Roar from 10:30am (AEST) for live scores and updates.
Toronto have looked fantastic on Canadian soil these playoffs. In the US? Not so much.
The Raptors really have been the most unpredictable team of the 2015/16 post season. Some nights they look like legitimate title contenders, on others they have been unable to compete.
Conversely, until this series the Cavaliers have looked unstoppable and, even while dropping two games, are the consensus pick to make their second straight NBA Finals appearance.
In their first two series the Raptors forced a Game 7, doing it again will be a much tougher task though, even north of the border.
Toronto completely fell apart in Game 5. They recorded 19 turnovers, were out-rebounded 48-27 and allowed Cleveland to score 30 points in transition off all those extra possessions.
The Raptors will need to sure up all of these areas if they are going to have any chance of defeating Cleveland in Game 6.
The Raptors’ All-Star backcourt are going to be critical to this. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have been inconsistent to say the least in the playoffs, but both will need to be on song for this one.
Outside shooting has been an issue for both at different times, without the capacity to space the floor Toronto’s offence becomes increasingly one-dimensional.
Toronto will hope to match some improved shooting with the return of seven-foot Lithuanian, Jonas Valanciunas.
The big man only managed 18 minutes in Game 5 after an ankle injury, but given more minutes and hopefully more of the ball, Toronto have a legitimate scoring threat inside. This is crucial to exploiting one of Cleveland’s biggest weaknesses – interior defence.
Kevin Love’s defensive credentials are well known around the league, and they aren’t pretty. Timofey Mozgov simply does not have the footspeed to match Valanciunas, and Tristan Thompson can’t play all 48 minutes.
What Cleveland do have, that nobody else does, is this guy called LeBron James – he’s pretty good.
James has received some criticism lately for not dominating games offensively like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant once might have. This is absolutely a good thing for Cleveland that he doesn’t.
He recently passed Jason Kidd on the all-time playoff assist list and Cleveland are a much more dangerous team when LeBron gets his teammates involved.
With Kyrie Irving using his speed and ball-handling to find open looks at the basket, Love using his length to hit shots over smaller defenders and shooters like JR Smith and Matthew Dellavedova fulfilling their job description, James becomes the ultimate safety net. And he’s a pretty good one to have.
Prediction
Toronto have come back when everyone thought they were down and out – they’ve been undoubtedly impressive. But they haven’t yet faced a team with Cleveland’s star power. With the chance of extra rest before the Finals on the line (as the West could easily go seven games), expect Cleveland to put this one away in six.
Cavaliers by 8
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Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
Click here to read our full match report The Toronto Raptors just did not have the pieces to compete with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Lebron James is going to his sixth straight Finals (first player to do so in 50 years) and he was brilliant tonight. He looked to attack early and had 21 in the first half - giving the Cavs an early cushion. He finished with 33, 11 & 6. Three pointers killed the Raptors in the first half. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan did their best to get Toronto back in it (particularly Lowry with 35 points). But the two of them simply could not compete with the full Cavs roster - not enough raptors stepped up - would have liked to see Valanciunas operate in the post. The Cavs had James, Irving, Love, Smith and Frye to rely on when needed and that depth really secured it for them. Congrats Cavs on getting to the Finals. Will they face OKC or the Warriors? Tune into the Roar tomorrow to find out and of course again as Scott, James and myself bring you all the Finals action. See you soon! FINAL SCORE CLE - 113 TOR - 87
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
We are well into bench territory now
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
Demarre Carroll looks truly despondent on the bench. Raptors should be proud of their effort these playoffs. They've been inconsistent but pulled it out when needed. Raptors are just not on the same level as the Cavs right now. I'm really hoping for a Cavs - OKC Finals
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
Irving just confused the hell out of Terrence Ross - crossed him up and sunk the floater in the lane CLE - 106 TOR - 83 Q4 3.22
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
Kyrie and co blowing it out here now CLE - 104 TOR - 83 Q4 4.29
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
Smith probably could have safely driven that one - don't settle for the three if there are better options
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
JR Smith from a different area code CLE - 99 TOR - 81 Q4 6.12
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
Lowry and Derozan have 53 points - the rest of the team have combined for 28 - that's just not good enough - Cavs hyave about 6 legitimate options right now - Toronto have had two this game - hence the difference CLE - 96 TOR - 81 Q4 7.31
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
Lebron james makes finsihing at the hoop look like the most basic thing ever CLE - 96 TOR - 81 Q4 6.58
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
Lowry with another long three - he's doing his best CLE - 94 TOR - 81 Q4 7.49
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
Few buckets in a row for Cavs - James with a tip in and Dwayne Casey wants to talk - it's now or never for Toronto CLE - 94 TOR - 78 Q4 8.38
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
6th time in Playoffs Cavs big three have each scored 20 - only happened in regular season twice
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
James going to the line - has not been great from there in playoffs - misses both CLE - 90 TOR - 78 Q4 9.19
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
Derozan joining the party now - has 20 points Lebron clears the lane drives one-on-one and finishes left at the ring CLE - 90 TOR - 78 Q4 9.32
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
Derozan gets the first of the 4th - back to within 10 Delly and Lebron cutting up the Raps with some nice passing - DEelly finishes CLE - 88 TOR - 76 Q4 10.42
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
With 0.7 seconds on the clock Kyle draws contact and heading to the line - makes both - he's single handedly keeping Toronto in this CLE - 86 TOR - 74 Q3 END
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
Lowry with 23 points so far only 2 behind James for game leader - James scoring slowed a lot this quarter allowing others to do the work - Love with 10 in the quarter Kyle with another loooooong three! Can they do the impossible?! CLE - 84 TOR - 71 Q3 6.0
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
Kyle Lowry making some noise - 11 in the third - follows up a three with and and-1 layup CLE - 83 TOR - 68 Q3 40.0
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
But hey if you're up 20 who cares?
Elliot Williams
Roar Guru
Love is on song from deep - comes after Lebron held onto the ball for far too long sometimes he makes somehing happen in that scenario but often it allows defence troo much time to cut off options CLE - 83 TOR - 65 Q3 1.26