2016 NBA playoffs: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors
It may have taken two Game 7's and a handful of overtime finishes, but the Toronto Raptors are finally on to the Eastern Conference finals, where LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers — who have yet to lose a game this postseason — await. Can the Raptors pull of an upset for the ages, or will the Cavs continue to steamroll through to the next round?
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (2) Toronto Raptors
(All times Eastern)
Game 1 —Cavaliers 115, Raptors 84
Game 2 —Cavaliers 108, Raptors 89
Game 3 —Raptors 99, Cavaliers 84
Game 4 —Raptors 105, Cavaliers 99
Game 5 —Cavs 116, Raptors 78
Game 6 —Cavs 113, Raptors 87
Season series — Raptors won 2-1
Cleveland's starting lineup (2016 playoff stats) - Kyire Irving (24.4 ppg, 5.5 apg), J.R. Smith (12.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg), LeBron James (23.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg), Kevin Love (18.9 ppg, 12.5 rpg), Tristan Thompson (5.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg)
Toronto's starting lineup (2016 playoff stats) - Kyle Lowry (18.6 ppg, 6.7 apg), DeMar DeRozan (20.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg), DeMarre Carroll (9.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg), Patrick Patterson (7.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg), Bismack Biyombo (6.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg)
Cleveland wins if - They stay healthy. With the way the big three of Irving, James and Love played in rounds one and two, Toronto is undermanned and outmatched.
Toronto wins if - Lowry puts together a slew of performances similar to that of Game 7 of the East semifinals (35 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and four steals), DeRozan finds his stroke, Biyombo and Patterson win the battle down low while filling in for the injured Jonas Valanciunas, and the Cavs hit a speed bump on the perimeter.
Need to know (Cleveland) - Averaged a postseason-leading 16.8 three-pointers made on 46.2% shooting in rounds one and two. To put it into better perspective, the record-breaking Golden State Warriors were second with 12.2 makes a game on 40.7%.
Need to know (Toronto) - This is the franchise's first Eastern Conference finals appearance.
Sam Amick's pick - Cavaliers in five
Jeff Zillgitt's pick - Cavaliers in five
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