Raptors HQ - NBA Playoffs 2016: Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference FinalsThe International Fan Site of the Toronto Raptors Basketball Clubhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/14481/raptors-fave.png2016-05-28T13:00:03-04:00http://www.raptorshq.com/rss/stream/114467532016-05-28T13:00:03-04:002016-05-28T13:00:03-04:00Raptors died as they lived, and Toronto loves them
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<figcaption>Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A final salute to the Raptors at the end of Game 6 and a great season.</p> <p>As the seconds ticked down last night, the score hopelessly lopsided against the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Raptors</a>, the season coming to an end, it began. First, "let's go Raptors!" and then, as the clock hit zero: "We the North!" As ESPN's Doris Burke began her sideline interview with a victorious <span>LeBron James</span>, he stopped and looked around. He heard it, too.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Real recognize Real. <a href="https://twitter.com/KingJames">@KingJames</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheNorth?src=hash">#WeTheNorth</a> <a href="https://t.co/ltojBxNz80">pic.twitter.com/ltojBxNz80</a></p>
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) <a href="https://twitter.com/Raptors/status/736405758024245248">May 28, 2016</a>
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<p>The Raptors lost to the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> last night 113-87 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Read that sentence again. It's hokey now to say no one expected the Raptors to be here -- though don't tell coach <span>Dwane Casey</span> that -- but as the fans began their cheering, as <span>Kyle Lowry</span> and <span>DeMar DeRozan</span> strode off the court for the final time, it really began to sink in. The Raptors may as well have been on the moon.</p>
<p>Toronto's wins against the Cavs in this series had come when everything went right for them and mostly wrong for Cleveland. It's not a sustainable recipe for success. As the Raptors pushed against the Cavs last night, they were always a few misses, or a bad four or five minute stretch away from disaster. The first half saw incessant foul calls, a bit of a brouhaha between <span>Richard Jefferson</span> and <span>Jonas Valanciunas</span>, a flagrant elbow whistled at Kevin Love's head, a lot of missed shots by Toronto, and a gradual strangulation delivered from the Cavs -- as of a python casually destroying a small mammal. It could have -- <i>should have </i>-- been grim.</p>
<p>Instead, in true Raptors fashion, there was a mini-run late in the game, an attempt by Lowry to keep things respectable. As the fourth quarter began, he was still flying around the court at full speed. The Cavs' lead was reduced to ten. The roar of the crowd started to increase once again; the viking funeral put on hold. It was a beautiful bittersweet moment, a eulogy and celebration all at once. LeBron flexed his muscles, the lead went back up, the benches eventually emptied, but the crowd kept cheering anyway.</p>
<p>"I think I was paying attention for the last two minutes. The crowd couldn't stop singing," said <span>Bismack Biyombo</span>. "The crowd has been very supportive to us. This is the first year that I've really felt like I was in a place where the fans love us 100 percent, they support us 100 percent, throughout the whole season, ups and downs, and it was an emotional moment."</p>
<p>I joked late in the game, as it became clear the Cavs were going to win, with a quote from the film <i>Gladiator:</i> "We who are about to die, salute you." The Raptors were never going to win the title, but they would not cower from defeat. And as the cheers rained down from the crowd, a season finished, the most successful in franchise history now finally, astoundingly over, the fans saluted right back.</p>
<p>"We were one of four teams left," said Casey. "We can be proud of that, but not satisfied."</p>
<p>Let's go Raptors. We the North. See you next year.</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2016/5/28/11803596/nba-playoffs-2016-toronto-raptors-game-6-endDaniel Reynolds2016-05-28T11:00:03-04:002016-05-28T11:00:03-04:00Post-Game 6 Breakdown: How it all ended
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<figcaption>Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It's been one heck of a run. Let's break down the final chapter.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Toronto Raptors</a> lost Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> by a score of 113-87. With that, the Cavaliers win the series 4-2 and move on to their second consecutive <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-finals">NBA Finals</a>. Meanwhile, the Raptors are officially eliminated from the playoffs after 20 (mostly) hard-fought games.</p>
<p>What actually happened in this one is more or less irrelevant at this point, since now there are no more adjustments to talk about or things to take away for the next contest.</p>
<p>Most Raptors fans have already begun eulogizing the best season and playoff run in franchise history, so it's unlikely that many people are interested in knowing things about the rebounding differential or who won the battle of points in the paint in this game.</p>
<p>Still, we would be remiss if we didn't at least close out an amazing postseason run of breakdowns with one last quick one for old time's sake.</p>
<p>Let's keep it light and simple.</p>
<h4>One last time for the All-Star duo (or is it?)</h4>
<p>All-NBA point guard <span>Kyle Lowry</span> had quite the sendoff in this one, scoring 35 points on 11-for-22 shooting, including 6-for-12 from long range and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line.</p>
<p>He added three rebounds, three assists, and a block, and almost single-handedly dragged the Raptors back into this one in the third quarter, when he scored 18 of his 35 points (including the Raptors' last 15 of the frame), while shooting 5-for-7 from the field and 4-for-6 from three.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <span>DeMar DeRozan</span> had a perfectly acceptable 9-for-18 shooting night for 20 points, while tossing in three rebounds and three assists.</p>
<p>A lot of question marks popped up about DeMar this postseason, as he goes into a summer of free agency seeking a max contract. While the series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Indiana Pacers</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a> brought into question DeRozan's worth, he managed to average a cool 23.0 points versus Cleveland with an efficienct split of 50.0% shooting from the field and 90.9% from the line (shooting 50.0% or higher in four of the six games).</p>
<p>It was a good ending to what once looked like it might be a money-hemorrhaging playoff run for DeMar.</p>
<p>And with that, Toronto's All-Star backcourt may have played it's last game together (although probably not). They got next to nothing from their supporting cast -- not a single other Raptor scored in double figures besides Kyle and DeMar -- but at least the stars went out with a bang.</p>
<p>The problem was that the other team had 50% more star players.</p>
<h4>The "Big Three" was too big</h4>
<p><span>LeBron James</span> flipped that playoff switch that we all feared he might in an elimination game, putting up a monster line of 33 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, a steal, and three blocks, while shooting 13-for-22 (59.1%) from the field and 3-for-6 from deep.</p>
<p><span>Kyrie Irving</span> dropped 30 points of his own on 12-for-24 shooting from the field and 2-for-4 from three, while adding four rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and a block. <span>Kevin Love</span> put up a monster 20-point, 12-rebound performance, while shooting 5-for-11 from the field and 4-for-8 from three.</p>
<p><span>J.R. Smith</span> was the only other Cavalier to score over 6 points (he had 15), so this ended up being almost exclusively a "Big Three" featurette. To wit, the trio almost outscored the Raptors by themselves, putting up a combined 83 points to Toronto's 87 total.</p>
<h4>How did the Cavs beat the Raps, let us count the ways...</h4>
<p>The Cavaliers dominated this game, plain and simple.</p>
<p>They shot 54.1% from the field and 17-for-31 from three-point range (54.8%). They won the rebounding battle 38-33 and had a 36-34 edge in points in the paint. They had 22 assists on 40 field goals (55.0%) for the game, compared to the Raptors' 10 assists on 33 made baskets (30.3%).</p>
<p>Cleveland also had a 17-5 advantage in fastbreak points and a 12-8 edge in second chance points.</p>
<p>There basically wasn't a section of the box score where Cleveland didn't look like the better team.</p>
<p>Nothing more to see here.</p>
<h4>Adieu</h4>
<p>This was the 20th edition of this statistical breakdown column this postseason, compared to the mere four volumes that came out last year. It wasn't the most positive game to go out on, but we certainly had our share of those along the way.</p>
<p>It was one hell of a ride, dear reader. Have a great offseason.</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2016/5/28/11804632/nba-playoffs-2016-post-game-6-breakdown-toronto-raptors-cleveland-cavaliersRussell Peddle2016-05-28T00:00:03-04:002016-05-28T00:00:03-04:00Raptors' season ends in Game 6 loss to Cavs
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<figcaption>Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The season is over, but there is plenty to be positive about. </p> <p>Think back to peak prognostication season in mid-October. After the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> halted last year's playoff run in such a demoralizing fashion, most fans were simply clinging to the dream of just one measly, first-round series win. A lot of really smart people weren't even sure that was possible.</p>
<p>The forecast was foggy at best. <span>Kyle Lowry</span> was skinny, but would anything really change in regards to his durability?Where was the bench scoring going to come from? What about DeRozan? How good could this team really be?</p>
<p>Through a combination of Lowry playing at an All-NBA level, DeRozan turning in a career season, the bench coalescing into a defense-first, cohesive unit, Jonas Valanciunas's incremental growth taking off, some gritty playoff efforts and so much more, the answer to that final question became resounding and indisputable.</p>
<p>This is the best <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Raptors</a> team anyone has ever seen.</p>
<p><span>The final pages of the 2015-'16 yearbook were written in Game 6 against the Cavs. For the second-straight game, Toronto simply looked outclassed by a team with superior talent. It wasn't quite the demolition Game 5 was, but for much of a disjointed, foul-ridden first half, Cleveland's lead hovered around double digits as <span>LeBron James</span> countered every Raptors' jab with a Draymond Green-like kick to the face. </span></p>
<p><span>More of a distributing force throughout the series, James took it upon himself to leave the Raptors in the rear view</span><span>. He hit three of four three-pointers and scored 21 points while at the other end the Raptors clanked crucial open three after crucial open three. At the half, it was 55-41, and so began the eulogizing on Twitter. </span></p>
<p><span>Lowry wasn't quite ready for the final pages to be written on this landmark season, though. After the Cavs had pushed the lead to 20 in the third, Lowry kicked it into eff you mode one last time. The way Lowry kicked and screamed and drove and scored in the final six minutes of the third quarter and into the fourth was indicative of how this year's Raptors became the greatest team in franchise history. He poured in 18 points on 5-of-9 from three point range to give the 20,000 absolutely bonkers fans in attendance hope for one last moment to store in this season's overflowing memory bank. </span></p>
<p>Of course, LeBron is LeBron, and the Cavs are the Cavs, so Lowry's 33 points ultimately and predictably fell just short. And there's absolutely no shame in that. The six-foot-eight insurmountable wall in the East that is James has been the reality for the rest of the conference for more than half a decade now. That the Raptors failed to miraculously leap over it -- hell, they fell off pretty violently a few times as they tried -- isn't some sort of indictment of the team and doesn't suggests that everything accomplished since October is Fool's Gold.</p>
<p>Aside from the final game, everything about this season in Toronto was a win. Simply scratching and clawing to earn the right to be James's final Eastern Conference stepping stone is a hell of an achievement -- especially for an organization that has typically a way lower rung on the NBA ladder.</p>
<p>With the off-season will come plenty of questions for Masai Ujiri to ponder. DeRozan's free agency is one of the more intriguing rock-and-a-hard place conundrums any front office faces this summer. Losing in such convincing fashion to a legitimate title threat like Cleveland (although they took literally infinity more games off the Cavs than any other East team) also exposed where the roster needs to be upgraded. <span>Kyle Lowry's</span> future is murky too -- his contract has a player option after next season when the league's salary cap will be in a state that we can hardly fathom right now. As he heads into his thirties, it's fair to start wondering just how many more team-carrying performances he has left in a Raptor uniform.</p>
<p>For now, let's just reflect on an unprecedented ride, and appreciate the 15 dudes on the Raptors roster -- and, hey, even <span>Anthony Bennett</span> who guarded <span>Dirk Nowitzki</span> at one point this year, remember? -- for all they did to remind the fans why they've remained so damned loyal throughout so many torturous years. Any team that can yield the kind of ovation at the end of a 26-point, season-ending loss that gets the attention of LeBron James clearly did something to deserve it.</p>
<p><span>The questions will be confronted and answered, but for now, there is only one that really matters. </span><span>Is it mid-October yet?</span></p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2016/5/28/11803566/nba-playoffs-2016-raptors-cavs-game-6-quick-recapSean Woodley2016-05-27T20:00:03-04:002016-05-27T20:00:03-04:00Raptors vs. Cavaliers: Time for some home cooking
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<figcaption>Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It's do-or-die time for the Raptors in the Eastern Conference finals. Can they knock off the big bad Cavs at home?</p> <p>Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals was, for lack of a better term, a complete shit show. In case you missed it, Toronto flopped in Ohio once again in the form of a 116-78 rout.</p>
<p>The Dinos have now lost three games in Quicken Loans Arena by a combined 88 points. Should we be surprised? This is the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Toronto Raptors</a> we're talking about. Doing things the hard way is in this team's DNA.</p>
<p>The good news is the series is shifting back to the Air Canada Centre for Game 6. In eight meetings between the Raps and Cavs in both the regular season and playoffs, home teams are a perfect 8-0.</p>
<p>The raucous fans north of the border have clearly played a part in slowing down the high-flying <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cavaliers</a>. After the wine and gold took a 3-2 series lead, point guard <span>Kyrie Irving</span> said the atmosphere in Toronto was "probably the first legitimate two road games that I've experienced in my playoff career." We the North, indeed.</p>
<p>Perhaps the only good thing to come out of Game 5 was the return of starting centre Jonas Valanciunas. JV, who has been sidelined since May 7 with a sprained right ankle, scored nine points in 18 minutes. We missed you, Big Science.</p>
<p>"I don't know why we get so comfortable once we put ourselves in a tougher situation," <span>DeMar DeRozan</span> told reporters after Wednesday's disastrous showing. "We've been doing it all year and we always bounce back. I think we just thrive off adversity."</p>
<p>It's been a hell of a ride in these playoffs for Canada's lone NBA club. Let's see if they have anything left in their bag of tricks.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.raptorshq.com/2016/5/27/11791346/nba-playoffs-2016-raptors-cavaliers-game-6-preview">Before you hit the comments, make sure you check out Dan Grant's preview.</a></p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2016/5/27/11796234/raptors-vs-cavaliers-time-for-some-home-cooking-in-game-6Stephen Campbell2016-05-27T12:00:06-04:002016-05-27T12:00:06-04:00Raptors get set for Game 6 with season on the line
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<figcaption>David Richard-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Raptors were up early talking about Game 6. What are they saying?</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Raptors</a> have been in elimination games before this post-season. The went the full seven against both the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Indiana Pacers</a> and the <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Heat</a> in the first two rounds of the playoffs. That's a lot of stress. If they manage to beat the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cavaliers</a> tonight, they'll be the first team since the 1988 <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Lakers</a> to go for three seven-game series in a row. Not the best feat, sure, but something nonetheless.</p>
<p>It's something because, well, the Raptors have looked bad in all of their losses in this series against <span>LeBron James</span> and Cleveland. They're coming off an absolute shellacking in Game 5 in which just about every part of their game looked bad. When a returned-from-injury <span>Jonas Valanciunas</span> and his encouraging output in 18 minutes is your highlight, your team is on the wrong end of a beatdown.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Casey, asked if getting Valanciunas some run was a positive from Game 5: "That's probably the only positive that came out of it"</p>
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLew1050/status/736219127375745024">May 27, 2016</a>
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<p>So how are the Raptors feeling in advance of Game 6, with their season on the line? Let's see.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">is this kyle lowry??? <a href="https://t.co/bSCMX5VusM">pic.twitter.com/bSCMX5VusM</a></p>
— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) <a href="https://twitter.com/outsidethenba/status/736210021080408066">May 27, 2016</a>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">yes it is <a href="https://t.co/abWMiAdrJV">pic.twitter.com/abWMiAdrJV</a></p>
— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) <a href="https://twitter.com/outsidethenba/status/736211013792583680">May 27, 2016</a>
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<p><span>Kyle Lowry</span> is in good (sarcastic) spirits.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lowry on what he's learned in the playoffs: "Don't lose Game 1."</p>
— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) <a href="https://twitter.com/outsidethenba/status/736211131480571904">May 27, 2016</a>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Nothin to be nervous about. It's another basketball game. Win or go home. -- Lowry, who jokingly approached podium w/ his hoodie over face</p>
— Eric Smith (@Eric__Smith) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric__Smith/status/736212436764766209">May 27, 2016</a>
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<p><span>DeMar DeRozan</span> has also learned something valuable:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It gets harder...you don't see an easier way... -- DeRozan on what he has learned playing this long into the post season for the 1st time</p>
— Eric Smith (@Eric__Smith) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric__Smith/status/736212210494627840">May 27, 2016</a>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We're anxious to get back out there -- DeRozan.</p>
— Eric Smith (@Eric__Smith) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric__Smith/status/736212595179413504">May 27, 2016</a>
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<p>But the Raptors are up against something a little different this time around. For an assessment of LeBron James, human dynamo (or good monster, depending on who you ask), <span>Dwane Casey</span> has some words:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Casey says isn't sure if LeBron is human when it comes to fatigue. "He's running all over the place."</p>
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) <a href="https://twitter.com/WolstatSun/status/736216936195985412">May 27, 2016</a>
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<p>It's hard to disagree with this analysis. LeBron James has been just about as invincible as you'd expect. The only ploy that's worked on him so far, is when the Raptors have sagged off on him and dared him to shoot jumpers. He's hit a few, but this is definitely the best outcome <i>by far </i>these days when LeBron has the ball in his hands.</p>
<p>We have to end this on a less ominous note, however, so here's a funny anecdote regarding Casey's, uh, defense on the sidelines:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Casey says it's legal for him to clap, roam sidelines said he learned it from <span>Jerry Sloan</span>.</p>
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) <a href="https://twitter.com/WolstatSun/status/736217049106665472">May 27, 2016</a>
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<p>There's an old NBA maxim amongst coaches: If Jerry Sloan does it, you can do it too.</p>
<p>Now, onward to Game 6!</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"We're gonna fight 'till the end." - <a href="https://twitter.com/Klow7">@Klow7</a> <a href="https://t.co/c0CEvIpn7N">pic.twitter.com/c0CEvIpn7N</a></p>
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) <a href="https://twitter.com/Raptors/status/736210560811929600">May 27, 2016</a>
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https://www.raptorshq.com/2016/5/27/11797480/nba-playoffs-2016-pre-game-6-raptors-talkDaniel Reynolds2016-05-27T09:30:03-04:002016-05-27T09:30:03-04:00Raptors Need to Win Battle of Inches in Game 6
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<figcaption>Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Toronto will need to play as a team if they're going to win Friday's game and force a deciding Game 7 on Sunday.</p> <p>After Game 5's blowout loss on Wednesday, I'm at a rare loss for words. All throughout these playoffs, we've been able to point to areas for improvement, or silver linings following a loss. We've been able to pinpoint what went wrong, and vociferously debate the proper solutions. There's been a passion about this team. A frustration at times, but an unrelenting passion.</p>
<p>Now though? It's desperation.</p>
<p>For a third time this post-season, the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Raptors</a> are on the brink of elimination. The previous two times, they triumphed. This time, they'll have to do it twice to stay alive.</p>
<p>So what are your keys for Game 6? Well, after a whupping like that, what can you even say? There are so many areas for improvement that it feels like we're at the beginning of an episode of Property Brothers, amirite? Heyo!</p>
<p>We could hash all those out, but we know what they are already.</p>
<p>Instead, I decided to bring in a guest speaker to fire up the boys.</p>
<p>Without further adieu, here is current motivational speaker, and former Head Coach of the Miami Sharks, Tony D'Amato!</p>
<p>Tony, take it away.</p>
<p><b>Tony D'Amato:</b> I don't know what to say really...</p>
<p><b>Dan Grant: </b>Well that's not a great start.</p>
<p><b>TD:</b> There's <i>(checks watch)</i> roughly nine hours until the biggest battle of our professional lives</p>
<p><b>DG: </b>Oh, you were just warming up colloquially. I get it. Go on.</p>
<p><b>TD:</b> It all comes down to today. Either we heal now, as a team... or we are going to crumble. Inch by inch, play by play, until we're finished.</p>
<p><b>DG:</b> This isn't taking quite the positive tack I was hoping for...</p>
<p><b>TD: </b>We're in hell right now gentlemen. Believe me.</p>
<p><b>DG:</b> I do!</p>
<p><b>TD:</b> And we can stay here and get the shit kicked out of us... or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb out of hell. One inch at time.</p>
<p><b>DG: </b>But how? Can you just do it for us?</p>
<p><b>TD: </b>Now I can't do it for you.</p>
<p><b>DG: </b>Oh.</p>
<p><b>TD:</b> I'm too old. I look around and I see these young faces... and I think... I mean, I made every wrong choice a middle aged man can make.</p>
<p><b>DG:</b> This is getting weirdly personal. <i>(Pulls aside Raptors HQ intern) </i>Where did we get this guy from again?</p>
<p><b>TD:</b> I pissed away all my money, believe it or not.</p>
<p><b>DG:</b> I mean, that's probably why you're here right now.</p>
<p><b>TD: </b>I chased off anyone who has ever loved me. And lately, I can't even stand the face I see in the mirror...</p>
<p><b>DG:</b> This sounds like it's more about you than about us, Tony.</p>
<p><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JMRU3Ib7LNc" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><b>TD: </b>You know, when you get old in life, things get taken from you. That's just part of life. But you only learn that when you start losing stuff. You find out that life is just this game of inches. So is <i>(consults his notes)</i> basketball. Because in either game, the margin for error is so small.</p>
<p><b>DG:</b> I follow your analogy.</p>
<p><b>TD:</b> I mean, one half step too early or too late and you don't make it. One half second too slow or too fast, and you don't catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us. They're in every break of the game, every minute, every second.</p>
<p>On this team, we fight for that inch. On this team, we tear ourselves, and everyone around us, to pieces for that inch. We CLAW with our fingernails for that inch!</p>
<p>'Cause we know, when we add up all those inches, that's going to make the fucking difference between winning and losing!</p>
<p>Between living and dying.</p>
<p><b>DG: </b>Yeah!</p>
<p><b>TD:</b> I'll tell you this. In any fight, it's the guy who's willing to die who's going to win that inch. And I know, if I'm going to have any life anymore, it is because I am still willing to fight and die for that inch. Because that's what living is! The six inches in front of your face!</p>
<p><b>DG: </b>That and burritos.</p>
<p><b>TD:</b> Now I can't make you do it. You gotta look in the eyes of the guy next to you. Look into his eyes. Now I think you're going to see a guy who will go that inch with you. You are going to see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team because he knows when it comes down to it, you're gonna do the same thing for him.</p>
<p><b>DG:</b> But I'm next to Bruno.</p>
<p><b>TD:</b> That's a team gentlemen. And either we heal now, as a team... or we will die, as individuals.</p>
<p>That's basketball guys.</p>
<p>That's all it is.</p>
<p>NOW WHAT'RE YOU GONNA DO?</p>
<p><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3bzK8r4c6Xc" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><b>Where to Watch: TSN at 8:30pm</b></p>
<p> </p>
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https://www.raptorshq.com/2016/5/27/11791346/nba-playoffs-2016-raptors-cavaliers-game-6-previewDan Grant2016-05-26T16:00:03-04:002016-05-26T16:00:03-04:00James Johnson Watch: The uncertainty of the night
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7xzTJqjRD12kla4VBvHSZsQO3h8=/0x276:2830x2163/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49709359/usa-today-9309519.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>There may not be very many games left in the 2015-16 season for these Toronto Raptors. It's hard to say goodbye though.</p> <p>The sports media world has been all aflutter today thanks to a <a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2016/05/26/carroll-joseph-put-reps-on-line-with-late-night-casino-visit">doofy column from the Toronto Sun's Steve Simmons</a>. The imbroglio in question is over a late night stroll through a casino by <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Raptors</a> players <span>DeMarre Carroll</span> and Cory Joseph. The column is wrong in a bunch of ways: it attacks the players' reputations, but doesn't talk about their existing good rep; it ignores that NBA players are night owls who nap in the afternoons; it weakly implies that their poor play in Game 5 was a result of being up late, as if every other player in that game was tucked in before midnight. Then, finally, it settles on the "optics aren't good" as an argument. It is a Bad Take.</p>
<p>When someone says don't chase the night -- in this or any context, really -- they're advising you against looking for trouble, the implication being that nothing good could possibly be happening after 2 a.m. But who among us can resist that siren song of the night? Who has not been out late, checked the time, and convinced themselves they'd be fine the next morning? Who has not purchased drinks they don't need with money they maybe don't even have to keep the good times going? Who has not pursued something or someone in the face of all reasonable sense? Unless you yourself are a monk: I say this has been you at least once.</p>
<p>To bring this back to <span>James Johnson</span> and actual basketball (because what the hell, why not), I have to say he produces this feeling in an actual in-game context; especially as the Raptors find themselves chasing for and grasping at anything resembling consistency. Playing JJ now, so deep in these playoffs, is not without risk. When he checks in there's a kind of breathless minute-by-minute accounting that happens. Everyone starts calculating the odds of one good discrete Johnson decision leading to another, which will then develop into something special on the whole.</p>
<p>That's the hope, anyway. In practice, the outcome is usually unremarkable or vaguely disappointing, both team and player not really better or worse off for having tried. We all just wake up the next day.</p>
<h4>Did James Johnson Play?</h4>
<p>Johnson worked his way into all four of the Raptors' games this week, which is no small feat considering they were Games 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately, the outcomes of all four of those games suggests a lack of necessity where Johnson is concerned. He played a total of just over 47 minutes -- so you win if you took the under -- but he also didn't have much of an impact. Oh sure, he had 11 points in a Game 2 blowout, hit a three in a Game 3 win and got a no-call jump ball with <span>Matthew Dellavedova</span> in a Game 4 win. But in Game 5, with the Raptors absolutely smashed from the first quarter on, Johnson only got 11 minutes. He also inspired some, uh, not nice tweets.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Raps might have to play JV and Biz together just so they don't have to play James Johnson</p>
— Doug Smith: Raptors (@SmithRaps) <a href="https://twitter.com/SmithRaps/status/735641320027508737">May 26, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Oh, no. James Johnson should not be guarding LeBron. That is bad.</p>
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/HPbasketball/status/735641301392068612">May 26, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Johnson finished the week with sixteen points, eight rebounds, four assists and a steal (and <a href="https://twitter.com/Raptors/status/733644203448664065" style="background-color: #ffffff;">one dope-as-hell shades look</a>). But gotdamn, when your performance in Game 5 of the ECF has people bringing up something that happened six years ago, it's not going well. Look away from the following clip if you want to preserve any good feelings you have left.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/60Sdo6tz5Yg" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<h4>Game Highlight</h4>
<p><i>All that being said</i>, look at my dude <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15700317/toronto-exposed-cavaliers-weakest-link">Zach Lowe mentioning Johnson in his latest column</a> on the ongoing Cleveland vs. Toronto battle:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>• James Johnson has come out from hibernation and made just enough positive plays to stay relevant -- and stabilize Toronto's rotation so that Casey doesn't have to overplay Scola.</p>
<p>He's 4-of-6 from deep in this series, and he hurt Frye off the dribble in Game 4. Cleveland is sticking its centers on Johnson, a non-shooter, so that its speedier power forwards can scamper along the perimeter with Patterson. That's smart; it's the same way the Cavs treated <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a> forward <span>Thabo Sefolosha</span> in the second round. If Johnson can squeeze out a couple of productive drives against Cleveland's bigs, that's a nice little victory on the fringes for the Raptors.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I feel like a proud father. Or at least a proud little brother.</p>
<h4>Prediction for the Week</h4>
<p>The realities of the Raptors vs. LeBron and the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cavaliers</a> are starting to catch up to this recent column resurgence. I didn't think we'd end up here at all -- with Johnson or the team -- but watching things soar to great heights and then fall apart hurts just the same. The Raptors have Game 6 on Friday, and if they bounce back from a historically bad Game 5, they'll force a Game 7 on Sunday. Something in the scores of all three games in Cleveland suggests that Toronto will not win that game.</p>
<p>Johnson's been hovering around six to 11 minutes in the past three games (despite that massive blowout in Game 5), so something tells me we'll see him a bit. The line will be set based on how confident I am in an eventual Game 7.</p>
<h4>Over/Under Minutes: 13.5</h4>
<p>It's been a hell of a run.</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2016/5/26/11788156/nba-playoffs-2016-james-johnson-watch-nightDaniel Reynolds2016-05-26T11:00:05-04:002016-05-26T11:00:05-04:00Post-Game 6 Breakdown: Most everything was bad
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0jOtig7qWwb_gx7USHHAe0kdi2c=/12x0:4927x3277/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49700931/usa-today-9309816.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A simple summary of a very bad game for Toronto.</p> <p>The prevailing attitude among <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Raptors</a> fans was that the team had met expectations by taking two from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cavaliers</a> and that anything else was gravy. Well, the team sure thought so. No gravy for us.</p>
<h4><b>Everybody Was Terrible</b></h4>
<p>Usually in bad losses, there is a lineup that is suspect, or a player who played terribly, that you can point to as an adjustment for the next game. But not in this one.</p>
<p>Here are the on-court net ratings for each player who played real minutes.</p>
<p>DeRozan: -52<br>Lowry: -47<br>Carroll: -47<br>Ross: -37<br>Biyombo: -48<br>Patterson: -73<br>Valanciunas: -53<br>Scola: -41<br>Joseph: -96</p>
<p>That's what I call losing as a team.</p>
<p>The Raptors played 14 different lineups in this game. One (the garbage time lineup) was +2, three broke even. The others were obviously various sorts of awful. That's right (and obvious), prior to garbage time there was not a single combination of players that was a positive contributor.</p>
<h4><b>No One Showed Up</b></h4>
<p>DeRozan and Lowry combined for 7-for-20 shooting, scoring 27 points on 36 used possessions. Terrible.</p>
<p><span>Cory Joseph</span> shot 1-for-5 with three turnovers in only 10 minutes played. Terrible.</p>
<p>The Raptors shot 3-for-17 from three point range, including 0-for-4 from Carroll, 1-for-4 from Lowry, and 0-for-3 from Ross. Terrible.</p>
<p>The Raptors missed 14 free throws on a FT% of only 60 percent. Lowry once again led the way going 2-for-6. Terrible.</p>
<p>The Raptors were destroyed on the boards, grabbing only 12% of available offensive boards, and giving up 31% at their end. Biyombo in particular was the primary culprit for this discrepancy, allowing Thompson to beat him to four offensive rebounds and having a team-low on-court defensive rebounding rate of 61% (that means two of every five shots the Cavs missed were back in their hands when Biyombo was on the court). Fun fact: With Scola on the floor the Raptors did not grab a single offensive rebound.</p>
<h4><b>Silver Linings</b></h4>
<p>Looking at the box score, you might think I would include <span>Luis Scola</span> here (7 points on 3-for-4 shooting and three assists) but his disastrous attempts at defending <span>Kevin Love</span> helped him get back on track and derailed the game early on. (Love was 4-for-4 for 12 points and an assist in the first frame.)</p>
<p>The only real silver lining in this one is that <span>Jonas Valanciunas</span> looked fine out there -- not great (no rebounds, no blocks, two turnovers in 20 minutes), but fine. He did score 9 points on his 4 shots and managed to register an assist. Hopefully more to come from him back in Toronto.</p>
<p>Hopefully, a lot more from everyone on the team back in Toronto.</p>
<p><i>All stats per NBA.com.</i></p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2016/5/26/11781664/nba-playoffs-2016-game-5-breakdown-raptors-cavaliersDaniel Hackett