Cleveland (2-0) at Toronto (0-2)
When: Saturday, May 21st 2016
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Time: 8:35 ET | TV: ESPN
The Toronto Raptors return home for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Finals series with the Cleveland Cavaliers in hopes of changing their luck – and stopping LeBron and company. Toronto has been overwhelmed over the first two games of this series, but they managed to win both home games against Cleveland during the regular season. Of course, that was when the Cavaliers were figuring things out and the Raptors were playing well. Two of those players that have not performed like the All-Stars they are, is Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. They both continue to struggle shooting the ball and when they go, so do the Raptors. Lowry ended the Miami series on a high-note with 35 and 36 points in the final two games, but has dropped off considerably to 18 total points in this series. Lowry is dreadful 1-of-15 from beyond the arc and has turned the ball over nine times. DeRozan has done a little better averaging 20 points through the first two games, but well below the 28 he averaged in the final three games of the Heat series.
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James is enjoying what is his best supporting cast in his career. LeBron hasn’t felt the need to do everything himself. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love taking a lot of the load off after both of them missed most of the playoffs last year. Still, James recorded a triple-double on Wednesday with 23 points, 11 boards, and 11 assists. Tristan Thompson pulled down 12 rebounds and scored nine points in 30 minutes, while Irving and Love combined for 45 points on 17-for-30 shooting. Channing Frye continues to a great trade deadline acquisition. The veteran led the bench with 10 points and also was a +12 when on the court. Cleveland shot 50% from the field in Game 2 and show no signs of slowing down.
This line worries me a little. It’s only 5.5 and I know the public is going to pound it. I really think Cleveland will win this game going away, but there’s something about playing on the road in the playoffs. I’m taking a shot with the points in this one mainly because 75% of the public is laying the points. Toronto needs this game bad, or the series is over – if it isn’t already.
Pick: Raptors +5.5
