LeBron James is unstoppable. Toronto’s not doing anything to slow down James, who’s looking to pound the Raptors once more before moving into the next round.
In the Cavs’ 115-94 win in Game 3, James scored 35 points with 8 rebounds, and 7 assists in an another all-around display of basketball omnipotence. So far in this series, James is averaging 36.3 points on an making-it-look-too-easy 60.4% shooting from the field. Just as impeccable was the Cavs’ three-point shooting, as the team went 13-for-23 from deep in Game 3.
That the Cavs are going bonkers beyond the arc is not fresh news. Their 14.1 made threes per game on 44.2% shooting are both tops this postseason among all playoff teams. Toronto’s making just 7.6 threes per game the difference partly explains why the Cavs have been blowing the Raptors out of the water.
Toronto wants to limit the Cavs’ shooters but doing so would mean less focus defensively on James, who’s already mowing the Raptors down despite the concerted effort to stop him. The Cavs have to limit their turnovers after committing 16 in Game 3 though that was correlated to the bunch of possessions they were having. Cleveland outrebounded Toronto in that game, 58-33.
Well, at least DeMar DeRozan is no longer throwing bricks so there’s that for the Raptors. On the verge of getting swept by Cleveland, DeRozan and the Raptors need a perfect game or something close to it, to avoid another embarrassing playoff exit at the hands of the Cavs. And that includes putting LeBron James in shackles.
The Raptors apparently couldn’t stop LeBron, but they still have to keep trying. Or at least make it look they are. They traded for P.J. Tucker midseason with the intent of using him to shadow James and while that hasn’t worked out for them so far, the Raptors will almost surely deploy Tucker anew for at least 15 minutes.
DeRozan scored 37 points in Game 3 after a pathetic five-point outing the previous contest. DeRozan might have to pump out just as many points with running mate Kyle Lowry doubtful to play with an ankle injury.
While Cleveland owns the three, the Raptors have the advantage inside. They are scoring 48.0 points in the paint this series with Cleveland making only 35.3. Jonas Valanciunas has been playing well the last two games, scoring 42 points total in that stretch.
