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NBA Conference Finals
On Monday night, the Toronto Raptors scored an impressive 105- 99 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was the most important victory in the history of the team and evened their series at two games apiece.
The Cavaliers had prepared for the series by cruising through the playoffs without losing a game. Consequently, they were a lot fresher than the Raptors. The Toronto squad had clawed their way through a tough series against the Miami Heat and were battered and bruised.
LeBron James plays for the Cavaliers. He is generally recognized as one of the greatest players of all time—if not the greatest. Compared with most of the other players on the court, he is a giant. He can crash the basket, he can sweep the boards to get rebounds. And yet, when required, he can shoot the lights out with a deft touch. He has been the league’s Most Valuable Player on several occasions.
But this is a team game, and Lebron and the Cavaliers realize he cannot do it on his own. The management of the Cavs brought in help for the big fella, and that has worked up to this point in the playoffs. Their latest addition, Channing Frye, cannot be ignored when he positions himself outside the arc. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are also key players for the Cavs.
At half time Monday, those who doubted the Raptors had serious second thoughts. Toronto had led by 18 points at one time. They had dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Cavs 30-17. Kyle Lowry had 15 of those points. The other key player on the Raptors, Demar DeRozan, also had a great game. As those two go, so go the Raptors.
Each of these teams also has a Canadian representative: Cory Joseph for the Raps and Tristan Thompson for the Cavs. They both played well Monday night, playing significant minutes. Both are from the Toronto area. The fact that they are playing at the highest level indicates the influence the Raptors have had on the game in Canada.
The series now heads back to Cleveland for game five. Game six takes place in Toronto, and the areas outside the doors of the Air Canada Centre will be packed with fans. They call that zone Jurassic Park. The fans there do their best to get their signs, pictures and little faces on the television screens as the camera pans that area frequently during the game. (“Did you see me, mom?”)
The Western Conference final has also been somewhat surprising. There may be an upset in the making there as well. As the fine commentator Jack Armstrong noted, “It is not preordained that the Warriors and the Cavaliers should play in the final.” It just ain’t necessarily so. The Golden State Warriors, led by Steph Curry, were supposed to get by the Oklahoma City Thunder without much trouble.
But the Thunder stole one of the two games played on the coast and basketball fans knew the Warriors were in trouble.
The Thunder are led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. In the third game of their series, Westbrook had 30 points and Durant had 33. The team ended the game with 133 points, matching a franchise record for the most points in a playoff game. That gave the Thunder a 2-1 series lead, with the fourth game last night in Oklahoma.
Before the Raptors’ series began, Jonas Valanciunas, the key big man for the Raptors, was injured. Bismack Biyombo, a towering transplant from Africa, was called off the bench. He has given the team more than they could imagine, sweeping the boards of all unsuccessful shots on both ends of the court. His infectious smile and pleasant demeanor have captured the hearts of all Raptors fans.
Fasten your seat belts, girls and boys. For Raptors fans, this is by far the best ride they have ever had!
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