NBA Playoffs: Raptors Ready for Revenge vs. Cavaliers

Toronto Ready to Snap Playoff Losing Streak vs Cleveland

The Cavaliers may have escaped in seven games against the Pacers with an assist from the officials, but Game 1 in the second round will be a very tough one in Toronto against the revenge-minded Raptors. Top-seeded Toronto (59-23) was the best team in the Eastern Conference this season, and the Raptors were a league-best 34-7 at home. Cleveland (50-32) was over-valued throughout the regular season and among the biggest money burners during the NBA campaign. That continued in the playoffs as the Cavs covered just 1 of the 7 games against Indiana. We locked in a profit during the Cavs/Pacers series and just missed cashing our +460 price on Indiana. But we were able to ride the Pacers to more profit each game, and we’ll continue that support with the Raptors in redemption in Game 1 against the Cavaliers.

Tipoff for Game 1 at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre is at 8:05 ET on May 1, and BetDSI has you covered with the betting lines, totals and proposition wagers. Shop other leading online sportsbooks and the legal sportsbooks in Las Vegas and Nevada.

Toronto Raptors -6.5

Cleveland Cavaliers +6.5

Total 215

Series:

Toronto -200

Cleveland +170

Will the third time be a charm for Toronto? The Raptors and Cavaliers meet for the third consecutive season in the playoffs, and Toronto has yet to break through against Cleveland. Last year it was a 4-game sweep with Cleveland crushing by an average of 15 points per game. In 2015, the Cavs won in six games with their four wins each by at least 19 points per game. The Raptors were an underdog in all 10 of those playoff games with nine of them by at least a 6-points.

Toronto was 3-0 at home in the opening round of this year’s playoffs, covering the spread of at least -7 in each game against Washington. Leading scorer DeMar DeRozan scored 26 PPG in the opening round, and along with back court mates Kyle Lowry and VanVleet, the Raptors are now the better and more balanced team. Toronto is ready to roll in Game 1 against a tired and worn down Cavaliers team. Cleveland’s one-man show and leader LaBron James said he was totally burnt following the series against Indiana in which he was Superman again averaging more than 34 PPT and shooting 55% from the field.

Now returning on 1-days rest with one of the league’s worst defenses, it’s should be no surprise if we see a Raptors romp in Game 1. How much of a one-man show was LaBron in the Indiana series? The only other player to average more than 10 points per game was Kevin Love (11 PPG), and no Cavs player other than LaBron scored 20 points or more in a game That’s the first time in playoff series history that’s happened for the wining team. James shot 62% FG in the four wins against Indiana, and the rest of the Cavs shot below 40% for the series. The Raptors possess one of the league’s top defenses, ranking No. 5 in defensive efficiency, and Toronto’s No. 3 offensive efficiency scored 114, 130 and 108 points in their three home games against Washington in the opening round. In those three spread-covering wins, Toronto shot at least 51% FG in the first two games and knocked down 40 triples in those three games.

The Raptors are much more balanced on offense, and Toronto had four or more double-digit scorers in every game of their opening series against Washington. Toronto averaged 84 shots per game against the Wizards, and the Raptors will force a faster pace than the Cavs experienced against Indiana where Cleveland averaged 76 shots per game. Toronto and coach Dwayne Casey is fully aware that LaBron and the Cavs are gassed entering Game 1, and they will pressure LaBron and force the pace. The Raptors have significant depth and a second unit that even King James acknowledges as one of the best in the league. LaBron is not surrounded by the same level of talent this year as he has been in the past, and while he scored 40 points or more in three playoff games against the Pacers, it will be much tougher against Toronto’s defense and the Cavs pathetic defense and stats will also be exposed.

The Cavaliers are in some negative situations greater than 65% ATS coming off a home playoff win and traveling as ‘Dog in this price point, and combined with the lack of rest, deficient defense and the Raptors redemption motivation, we top off with Toronto in Game 1 and toss in a series play winner on the Raptors as well. You can bet on it.

Article posted at osga.com.