Game 2 and the Toronto Raptors broke my heart once again in the A.M.
Entering game 2 I changed my expectations, going from a mellow we’re going to win this series and crush the Celtics in the East Finals, to a crunchy we’re getting swept and "Let’s Go Blue Jays!" I was expecting the loss in Game 2 but nonetheless I was still crushed. The Raptors coming off an absolute heartbreak in Game 1 came into Game 2 with a message to prove and haters to silence, they achieved neither but they succeeded in changing the name of the city to LeBronto, that hurt too.
In the first quarter Raptors looked lively once again, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan were good once again however to end the first LeBron James sat for a couple of minutes, Delon Wright and C.J. Miles missed a couple of layups and the Cavaliers capitalized. the Raptors ended the first quarter with a 1 point lead however the opponents were +2 with the King sitting on the bench, which is far from optimal when you look at the caliber of players the Cavaliers have outside of Kevin Love, Kyle Korver and J.R. Smith. Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson and George Hill were nothing to be worried about. Jeff Green, yes that Jeff Green who has apparently transcended into his final Kobe stage for the last 2 games — he guy who played for 6 teams over 11 years averaging 13.2 PPG over that span— was tearing the Raptors apart
The second quarter was better, the Raptors built a lead following great plays by the Bench Mob, Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl played very complimentary basketball and we’re not being controlled by the Cavaliers defense, however all that being grand, the major problem was defence. the Cavaliers were scoring at will, Kevin Love in the post was very poorly guarded, and LeBron James is unstoppable however was to an extent being held down by OG Anunoby but when the rookie was on the bench it was a massacre, Jakub, Pascal and C.J. tried one after the other to guard the King but unfortunately they fell like dominos. The big man went around them like people do around cones at driving tests. 3:54 were remaining in the first half and the Raptors led by 9. I look to the sky around 1 am wishing that we can close out the quarter and go in with a lead. We went in with 2 point lead. Still, they were leading and the game was still in the balance.
10:20 to go in the 3rd Q, Toronto trails by 6. What just happened? LeBron conquered, that’s what. The GOAT took over like I’ve never seen him do, he combined with Kevin Love for 74 points, 19 rebounds and 16 assists. (74 of 128…) At this moment I was ascending into a higher state of acceptance of the greatness but also of anger towards that greatness. The game was lost in the middle two quarters where the Cavaliers scored a whopping 72 points. I was still watching at this point focusing my attention on managing my anger but also wishing that the Blue Jays can beat the Indians so that I can dream of Toronto beating Cleveland. However at a certain point I think LeBron hit 4 maybe 5 fadeaway jump-shots in a row. He was almost enjoying himself. The clock hit 2am, Yangervis Solarte hit a Grand-Slam to lift the Blue Jays over the Cleveland Indians and the Raptors we’re heading towards a 0-2 deficit I was angry and tired, I went to the kitchen grabbed a low-fat yogurt and ate it (yogurt is not my comfort food of choice but I had nothing else).
In all honesty unlike game 1 where the Raptors threw away the game this one was never even in sight to begin with however, I wished and expected way more out of Ibaka, who showed up in games 1&2 of the playoffs but has been dreaming about the summer ever since. Furthermore there was a play in the second quarter where I feel the Raptors could have taken more advantage of, the post up play of JV, running that only has outcomes however was run very futilely. It seems useless to mention but the refs who combine for over 150 playoff games called a blocking foul on Kyle Lowry instead of a charge even if he was set like the Statue of Liberty for about 23 mins, but I digress.
The Raptors are in a hole, the weather is still hot in Egypt.
See you in game 3.