The Toronto Raptors held court at Quicken Loans Arena ahead of Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.
Here’s the full game preview, and here are some assorted (and very brief) notes and quotes from shootaround. Check back later for update.
A lot of generic talk
The Cavs are going to shoot a ton of threes. It’s a huge problem, and it’s exactly the way J.R. Smith likes it.
JR Smith was asked if he ever saw the Cavs shooting the ball this well: “In my dreams, yeah. I don’t know about everybody else’s.”
— Chris O’Leary (@olearychris) May 17, 2016
However the Raptors are going to attack Cleveland, they have to commit to it entirely. No half-measures, no in-betweens. Pick something and go in.
“We gotta really make sure we follow the gameplan to a T.” – @Klow7 at morning shootaround in Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/u8f66Evv2t
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) May 17, 2016
As for the message Dwnane Casey is giving his team (other than the usual underdog/nobody believes rabble-rabble)? The goal is not achieved yet.
Casey-"I dont gamble so I wouldnt know what the oddsmakers are saying but I know what the media is saying… I love that people discount us"
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 17, 2016
“Never get comfortable with it (success). Never lose sight of the bigger goal.” – DeRozan on Casey’s msg to team. pic.twitter.com/OwJmxjZigo
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) May 17, 2016
“We’re here for business.” – Coach Casey. pic.twitter.com/GFlapkVwKd
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) May 17, 2016
And hey, nothing to stress about, right?
Raptors seem relaxed. Just another game, they say.
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) May 17, 2016
Game 7 sets record
The Game 7 victory over the Heat that got the Raptors here was the most-watched basketball game ever on TSN, according to the network. It averaged an audience of 1.5 million viewers, was the most-watched program on Canadian TV all day, and pushed Raptors-Heat to the most-watched NBA series in TSN’s history.
Viewership for the games were as follows:
1: 992,000 (TSN)
2: 1.1M (Sportsnet)
3: 1.1M (Sportsnet)
4: 1.2M (TSN)
5: 1.3M (TSN)
6: N/A
7: 1.5M (TSN)
The team averaged a little over 200,000 viewers during the regular season and about 835,000 in Round One against Indiana.
Because TSN opted to round their Game 7 total, it’s unclear if it topped Game 7 from the first round, which averaged 1.53 million viewers. Considering Sportsnet was trumpeting that as the most-watched Raptors game in Canadian TV history and TSN opted not to, here’s guessing Sunday’s was just a little under round one’s mark.
UPDATE: MLSE is counting ABC viewers to trumpet Game 7 as the new record-holder.
Draft lottery tonight
As a reminder, the NBA’s draft lottery will be held tonight at 8 p.m. on TSN and Sportsnet 360. You can read more about why it matters to Toronto, what the potential outcomes are, and how they’re even in this position here. The Raptors have about a 1-in-593 chance at the No. 2 pick, but they’re most likely (roughly 79 percent) to land at No. 9. Nos. 3, 8, 10, 11, and 12 are also on the table, with the most likely drafting positions being Nos. 9, 10, and 8, in that order.
We the other
CBS didn’t update their pre-existing “who will win the NBA finals” poll after Game 7 ended, so the Raptors were listed as “other” until this morning. People are very mad online about it. It doesn’t appear any Raptors were asked about this egregious oversight, but surely, it will propel them to the championship.
Other things to not be mad about:
#Raptors G Kyle Lowry says of LeBron “I would never throw any shade on one of the greatest players in the history of basketball.”
— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzESPN) May 17, 2016
Assorted
Kyle Lowry also says his body “feels like a million bucks. That’s all the hard work I put in (over the summer). This is why I did it.”
— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzESPN) May 17, 2016
Valanciunas doesn’t look anywhere close to being able to land properly on his ankle. Carroll says he’s OK but better on two rest days than 1
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) May 17, 2016
DeMarre Carroll said he’s night and day compared to his health against LeBron with Hawks last year.
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) May 17, 2016
Hey Cory Joseph, cool to be in ECF vs lifelong pal Tristan Thompson?
“Cool? Who’s cool? We’re not cool. What relationship?” (laughs)
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) May 17, 2016
Canadian prospect watch
Jamal Murray shot 25-for-27 from NBA 3 in 2 mins in the same star drill pic.twitter.com/gjGQXC2GmM
— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) May 17, 2016
Thon Maker aced his interviews at Combine. Terrific workout today too. Would love to see him head-to-head with Skal pic.twitter.com/x57KxOdSta
— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) May 17, 2016
Jamal Murray is listed third on Ford’s latest Big Board, with Thon Maker coming in at No. 24.
