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Post Game Report Card: Raptors blown out in Game 2

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Patrick Allen/FanSided
Patrick Allen/FanSided

The Toronto Raptors suffer another embarrassing loss, dropping Game 2 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 108-89.

The Raptors were off to a hot start in the first quarter, answering almost every basket Cleveland scored. They ended the first quarter trailing 30-28.

But then, like in Game 1, the Cavaliers pulled away. Cleveland dominated the second quarter, scoring 32 points to Toronto’s 20. While the Raptors only lost the second half, 46-41, it was that second quarter that put the game on ice.

Cleveland’s starting lineup was in complete control the entire game: LeBron James earned a triple-double: 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love scored 26 and 19 points, respectively. J.R. Smith scored 12 points and Tristan Thompson scored nine points along with an impressive 12 rebounds.

For what it’s worth, let’s check the Report Card:

Offence: C

The Raptors starting lineup failed to produce on the scoring front, with Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan combining for only 32 points on 12 of 32 shooting. The only other players with more than 10 points were Terrence Ross, Cory Joseph, and James Johnson, each with 11 points.

Shots were not falling for the Raptors tonight, shown by the dismal 40.2 field goal percentage. From free throws (77.8%) to open threes (27.3%), the ball did not find the basket. You’ll be hearing it a lot this series because it’s true: Toronto is absolutely exhausted.

Defence: C

The Raptors were being outworked on the defensive end. The Cavs ended the game shooting 50 per cent from the field. Cleveland’s ball movement proved too troublesome for the Raptors defense; Cleveland ended the game with 24 assists (compared to Toronto’s 17).

As said before, the second quarter proved to be where the Cavaliers took control of an otherwise close game. The Raptors were able to keep up at the start of the game, but once Cleveland started their scoring run, both Toronto’s defence and offence were stifled for the remainder of the game.

Rebounding: C

The Raptors need Jonas Valanciunas more than ever, and tonight showed why. The Raptors were out-rebounded 46-38. The lion-fearing Bismack Biyombo grabbed only 5 rebounds, two of which were on the offensive glass.

For the Cavs, James and Thompson took care of their end- combining for 23 rebounds.

Game Ball: LeBron James

Nathaniel S. Butler
Nathaniel S. Butler

King James boasted a triple-double performance tonight: scoring 23 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds. Like last game, LeBron was a facilitator on offence tonight: passing and scoring extremely well.

And how about this gorgeous dunk:

There’s a reason they call him The King and tonight showed us why. LeBron’s triple-double earns him tonight’s Game Ball.

 

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