Turnovers, awful Ingram performance put Raptors in playoff hole Game 2 was there for the taking, but team's scoring leader and way too many mistakes cost them.

Anyway, here's my Raptors-Cavaliers Game 2 takeaways:
torontosun.com/sports/baske...

Some classic stuff from Sam Mitchell and Leo Rautins post-game wondering what the Raptors are doing defensively and why they are switching so much and not trying other things.

Oof. Can't believed this beat a couple of Vince ones I remember (and DeMar, Kyle, Bosh tough ones).

Turnovers, awful Ingram performance put Raptors in playoff hole Game 2 was there for the taking, but team's scoring leader and way too many mistakes cost them.

Anyway, here's my Raptors-Cavaliers Game 2 takeaways:
torontosun.com/sports/baske...

Dean Wade with about the best game you'll see from someone who managed three points. He's a solid player.

CMB and Walter two bright spots. Two building blocks who appear ready to be starters.

Keeping starting lineup the same is an interesting choice by Raptors.

Put him third on my ballot after much debate. Toronto had no business finishing fifth defensively and he was a monster in clutch and as versatile as it gets.

Adjustments Raptors could make to avoid another Cleveland clobbering Changes on defence are needed, but offence should be tweaked as well.

Some ideas for the Raptors to better hang with the Cavaliers in Game 2 and beyond: torontosun.com/sports/baske...

Raptors blown out in Cleveland in ugly return to playoffs Spectacular Donovan Mitchell game, James Harden's precision too much as Toronto got taken out of its game.

torontosun.com/sports/baske...

'Not going to win us a basketball game,' Raptors' Brandon Ingram said of only nine shots Raptors scoring leader Brandon Ingram had it going early, but was invisible in second half of blowout playoff loss in Cleveland. Read more.

From yesterday:

torontosun.com/sports/baske...

One shot attempt by Brandon Ingram in the second half. A bit odd. Strange game all around.

Wol-stat of the day:
RJ Barrett and A.J. Lawson are the fifth and sixth Canadians to play for the Raptors in the post-season.
Joining Cory Joseph, Chris Boucher, Khem Birch and Dalano Banton.

Raptors have a player from Mississauga (Barrett) and Brampton (Lawson) on floor in a playoff game at the same time. GTA representing.

The Diff! What an incredible thing.

Nobody asked, but Woz's NBA playoff predictions:
Pistons in 4
Celtics in 5
Knicks in 5
Cavaliers in 5
Thunder in 4
Spurs in 6
Nuggets in 6
Rockets in 5

Can't remember Scottie Barnes hitting three three-pointers in too many quarters in his career. Hell of a star to Game 1. I do remember him coming out on a mission against Sixers and Harden four years ago as a rookie before ankle injury.

"I think you've got a lot of idiots on social media." Brandon Ingram speaks the truth.

"I think what people are gonna learn about Scottie is he's as gifted offensively as he is defensively, but also he's a great leader." - Mamu on Scottie

I still think Scottie Barnes has had an All-NBA caliber season.
My Wol-stat of the day (with a hat tip to @nowtoronto):
Barnes is the first player to average 18 points per game in a season while also compiling 400 assists, 100 blocks and 100 steals.

Correction: 17th Raptors series for me. @ekoreen.bsky.social reminds me "You were not in the Bubble!"

That series is likely Top 3 for me with Raptors-Warriors and Cavs comeback from 3-1 vs. Warriors.

Wol-stat of the day:
Raptors vs. Cavaliers will be the 7th Cleveland playoff series I've covered (only missed the final championship series vs. Warriors of the 4).
Will be my 19th Raptors playoff series.

I heard “first one Tuesday” on Sunday and no amount of emails
Or tweets with the actual details were going to change my mind!

Sources say I showed up for Raptors media availability today.
Plot twist: There was no Raptors media availability today.
#Wozfail

Play-in for what category?

NBA awards voting seems harder than usual this year with or without Doncic becoming eligible. Got some opinions from other media members last night and came away even more unsettled with some of the choices. Lots of good arguments can be made.

Raptors get back to playoffs, will face Cleveland Cavaliers This will be fourth time franchises have faced each other, but first without LeBron James, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.

Playoffs, we’re talking playoffs: torontosun.com/sports/baske...

Fun side plot of Raptors vs. Cavs is Kenny Atkinson and Darko Rajakovic were both finalists for last Raptors coaching job. Darko got the job.

Darko Rajakovic said Raptors never thought about what seed they'd get. Happy to finish fifth. Great to get this experience, will take it game-by-game.