Uncle Drew
10-28-2016, 05:20 PM
Friday night's contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Toronto won't be just another game on the 82-game schedule for the Toronto Raptors.
Toronto (1-0) had its season cut short last spring by the Cavaliers, who defeated the Raptors in six games of the Eastern Conference finals to advance to the NBA Finals.
Toronto fell behind 2-0, losing both games in Cleveland last May, but rebounded to tie the series 2-2 with a pair of wins at Air Canada Centre. The Cavs went on to win Games 5 and 6 to advance to the Finals.
"It's never just another game," said Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan. "Every game we have, we look at it as a new opportunity to gain something. Come Friday, it's another opportunity against the team we played against in the Eastern Conference finals."
DeRozan led the way with a game-high 40 points and four rebounds in the Raptors season-opening 109-91 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.
Toronto won the regular-season series against Cleveland last year, taking three of four meetings.
"It's going to be a battle," DeRozan said. "It's a challenge we're looking forward to: playing against the champs, playing against the team we took to six games in the Eastern Conference finals, it's going to be great. It's going to be great in here. It's another challenge for us."
Jonas Valanciunas added 32 points and 11 rebounds as he and DeRozan became the first teammates in NBA history with a 40-point game and a 30-point game in a season opener.
"It's a good opportunity for us to go against the best team, I think in my mind, in the league," said Raptors coach Dwane Casey. "They've got every weapon that you could look for, the best player in the world, one of the best rosters put together in the world so it's a good test for us.
"I'd rather have it now, early in the season, lets us know where we are."
Cavs guards Iman Shumpert and Kay Felder, who both underwent concussion protocol, are expected to be available for Friday's game against the Raptors.
Cleveland (1-0) opened the season with a 117-88 thumping of the New York Knicks on Tuesday night -- the same evening they received their 2016 NBA championship rings and raised the banner to the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena.
Kyrie Irving led the way with 29 points and four assists in the win, while LeBron James chipped in 19 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds for his 43rd career triple-double.
"It's the second game of the season, we know we played these guys in the Eastern Conference finals. They have a good team; they beat us twice and coach Casey's a great coach so we know we're going to have our hands full (on Friday)," Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said. "We expect that. They have a great crowd, great atmosphere, but we'll be prepared for it."
The Cavs return home following Friday night's contest for a three-game home stand beginning with the Orlando Magic on Saturday. Toronto, meanwhile, concludes its three-game home stand on Monday when it plays host to the Denver Nuggets.
Go Cabs. Go Tribe.
Toronto (1-0) had its season cut short last spring by the Cavaliers, who defeated the Raptors in six games of the Eastern Conference finals to advance to the NBA Finals.
Toronto fell behind 2-0, losing both games in Cleveland last May, but rebounded to tie the series 2-2 with a pair of wins at Air Canada Centre. The Cavs went on to win Games 5 and 6 to advance to the Finals.
"It's never just another game," said Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan. "Every game we have, we look at it as a new opportunity to gain something. Come Friday, it's another opportunity against the team we played against in the Eastern Conference finals."
DeRozan led the way with a game-high 40 points and four rebounds in the Raptors season-opening 109-91 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.
Toronto won the regular-season series against Cleveland last year, taking three of four meetings.
"It's going to be a battle," DeRozan said. "It's a challenge we're looking forward to: playing against the champs, playing against the team we took to six games in the Eastern Conference finals, it's going to be great. It's going to be great in here. It's another challenge for us."
Jonas Valanciunas added 32 points and 11 rebounds as he and DeRozan became the first teammates in NBA history with a 40-point game and a 30-point game in a season opener.
"It's a good opportunity for us to go against the best team, I think in my mind, in the league," said Raptors coach Dwane Casey. "They've got every weapon that you could look for, the best player in the world, one of the best rosters put together in the world so it's a good test for us.
"I'd rather have it now, early in the season, lets us know where we are."
Cavs guards Iman Shumpert and Kay Felder, who both underwent concussion protocol, are expected to be available for Friday's game against the Raptors.
Cleveland (1-0) opened the season with a 117-88 thumping of the New York Knicks on Tuesday night -- the same evening they received their 2016 NBA championship rings and raised the banner to the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena.
Kyrie Irving led the way with 29 points and four assists in the win, while LeBron James chipped in 19 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds for his 43rd career triple-double.
"It's the second game of the season, we know we played these guys in the Eastern Conference finals. They have a good team; they beat us twice and coach Casey's a great coach so we know we're going to have our hands full (on Friday)," Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said. "We expect that. They have a great crowd, great atmosphere, but we'll be prepared for it."
The Cavs return home following Friday night's contest for a three-game home stand beginning with the Orlando Magic on Saturday. Toronto, meanwhile, concludes its three-game home stand on Monday when it plays host to the Denver Nuggets.
Go Cabs. Go Tribe.