Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry gametime decision for Game 3 against Cavaliers

This year’s playoffs have been interesting in that it features some of the usual cast of characters – LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, James Harden, etc. – but they have also showcased some young, rising stars like Kawhi Leonard, Isaiah Thomas, and Gordon Hayward.

His Airness averaged 36.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists in the 1990 playoffs, but the Bulls came up short on their first championship. James scored 39 points to help the Cavs to a 125-103 victory and a 2-0 series lead.

They say that a playoff series doesn’t truly start until a team loses a game at home, but whoever said that clearly didn’t see the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Toronto Raptors. “It’s the bunker mentality of knowing it’s 15 guys plus the coaching staff and whoever is there that’s traveled with us against the whole state and the whole city”. “So for us not to have him anything close to 100 per cent, it would be hard on us”, DeRozan said.

Lowry said earlier in the day that going straight was OK. “There was no back down”.

Toronto All-Star Kyle Lowry still getting treatment on ankle injury, uncertain on his status for Game 3 tonight, he tells @TheVertical. Though officially listed as day-to-day, Lowry didn’t sound particularly optimistic about Sunday’s game.

“He and DeMar (DeRozan) are both our hubs, they’re the key to our team, and I’ve said it a lot, the way they go is the way we go”, Casey said. “He was limping badly”. So I knew it was bad when I first saw it. We’ve been in this situation before. “It’s just a weird thing”.

Toronto shot only 2 of 18 from 3-point range while the Cavaliers were 13 of 23.

“We don’t want to give up and-1’s or three point fouls”. They take a lot of time out of their day to try to figure out how to get my attention away from the game.

With his team on the brink of elimination, Raptors coach Dwane Casey looked at Game 4 a little differently. If an opponent, and that means any opponent, is openly mocking you by spinning a ball on his finger as he stands behind the three-point line, it’s high time you let him know you will not be punked. James bumped the lead to nine points on two free throws with 8:56 to play. A Game 5, if needed, would be Tuesday in Cleveland.

“It’s about us”, Casey said. “And, for whatever reason, couldn’t get started”.

“I think it was probably Michael Jordan, Penny Hardaway, guys that I looked up to growing up”.

If last season is any indication, the Raptors certainly have a shot to win Game 3.

In these traps, the Cavaliers are throwing the Raptors out of what they normally do.

Casey’s below-the-belt comment brought to mind Game 3 of last year’s Eastern Conference finals between the teams, when the Cavs’ Dahntay Jones struck then-Raptors center Bismack Biyombo in the groin. Cleveland is 9-0 since losing Game 4 of last year’s NBA Finals.