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Find out the scoop on the CAVS from award-winning sports writer Bob Finnan.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Game 58: Raptors at Cavs

TORONTO RAPTORS (32-25) 99, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (22-36) 93
Quicken Loans Arena
Tuesday
Radio/TV: WTAM (1100 AM)/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPEN?: Guys, it's just about over.

I don't want to be the naysayer, but the Cavs are five games out of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 24 to play.

I would have love to cover playoff basketball again. It seems like an eternity since the Cavs were in the postseason (2010). It doesn't appear as if we'll see it this year.

What happens if they don't make the playoffs? Owner Dan Gilbert might blow it up and get rid of the entire bunch - GM, front office and coaching staff.

I don't think that's what will happen, but I honestly don't know.

Raptors coach Dwane Casey has his team playing like many thought the Cavs would play. They are scrappy. They defend. And they are well-coached. Casey is on the last year of his deal. Toronto almost has to re-sign him now.

They are leading the Atlantic Division and are the third seed in the East.

Heck, Casey might get some Coach of the Year votes (well, maybe a few).

The Cavs, meanwhile, flew to Oklahoma City after the game. Most people expect them to get annihilated.

They will be missing their three key players in Anderson Varejao, Dion Waiters and C.J. Miles. They haven't learned how to win without the trio. That's just too much firepower to overcome for the Cavs. Their outside shooting has completely gone in the dumper without Waiters and Miles.

They played hard against the Raptors. They just didn't execute as flawlessly as the Raptors did on Tuesday.

Every time I see Toronto center Jonas Valanciunas, I get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. When there's a center sitting on the board like there was in the 2011 NBA draft, you pounce on him. 

The Cavs passed on Valanciunas and Andre Drummond in back-to-back drafts. How did that work out for them? 

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Oklahoma City at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

STARTERS
SF Luol Deng (6-9, 220) vs. Terrence Ross (6-6, 195)
PF Tristan Thompson (6-9, 236) vs. Amir Johnson (6-9, 210)
C Tyler Zeller (7-0, 250) vs. Jonas Valanciunas (6-11, 231)
SG Jarrett Jack (6-3, 200) vs. DeMar DeRozan (6-7, 216)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 193) vs. Kyle Lowry (6-0, 205)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, G Carrick Felix
Raptors G Dwight Buycks, G Juylan Stone
OFFICIALS
Bill Kennedy, Tre Maddox, James Williams


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