Road sweet road: LeBron relishes away games in playoffs

A three-pointer is worth 50% more than a regular field goal, so even though Toronto has averaged an extra 9.5 attempts per game in this series so far, Cleveland’s three-point shooting clinic (and 63-39 free throw attempt edge) easily negates Toronto’s extra shot attempts.

DeRozan averaged 22.3 points a game in the regular season, was the Eastern Conference Player of the Week three times and was voted in as a starter in the All-Star game. This is when you’ve seen a game plan for 24 minutes, your coaching staff has had a small break to make adjustments and motivate and when the third quarter begins you can generally gauge which team thinks the game is theirs by how they begin the second half.

Down 2-0 after being bulldozed by James in Cleveland, Toronto needs to make some adjustments heading into Game 3 or summer vacation will arrive early again.

If Lowry can’t play, Cory Joseph likely would start in his place. Do they bring back Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka at huge long-term dollars? He and teammate Tristan Thompson were poor free throw shooters all season.

The Raptors were led by Jonas Valanciunas’ 23 points. Against the Cavaliers, Powell has shot 2-of-8 from beyond the arc. Cleveland continued their onslaught from deep and the Raptors continued to play catch up.

It isn’t likely to lead anywhere truly meaningful, but at this point the Raptors are beyond that sort of aspiration. Michael Jordan is first with 5,987 play-off points.

The extra attention dedicated to DeRozan led to a tough shooting night, but it also opened up the floor for some of his teammates.

Remember, right when the Milwaukee Bucks went up 2-1 over the Toronto Raptors, how incredibly optimistic Bucks fans were about their team’s chances?

Korver grabbed a rebound and hit another three to open Cleveland’s account in the fourth.

Or the growing realization that he’s not matching wits with not only a great player in LeBron James, but the greatest of his generation who is fast-tracking his way into earnest discussions as the greatest of all time.

James hasn’t just beaten the Raptors to this point.

“It’s bait”, James told ESPN at Cavs shootaround ahead of Friday’s Game 3. The selflessness just starts to go throughout the team, and we all start to feel really good. They are 7-0 in these playoffs, 10-0 in the postseason dating back to the Finals last season.

The Toronto Raptors play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 at the Air Canada Centre on Friday. The Cavaliers went on to win the series in six games.

Parker finished with 18 points and four assists in 26 minutes.

The team said Thomas has a four-piece temporary bridge that cracked when he was re-injured and replaced at halftime of Game 3 on Thursday. His peak has already lasted longer than most National Basketball Association careers.

LaMarcus Aldridge had been criticized through two games of the Western Conference semifinals for not doing enough for the San Antonio Spurs. Lowry scored 20 in both Game 1 and Game 2, making 14 of his 25 shots with 16 assists.

Trevor Ariza tallied 17 points for Houston but had just two after halftime.

The Rockets’ three-man bench of Eric Gordon, Nene and Lou Williams combined for 10 points on 3-of-19 shooting.

If you can’t beat the King, you can’t go to the NBA Finals.

It sounded a lot like a surrender with terms – just give us one or two.

Text messages? Working on the assumption that the only people who have your phone number are your friends, DeRozan may be in need of a more robust support system.