CLEVELAND — For the third time in as many postseasons
Antonio Callaway Jersey Browns , the Cleveland Cavaliers enter Game 3 against the Toronto Raptors leading the series 2-0.But this is the first time the third game was on Cleveland’s home floor. It’s an uh-oh moment for the Raptors, who were swept out of the Eastern Conference
semis by the Cavs last season and are in danger of it happening again.The Cavs would very much like for history to repeat itself.“It’s one game at a time, and that’s the only way we should look at it,” said LeBron James, who in Game 2 became the first player in NBA history to score at
least 40 points (43) with 14 assists in a playoff game.“We will not put our guards down,” James said. “I won’t, so that’s going to trickle down to everybody else. Understanding that the series is never won until
it’s over. You’ve got to win four games to get out of a series and it starts
with the next game, so I will be as sharp as I was tonight.”The Raptors finished the regular season atop the East and were the only team in the NBA ranked in the top five in offense and defense. But the Cavs are
three-time defending conference champs. They are the ones playing with poise so
far in this series.Toronto has been outscored 34-8 in points off turnovers (Cleveland set a franchise record with just three turnovers in a 128-110 win in Game 2), and by
12 points in the fourth quarter. The Cavs opened the third quarter on an 18-5
spurt.“We’re 0-2, we understand that,” Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. “It’s hope, it’s pride
Mason Rudolph Jersey Elite , it’s toughness. The toughness part is the part I didn’t think we played with last night. I thought we did in Game 1. We
did in parts of last night. But we didn’t do it long enough. So it’s about grit,
toughness.“If you want to use the word hope … If we’re hoping we win, we shouldn’t be in the NBA,” Casey continued. “That’s not a good word to use if you’re a
professional player.”There’s more bad news coming for the Raptors. They didn’t win a playoff game in Cleveland in either of the previous two years, and have lost eight straight
to the Cavs in the postseason overall dating to the 2016 conference finals.Counting the regular season, the Raptors have dropped four straight against Cleveland, including two at Quicken Loans Arena.Kevin Love has struggled for much of the postseason, but averaged 20.5 points and shot 66.7 percent from 3-point range in those two regular-season wins over
Toronto. Naturally, he had his finest game of the 2018 playoffs in Game 2 with
31 points and 11 rebounds.The Raptors continually switched smaller players onto Love in Game 2 and he dominated them. In Game 1 (Love was 3 of 13), Toronto used the 7-foot bruiser
Jonas Valanciunas on Love and gave him fits.“It felt nice to see those mismatches or even see the big out on the perimeter on me — whether it was Valanciunas or Siakam or Poeltl or whoever it
was — I just kind of was able to get some easy buckets,” Love said. “So that got
me going early and Bron was looking for me and those guys helped me through
it.”So, in summation
Cheap Customized Baltimore Ravens Jerseys , it’s not looking good for the Raptors.“Ain’t nothing changed,” Raptors reserve guard Fred VanVleet said. “There’s a reason why we are who we are. There’s a reason why we’re in the position we’re
in. We get paid to do this. Obviously, it hasn’t been our best showing, down
0-2. But it’s the first to four. All we can worry about is going to Cleveland
trying to get one.”3. NEW YORK JETS (5-11)LAST SEASON: Rebuilding Jets were one of NFL's early-season surprises while winning three of first five games despite some preseason prognosticators saying
New York would struggle to win more than one. Todd Bowles' bunch didn't get many
more victories and finished 5-11 for second straight season, but Jets were
competitive in almost all games. Players praised positive culture change
stressed by Bowles, as well as leadership of quarterback Josh McCown. Both
Bowles and GM Mike Maccagnan received two-year contract extensions. McCown had
career year at 38, setting personal bests with 2,926 yards passing, 19 TD passes
and five TD runs before missing final three games with broken left hand. Wide
receiver Robby Anderson had breakout season with 63 catches, 941 yards and seven
TD receptions, and rookie safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye made good first
impressions as immediate starters. Jets struggled to generate consistent pass
rush with Muhammad Wilkerson (3 1/2) and Leonard Williams (2) combining for 5
1/2 sacks.THEY NEED: QB, OLB/pass rusher
Danny Santana Jersey , D-line depth, TE.THEY DON'T NEED: S, CB, LS.POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: QB Josh Rosen, UCLA; QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma; QB Sam Darnold, USC; QB Josh Allen, Wyoming.OUTLOOK: It's all about finding right quarterback after being aggressive and trading up from No. 6 to No. 3 in deal with Indianapolis in March that also cost
New York two second-rounders this year and one next year. Jets put themselves in
position to get one of top three QBs, but pressure's on Maccagnan & Co. to
get pick right. New York re-signed McCown and added Teddy Bridgewater in free
agency, so first-rounder won't be pressured to start right away in new
coordinator Jeremy Bates' offense ??but could give veterans run for starting job
in training camp. Also appears to be end for both Christian Hackenberg (2016
second-rounder) and Bryce Petty (2015 fourth-rounder) with Jets. Maccagnan was
busy in free agency, adding CB Trumaine Johnson, WR Terrelle Pryor
Youth Dallas Cowboys Jerseys , RB Isaiah Crowell, LB Avery Williamson, K Cairo Santos and C Spencer Long. New York still has plenty of needs, including pass rusher
and depth on defensive line. For Jets fans looking for optimism, team has had
No. 3 pick in NFL draft one other time: in 1981, took RB Freeman McNeil, who is
franchise's second-leading rusher..
