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4 Reasons The Cleveland Cavaliers Will Clinch NBA Finals Berth On Friday Night In Toronto

By Nick Dudukovich

May 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) grabs a rebound ahead of Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo (8) during the second half in game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 116-78. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) grabs a rebound ahead of Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo (8) during the second half in game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 116-78. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers can clinch a berth in the NBA Finals by finishing off the Toronto Raptors on Friday Night. These four reasons highlight why the Cavs will be successful.

1. Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue figured out how to stop the backcourt pick-and-roll success of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.

The duo combined for just 27 points, because the Cavs were relentless in attacking them off screens and coming up with traps that forced them to give up the ball.

The Raptors will certainly make adjustments, but there’s no substitute for tenacious defense. Give J.R. Smith  a lot of credit for his effort in Game 5. If he’s hassling Toronto’s guards on the perimeter as much as he did Wednesday night, the Cavs will be celebrating the Eastern Conference Championship after Game 6.

2. Kevin Love is a superstar…on this Cleveland Cavaliers team. And when he’s going good, the Raptors can’t touch Cleveland.

Loved played the game of his life on Wednesday with 25 points in 24 minutes. Lue made Love the focal point of the offense in the early going in Game 5, and Love rewarded his coach and teammate LeBron James by scoring 19 points in the first half, making 6-of-6 shots.

He was playing inside-out–just the way he likes to do it–and the Raptors had no answer.

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Love doesn’t need to be this efficient in Game 6, but even if he’s somewhat close to his Game 5 effort, the Cavs will end the series.

3.  Tristan Thompson isn’t going to be embarrassed by Bismack Biyombo any longer. I wrote Biyombo was the new Tristan Thompson of this year’s playoffs, because his hustle play and offensive rebounding were a key reason the Raptors tied this series 2-2.

Obviously, TT visits the Factory of Sadness, and took my writing personally, because he sent Biyombo back to unknown status in Game 5.

AmicoHoops.net’s Sam Amico wrote: “Tristan Thompson clearly became agitated with all the questions about Biyombo during the morning shootaround. Thompson did something about it, scoring nine points and collecting 10 rebounds. He again was everywhere.”

Biyombo only had four boards in Game 5, zero of which came on the offensive side.

Cleveland will be looking to finish the Raptors off on Friday, and there’s no reason to think Thompson won’t play with the same effort. Biyombo embarrassed him in his home country. Tristan needs no further motivation.

4. When the 3-point shot is falling, it’s great. When it’s not, the Cavs look really, really bad. Hey, as LeBron James said, this is a “make or miss league.”

And in Toronto for Games 3 and 4, the Cavs looked horrible from beyond the arc.

Next: Brian Windhorst Critical Of Ty Lue After Game 4

But in the Game 5 dominance, the Cavs only attempted 21 3-pointers, and made just 10. They kicked the Raptors butt by playing excellent defense and driving to the basket. The Raptors cannot match Cleveland’s talent. Expect the Cavs to continue driving the lane in Toronto on Friday en route to a berth in the NBA Finals.

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