Eastern Conference Finals - Game 1

The largest margin of victory in franchise history set the tone for what was supposed to be an exciting series.  Or at least I hoped it would be.

It also didn't help that the so called "King James" shot 85% from the field.  His windmill dunks, steals, and aggressive play, embarrassed the Toronto Raptors tonight.

I held out a shred of hope when the game was close during the first quarter.  Maybe a renewed Kyle Lowry could put up a fight.  Maybe DeMar DeRozan would make a big stand in what perhaps might be his last series as a Raptor.

But the Cavaliers weren't having any of it.  Forget the great performance of both James and Irving.  Toronto simply couldn't compete with the reigning Eastern Conference champs, and it showed.  

Forget the regular season.  Forget the momentum of a broken regular season record by the Warriors.  The playoffs are their own unique beast one might even say is a season unto its own.  And to win, you need to gel.  To gel, you need to be firing on all cylinders.  And that's exactly what the Cavs are doing and having a blast in the process.

One might hope that Jonas Valanciunas of the Raptors might be a difference maker if he's able to return from the ankle injury he sustained during the semi-final match-up against the Miami Heat.

We won't know if that will be the difference, but I hope that this Raptor team at least puts up a fight.  Because if they don't, King James, Uncle Drew (Irving) and K-Love, will be skating into the finals with plenty of rest to face a formidable opponent from the West - Oklahoma City or Golden State.

Game 2 is Thursday back in Cleveland.  I just hope it's more of a fight than the 31 point shellacking we as sports spectators bore witness to this evening. 

Until then, I can't wait to see how Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals goes tomorrow night.

It will be a sad time in June when the season is over, but until then, I'll savor the last few games of this very sport I've always loved for a few more weeks.

Man you can't beat the NBA playoffs.