NBA Playoffs: Cavaliers blowout Raptors again in Game 2, remain undefeated in playoffs

Since arriving in Cleveland, however, those stats have gone down and his game has been picked apart. His defensive reputation, in particular, has completely fallen. Yet, at least so far in the 2016 NBA Playoffs, Love has started to make some of the plays that often go unnoticed, but really help a team on that end.

The subtle but real improvements he’s made, however, have made him less of a drain than he used to be, and that matters.

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

AND ANOTHER ONE: The Cavaliers smoked the Raptors again, winning 108-89. Here are the three biggest takeaways. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry combined to shoot 12-of-32; Kyrie Irving and LeBron shot 19-of-35. There’s a trend here! Kevin Love was hyperefficient with 19 points on eight shots (and nine free throws). Cleveland’s up 2-0 with Game 3 on Saturday. The Cavaliers have won 10 straight playoff games! This is an accurate graphic reenactment of the series to date. Look at this here King James dunk and disagree!

A trend for James all season was that he struggled from outside the paint but was so good getting to the paint that it didn’t matter. While he made some more shots in the first and second round (literally everyone on Cleveland did), his two games against Toronto have seen him get back to business dominating at the rim. Look at this shot chart, presented by ESPN early in the second half showing James’ series thus far against Toronto.

At this point, that’s the most entertaining question left in this series. Since first round series were made seven games, it hasn’t ever been done. In fact, the 10-0 start the Cavaliers are currently working with is only the fourth time ever. You’d think Toronto would pick up at least one game on their home court, but with the way Cleveland is playing, maybe this really does happen.

LEBRON DON’T HURT EM.

Just think: LeBron has been able to do this exact dunk since he was, like, 16.

The first half will be key in Game 2. How the Raptors react to the blowout could tell us how long the series is going to be. If they come out focused and energized, they could stay in it until late and give themselves a chance of being the first team to beat Cleveland in this postseason. If instead they lack confidence and don’t play sharp, the Cavaliers will make them pay once again, like they have with most opponents who have let them have the initiative.

It’s early in the series, but an upset seems hard to imagine after such a one-sided first game. Another blowout loss could be devastating for a Raptors team that doesn’t have experience playing this deep into the playoffs. Even if they don’t beat the Cavaliers in Game 2, they at least have to prove to themselves that they can hang with the best team in the East.

Frye played just under 13 minutes Tuesday night, finishing with eight points, three rebounds and one assist. A fine line but nothing spectacular. That is, until you see that the Cavaliers outscored the Raptors by 17 points in the 13 minutes Frye was on the floor. Once again, Frye’s presence -- his knockdown shooting, the threat of his knockdown shooting and his defensive versatility -- served as the fuel to the Cavaliers’ unstoppable offensive engine.

Everything with Frye starts with his picture-perfect stroke and lightning-quick release. There just aren’t many 6’11 dudes who can shoot the ball like he can. Frye is a career 39 percent three-point shooter and has been lights out thus far in the postseason, connecting on 14 of the 24 deep balls he’s launched. He wasted no time cashing in from long range Tuesday night.