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Just the mere fact that the Toronto Raptors are still in the Eastern Conference Finals is impressive. They've made it to Game 6 of this series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and even if they bow out here, they have nothing to hang their heads about, especially with as well as they've fought against what is definitively the best team in the East.
NBA Playoff Odds at BookMaker.eu
Cleveland Cavaliers -6.5
Toronto Raptors +6.5
Over/Under 197.5
SERIES RECAP
It's been all about the home teams here in the Eastern Conference Finals. It's not just that the home squad is 5-0 SU and ATS in the first five games. It's that the games really haven't been all that close, and the results seem to be getting more and more emphatic as time goes by.
Live bettors of the Raptors can't like the fact that the Cavs just racked up a 116-78 victory in Game 5, especially knowing that they took a 20-16 lead late in the first quarter and turned it into a 47-22 laugher just seven minutes later.
Then again, Cleveland's live bettors still can't like the fact that LeBron James and the gang are 0-4 SU and ATS in four games played at the Air Canada Centre this year, especially with as badly as they played in Games 3 and 4 in this building.
KEY MATCHUP
The Big Three were finally the Big Three again. Kyrie Irving and James have put up their stats consistently over the course of the playoffs, but in Game 5, the seemingly MIA Kevin Love had his biggest game, scoring 25 points on an efficient 8-of-10 shooting. He wasn't dominant on the glass, but he really didn't have to be. Instead, he was used as a real offensive weapon by stretching the floor with those mid-range jumpers and three-pointers, and Dwane Casey just couldn't find the right man to defend against him.
Love scored a total of just 13 points in the two games played in Ontario, and he couldn't get on the court in the fourth quarter of a game which was relatively close every step of the way just a few nights ago in Game 4. We hate telling live bettors that Love is the difference-maker for Cleveland, but it's tough to argue the point.
KEY STATS & TRENDS
More on Love… When the big man scores 14 points or more in the playoffs, Cleveland is 9-0 SU and 7-2 ATS. When he's under 14 points, the Cavaliers are 2-2 SU and 1-3 ATS.
What happened to Bismack Biyombo in Game 5? We know that Toronto can't count on its big man having 20 boards in every game as he averaged in the two games played at the Air Canada Centre, but four boards and one block in 21 minutes won't cut it.
Jonas Valanciunas came back into the fold for the first time in this series for the Raptors in Game 5. He was effective with nine points in just 19 minutes, but Toronto was also -17 while he was on the court. If Valanciunas can take over once again as an offensive force and play well alongside Biyombo, the Raptors could have something going in live betting. If not, they could easily be bowing out of the playoffs here with a whimper.
NBA Odds at BookMaker.eu
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The duel between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors will take place at the Air Canada Centre on Friday, May 27, 2016. This 8:30 p.m. ET kickoff can be seen live on ESPN.
