[Goat Milk]

Originally posted on 12/05/2016:

Many of you like to refer to past games as an indication of how today's game will go... I have never found a strong correlation to that angle at all. Not even with the same personnel.

Each matchup is a different animal. You need to look to other things for an edge IMO

If you want to look for other things when it comes to a rematch high-level NBA game wherein both teams will probably be trying (this specific game) as if it were a playoff game, you have to watch the film of the previous game and see what corrections could be made.

However, by this point, with these two specific teams, having faced each other last year in the finals too, having 3 of the 5 stars in the game on the same team during the summer, there's not many adjustments to make. Small things here and there.

For one demare carroll did not play in the last game, forcing the raptors to defend Lebron with Norman Powell for long stretches. No chance. Carroll cannot hold down Bron but will do better than Powell.

JR Smith also did not play. Derozen missed some easy bunnies that I bet he will capitalize on even with Smith guarding him.

You gotta think that this a game for Kyrie Irving to really show up and put his stamp on the game. Lowrie is a ferocious defender but has no chance of guarding Irving and switching on tornto bigs like Patterson or Siakam and Valencunas. This game has that type of playoff atmosphere feel with the Cavs losing last few games and the Raptors still wanting to dethrone this team.

Love can also have a solid game with the Cavs looking to get back to basics and feeding him in the post early against Siakam and forcing Dwayne Casey to bring in Patterson early, giving Toronto less rim protection, but more versatility guarding Love and also more spacing on the offensive side for Derozen and Lowry to operate.