The set-up: The Cleveland Cavaliers needed six games to beat the Toronto Raptors in last year's Eastern Conference finals, although the four wins came by an average margin of 28.5 PPG. The two teams are meeting a round earlier this season and after sweeping the Pacers in the first round, the Cavs have again opened their series with the Raptors by easily winning Games 1 and 2 of this series at home. Game 1's margin was 'just" 11 points, although let's note that the Cavs led by 22 points entering the fourth quarter in that contest. Cleveland led by 18 heading into the fourth quarter of Game 2 and extended the lead to win by 22. The Cavaliers are 6-0 in this year's postseason and have averaged 1115.3 PPG. Toronto had its hands full with Milwaukee (won in six games) and now hope its deja vu against the Cavs. Cleveland steamrolled Toronto in the first two games of last season's playoffs as well, before the Raptors thrived in their home environment and won the next two contests at Air Canada Centre.

Cleveland: Going back to last year's Finals, the Cavs have won nine straight playoff games, with LBJ averaging 34.9-10.0-8-1. It's fair to say, he's pretty good. PG Kyrie Irving set a personal playoff high for assists (10 in Game 1) and broke that record with 11 in Game 2. He' averaging 23 points and 10.5 assists in the two games, so far. The Cavaliers have averaged 16 made three-pointers in the two wins and reserve forward Channing Frye had his best game of the postseason on Wednesday, making five 3-pointers and scoring 18 points. Staring center Thompson has averaged 7.8 & 11.2 this postseason and failed to grab double digits in a game for the first time this postseason in Game 2's win (had nine!).

Toronto: PG Kyle Lowry scored 20 points In Game 2 but departed the game with a sprained left ankle and sat out the fourth quarter. He didn't practice Thursday and is listed as questionable for Friday's game. Meanwhile, Demar DeRozan was 'hurting' for another reason, suffering through a dreadful Game 2 performance. He scored just five points on 2-of-11 shooting. "It sucks. To lose like we did, to play like I did, it sucks," DeRozan told reporters. "It's frustrating. Now I just have the added time having to wait till Friday night to redeem myself." DeRozan avergaed 27.3 PPG during the regular season, so a bounce-back is hardly a stretch."When we lost by (31) here last year, everyone knocked us and said it was over with," head coach Dwane Casey said. "It was done. I don't believe in that. I believe in our players. I believe in our guys, and I know there is another level we can get to."

The pick: It's "now or never" for the Raptors but even back-to-back wins, means the Raptors would still have to find a way to win in Cleveland. The Raptors were 99-84 winners in Game 3 last year with DeRozan scoring 32 points and then won 105-99 in Game 4 with Lowry scoring 35. However, they then lost Game 5 in Cleveland by 38 points and Game 6 back in Toronto by 26. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Raptors can win here and will! Make Toronto a 10* play.