Ding dong, the king is gone. The new-look Raptors open their season as large home favourites against a Cavaliers side no longer possessing the super powers of one LeBron James.
The Raptors are coming off their most successive NBA regular season in franchise history.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 15 Oct 8:27pm | CLE | -11 -110 | O +214.5 -110 |
| Closing 17 Oct 8:52pm | CLE | -13.5 -110 | O +215 -110 |
The Raptors finished first in the Eastern Conference with 59 wins and went 43-38-1 against the spread along the way. Toronto tied the Houston Rockets for the best home record a year ago by winning 34 of its 41 contests at the Air Canada Centre.
The Dinos are 4-0 ATS in their last four home openers but just 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight home games against the Cavaliers.
Sports Interaction lists the club’s season win total at 54.5 (Over -160) and price Toronto’s odds to win the NBA championship at +1500. Only the Los Angeles Lakers (+1200), Houston Rockets (+850), Boston Celtics (+550) and Golden State Warriors (-175) have shorter odds to pop the champagne bottles this spring.
The projections aren’t as bright for the LeBron-less Cavaliers. Despite entering the season as the four-time defending Eastern Conference champion, Cleveland’s season win total is set at 30.5 games at Sports Interaction. Even more telling about the Cavaliers change in league standing, a $100 bet on the Cavs to win the title would pay $20,100.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Kevin Love is the de-facto No. 1 option in Cleveland now that LeBron James is gone. Cleveland bettors are hoping Love can rediscover the form he had in Minnesota when he averaged 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds in his final season in a Timberwolves uniform.
Team executives are whispering to beat reporters that the Cavaliers defence will be much improved with James on the floor. LeBron’s greatest is unquestionable but his defensive effort – particularly in the regular season – has been suspect the last few years.
The Cavaliers allowed a whopping 111 points per 100 possessions – good for the second worst defence in the Association.
Toronto Raptors
It’s a completely different story in Toronto. The Raptors traded All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan and young big man Jakob Poeltl for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. Leonard is the 2014 NBA Finals MVP, a two-time winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award, and arguably a top three player in the league when healthy.
That’s why many analysts are projecting the Raptors to finish with the league’s best defence this season despite the appointment of offensive guru Nick Nurse as the team’s new head coach.
Injuries
Kevin Love (PF)
Tristan Thompson (C)
Tristan Thompson (C)
Tristan Thompson (C)
Kevin Love (PF)
Kevin Love (PF)
Kevin Love (PF)
Marquese Chriss (PF)
Kevin Love (PF)
Larry Nance Jr. (PF)
Fred VanVleet (PG)
Patrick McCaw (SG)
Pascal Siakam (PF)
Jeremy Lin (PG)
Chris Boucher (PF)
Chris Boucher (PF)
Serge Ibaka (C)
Danny Green (SG)
Danny Green (SG)
Patrick McCaw (SG)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Love (PF) | Out Tues | Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
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Love will not be in Tuesday's lineup versus the Hornets as he will be rested. |
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| Tristan Thompson (C) | Out Tues | Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
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Thompson will receive a day of rest and is unlikely to face the Hornets on Tuesday. |
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| Tristan Thompson (C) | Prob Fri | Rest - 05 / 04 / 19 | 1-3 | 2-2 | + - |
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Thompson sat out the previous game to rest but is expected to take the court against the Warriors on Friday. |
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| Tristan Thompson (C) | Out Thurs | Rest - 04 / 04 / 19 | 1-3 | 2-2 | + - |
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Thompson will not suit up against the Kings on Thursday due to a day of rest. |
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| Kevin Love (PF) | Prob Sun | Shoulder - 30 / 03 / 19 | 2-4 | 4-2 | + - |
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Love has missed the last three games with left shoulder soreness but will likely play Sunday against the Spurs. |
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| Kevin Love (PF) | Prob Fri | Head - 20 / 03 / 19 | 5-6 | 7-4 | + - |
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Love left the last game due to a head injury but is projected to play Friday against the Clippers. |
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| Kevin Love (PF) | Prob Wed | Back - 17 / 03 / 19 | 5-7 | 8-5 | + - |
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Love was absent from the lineup during the previous game due to a lower-back contusion but is expected to take part in Wednesday's clash against the Bucks. |
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| Marquese Chriss (PF) | Elig Thurs | Suspension - 12 / 03 / 19 | 7-7 | 9-6 | + - |
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Chriss has been suspended one game due to his involvement in an on-court altercation with an opponent. He is expected to be reinstated in time for Thursday's contest against the Magic. |
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| Kevin Love (PF) | Out Tues | Rest - 11 / 03 / 19 | 7-8 | 10-6 | + - |
|
Love will not be in Tuesday's lineup against the 76ers as he will be rested. |
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| Larry Nance Jr. (PF) | Prob Wed | Ribs - 08 / 03 / 19 | 8-8 | 10-7 | + - |
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Nance Jr. sat out his fifth-straight game with a rib contusion but is likely to rejoin the lineup against the Bucks on Wednesday. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred VanVleet (PG) | Prob Mon | Face - 08 / 06 / 19 | 2-0 | 1-2 | + - |
|
VanVleet sustained a facial laceration and chipped tooth in the previous game but is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors. |
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| Patrick McCaw (SG) | Prob Thurs | Personal - 15 / 05 / 19 | 7-4 | 6-6 | + - |
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McCaw has been tending to a personal matter, but he is likely to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors. |
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| Pascal Siakam (PF) | Prob Sun | Calf - 04 / 05 / 19 | 9-6 | 8-8 | + - |
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Siakam is expected to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers despite a right calf contusion. |
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| Jeremy Lin (PG) | Prob Tues | Back - 02 / 05 / 19 | 9-7 | 8-9 | + - |
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Lin is battling back spasms but is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round. |
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| Chris Boucher (PF) | Prob Wed | Back - 01 / 05 / 19 | 9-7 | 8-9 | + - |
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Boucher is dealing with back spasms but it is likely he will play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks. |
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| Chris Boucher (PF) | Ques Mon | Back - 18 / 04 / 19 | 13-8 | 9-13 | + - |
|
Boucher is dealing with back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers. |
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| Serge Ibaka (C) | Out Tues | Rest - 09 / 04 / 19 | 15-9 | 10-15 | + - |
|
Ibaka will not suit up against the Timberwolves on Tuesday as he is to be rested. |
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| Danny Green (SG) | Prob Tues | Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19 | 15-10 | 10-15-1 | + - |
|
Green tweaked his ankle in the last game but it is anticipated that he will play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday. |
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| Danny Green (SG) | Prob Wed | Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19 | 18-10 | 12-16-1 | + - |
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Green jammed his left thumb during the last game but it is unlikely to deter him from being available against the Nets on Wednesday. |
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| Patrick McCaw (SG) | Prob Fri | Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19 | 19-10 | 12-17-1 | + - |
|
McCaw has been debilitated with a sprained right thumb but will likely return to action against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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Cavaliers vs. Raptors Prediction
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 15 Oct 8:27pm CLE -11 -110 O +214.5 -110 Closing 17 Oct 8:52pm CLE -13.5 -110 O +215 -110 -
Injuries
Kevin Love (PF)
Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19Tristan Thompson (C)
Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19Tristan Thompson (C)
Prob Fri Rest - 05 / 04 / 19Tristan Thompson (C)
Out Thurs Rest - 04 / 04 / 19Kevin Love (PF)
Prob Sun Shoulder - 30 / 03 / 19Kevin Love (PF)
Prob Fri Head - 20 / 03 / 19Kevin Love (PF)
Prob Wed Back - 17 / 03 / 19Marquese Chriss (PF)
Elig Thurs Suspension - 12 / 03 / 19Kevin Love (PF)
Out Tues Rest - 11 / 03 / 19Larry Nance Jr. (PF)
Prob Wed Ribs - 08 / 03 / 19Fred VanVleet (PG)
Prob Mon Face - 08 / 06 / 19Patrick McCaw (SG)
Prob Thurs Personal - 15 / 05 / 19Pascal Siakam (PF)
Prob Sun Calf - 04 / 05 / 19Jeremy Lin (PG)
Prob Tues Back - 02 / 05 / 19Chris Boucher (PF)
Prob Wed Back - 01 / 05 / 19Chris Boucher (PF)
Ques Mon Back - 18 / 04 / 19Serge Ibaka (C)
Out Tues Rest - 09 / 04 / 19Danny Green (SG)
Prob Tues Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19Danny Green (SG)
Prob Wed Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19Patrick McCaw (SG)
Prob Fri Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Kevin Love (PF) Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 0-1 0-1 + - Love will not be in Tuesday's lineup versus the Hornets as he will be rested.
Tristan Thompson (C) Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 0-1 0-1 + - Thompson will receive a day of rest and is unlikely to face the Hornets on Tuesday.
Tristan Thompson (C) Prob Fri Rest - 05 / 04 / 19 1-3 2-2 + - Thompson sat out the previous game to rest but is expected to take the court against the Warriors on Friday.
Tristan Thompson (C) Out Thurs Rest - 04 / 04 / 19 1-3 2-2 + - Thompson will not suit up against the Kings on Thursday due to a day of rest.
Kevin Love (PF) Prob Sun Shoulder - 30 / 03 / 19 2-4 4-2 + - Love has missed the last three games with left shoulder soreness but will likely play Sunday against the Spurs.
Kevin Love (PF) Prob Fri Head - 20 / 03 / 19 5-6 7-4 + - Love left the last game due to a head injury but is projected to play Friday against the Clippers.
Kevin Love (PF) Prob Wed Back - 17 / 03 / 19 5-7 8-5 + - Love was absent from the lineup during the previous game due to a lower-back contusion but is expected to take part in Wednesday's clash against the Bucks.
Marquese Chriss (PF) Elig Thurs Suspension - 12 / 03 / 19 7-7 9-6 + - Chriss has been suspended one game due to his involvement in an on-court altercation with an opponent. He is expected to be reinstated in time for Thursday's contest against the Magic.
Kevin Love (PF) Out Tues Rest - 11 / 03 / 19 7-8 10-6 + - Love will not be in Tuesday's lineup against the 76ers as he will be rested.
Larry Nance Jr. (PF) Prob Wed Ribs - 08 / 03 / 19 8-8 10-7 + - Nance Jr. sat out his fifth-straight game with a rib contusion but is likely to rejoin the lineup against the Bucks on Wednesday.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Fred VanVleet (PG) Prob Mon Face - 08 / 06 / 19 2-0 1-2 + - VanVleet sustained a facial laceration and chipped tooth in the previous game but is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Patrick McCaw (SG) Prob Thurs Personal - 15 / 05 / 19 7-4 6-6 + - McCaw has been tending to a personal matter, but he is likely to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Pascal Siakam (PF) Prob Sun Calf - 04 / 05 / 19 9-6 8-8 + - Siakam is expected to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers despite a right calf contusion.
Jeremy Lin (PG) Prob Tues Back - 02 / 05 / 19 9-7 8-9 + - Lin is battling back spasms but is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Chris Boucher (PF) Prob Wed Back - 01 / 05 / 19 9-7 8-9 + - Boucher is dealing with back spasms but it is likely he will play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks.
Chris Boucher (PF) Ques Mon Back - 18 / 04 / 19 13-8 9-13 + - Boucher is dealing with back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers.
Serge Ibaka (C) Out Tues Rest - 09 / 04 / 19 15-9 10-15 + - Ibaka will not suit up against the Timberwolves on Tuesday as he is to be rested.
Danny Green (SG) Prob Tues Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19 15-10 10-15-1 + - Green tweaked his ankle in the last game but it is anticipated that he will play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Danny Green (SG) Prob Wed Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19 18-10 12-16-1 + - Green jammed his left thumb during the last game but it is unlikely to deter him from being available against the Nets on Wednesday.
Patrick McCaw (SG) Prob Fri Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19 19-10 12-17-1 + - McCaw has been debilitated with a sprained right thumb but will likely return to action against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.