LeBron James Statistically Out-Performs Raptors’ Derozan and Lowry Combined
May 8, 2018, 12:00 AM | Updated: Jan 4, 2019, 11:27 am
by Matt George – Sports 1140 KHTK Reporter
I think it’s safe to say that LeBron James is the ultimate demon that the Toronto Raptors cannot exercise.
For the third straight year, the Raptors have been eliminated in the playoffs by LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Monday night’s game four loss is Toronto’s tenth straight loss to Cleveland.
After finishing the regular season at the top of the Easter Conference, their 59-23 record earning them the top seed and home court advantage in the playoffs, the Raptors were confident that this was the year they would finally break through their Cavalier roadblock. The all-star tandem of DeMar Derozan and Kyle Lowrie, now supported by a reinforced ensemble of talent, were determined to silence the doubters.
Not only could they not out-perform the Cleveland Cavaliers, the two combined could barely hang with LeBron himself.
These numbers are wild. 😳 pic.twitter.com/LU5ywYv2PT
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 8, 2018
The Raptors never recovered from blowing a 14-point lead in game one, losing by a combined 53 points in games two and four. Game three in Cleveland came down to the wire, but once again it was LeBron James who broke the heart of Toronto.
LeBron's Game 3 winner, as heard around the world! #GlobalGame
🏀: #WeTheNorth x #WhateverItTakes Game 4
⏰: 8:30pm/et 📺: @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/fPqkQjkgSI— NBA (@NBA) May 7, 2018
Monday night’s 35-point loss, in which Derozan was ejected, was just the icing on the cake.
DeMar Derozan ejected for this. pic.twitter.com/JgGlYThF2I
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) May 8, 2018
The voices of the doubters are all the louder for the Raptors, but not quite as loud as the voices in their own heads whispering “LeBron owns you”. It’s going to be a long summer for Toronto after another playoff run cut painfully short.