ESPN opened Tuesday night's NBA Eastern Conference finals with the commentary team of Mike Breen, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy. Doris Burke handled sideline reporter duties.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The conference finals switched coverage from last year, when TNT showed the Eastern Conference finals and ESPN had the West. Charles Barkley predicted following the Cavaliers' conference championship that they would win it all.

Chuck doesn't need to know who comes out of the West to make his Finals prediction...https://t.co/iK6155JtXt

-- NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 27, 2015

If you think that was a jinx, don't worry about it this year.

Barkley can save those on-site predictions for Golden State or Oklahoma City.

ESPN has the rights to this year's Eastern Conference finals. It opened Tuesday night with the commentary team of Mike Breen, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy. Doris Burke handled sideline reporter duties. They witnessed the Cavaliers throttle the Toronto Raptors, 115-84, in Game 1 at The Q.

But which broadcast do you prefer? ESPN or TNT? Vote in the poll to the right. Marv Albert, Reggie Miller and Chris Webber, along with David Aldridge and Craig Sager on the sideline, make up the TNT crew.

'There goes that man'

Wondering when Mark Jackson made one of his patented references to open Game 1. It took until about midway through the second quarter for Jackson to call LeBron James a "bad man."

It wasn't quite "There goes that man," but close enough at 7:26 left in the second. James gave the Cavaliers a 47-30 lead on a slam while being fouled.

Breen and Co. blown away by singalong

You might have noticed the Star-Spangled Banner has not been a one-person show for any of the Cavaliers' playoff home games. Well, Breen had not noticed. The play-by-play man shared his approval of anthem being sung as a group effort throughout The Q.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it until Jeff participated," Jackson said.

Breen agreed.

Van Gundy responded as if he was trying to change the subject.

"You know they did that in Toronto the other day," he said.

Watch fans sing at The Q

Local encouragement

East Tech boys basketball standout and cleveland.com Player of the Year Markell Johnson met Jackson on Tuesday before the game. Johnson posted this picture on Twitter.

Words Of Encouragement From The Mark Jackson Today [?] [?] [?] pic.twitter.com/4N9cW4T1HK

-- Markell Johnson (@kells_2017) May 18, 2016

Meet Markell Johnson and the cleveland.com All-Stars

You said it

If public perception is everything, here's what the people thought of Tuesday's commentary effort.

Put Doris in for Van Gundy in the second half.

-- Ken Carman (@KenCarman) May 18, 2016

My favorite thing about Jeff Van Gundy is that every time he talks he wants to make sure you know exactly why he isn't coaching. #TORvsCLE

-- Charles (@MrLXC) May 18, 2016

JVG and Mark Jackson are in the building. #ECF https://t.co/6588f5erg9

-- NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 17, 2016

Former players/coaches Charles Oakley,Marc Jackson & Jeff Van Gundy catching up w/each other B4 #ECF G1 #CavsRaptors pic.twitter.com/adYxTVxLWr

-- Kenny Roda (@TheKennyRoda) May 18, 2016

And finally, this happened to start the fourth quarter ...

The world is comin to an end. My man Jeff Van Gundy just said " Doris Burke is on fleek tonight" [?] [?]

-- MarkJonesESPN (@MarkJonesESPN) May 18, 2016

To echo everyone else's sentiments.

Jeff Van Gundy just said "on fleek"....yeah let's end this game ASAP.

-- Cleveland SportsTalk (@CLEsportsTalk) May 18, 2016

Here is the evidence.

JVG [?] https://t.co/K7YfTPRRab

-- NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 18, 2016

Behind the curtain

That graphic behind Breen, Jackson and Van Gundy before the game is actually there. Reporter Scott Patsko has the proof.

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

The home-and-away interleague series shifts to Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati for the conclusion of this four-game set on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Watch video

CINCINNATI - Preview and pitching matchups for the Reds-Indians series in Cincinnati.

Where: Great American Ball Park, Wednesday through Thursday.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio will carry the series. WTAM/1100 and WMMS/FM 100.7 will carry the Wednesday's game. WMMS/FM 100.7 will carry Thursday's game.

Pitching probables: RHP Mike Clevinger (first big league start) vs. LHP Brandon Finnegan (1-2, 4.40) Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. and RHP Josh Tomlin (5-0, 3.82) vs. RHP Tim Adleman (1-1, 3.38) Thursday at 7:10 p.m.

Series: The Indians went into Tuesday night's game with a 1-0 lead against the Reds this season. They lead the series, 51-45, overall.

Wednesday: Clevinger will be activated before Wednesday's start. He was 5-0 with a 3.03 ERA in seven starts for Class AAA Columbus this year. Clevinger struck out 36, walked 17 and allowed 12 earned runs in 35 2/3 innings.

In his last start Finnegan lost to the Phillies as he allowed three runs on four hits in four innings. He's 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in four relief appearances against the Indians. Jose Ramirez is 1-for-3 against him.

Thursday: Tomlin, making his seventh start, is coming off a 6 1/3-inning no decision against the Twins. He's 1-2 with a 5.32 ERA lifetime against the Reds. Zack Cozart is hitting .625 (5-for-8) against him.

Adleman, making his fourth big-league start, is coming off a five-inning loss to the Phillies. The rookie right-hander has never faced the Indians.

Team updates: The Indians start a five-game trip Wednesday night against the Reds with a 8-9 road record. The Reds return home Wednesday where they are 12-10 in the Queen City.

Players to watch: Indians catcher Yan Gomes entered Tuesday night's game with homers in three consecutive games for the first time in his career. Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips entered Tuesday's game having hit safely in 41 of career games against the Indians.

Injuries: Reds -- RHP Homer Bailey (right elbow), RHP Anthony DeSclafani (left oblique), RHP Raisel Iglesias (right shoulder), RHP Michael Lorenzen (right elbow), C Devin Mesoraco (left shoulder), CF Yormar Rodriguez (left hamstring) and C Kyle Skipworth (left ankle) are on the disabled list. Indians -- RHP Carlos Carrasco (left hamstring), C Roberto Perez (right thumb) and Michael Brantley (right shoulder) are on the disabled list.

Next: The Indians open a three-game series against Boston at Fenway Park on Friday night.

The Browns begin Phase III of their offseason program this week, which includes three weeks of organized team activities and one three-day mandatory minicamp. Here are five things to watch for.

The Cleveland Indians and hanging around the .500 mark: Crowquill

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- So far this year, the Indians are basically playing .500 baseball. Good enough to keep them neck-and-neck with the Kansas City Royals and the Detroit Tigers as all three try to keep the first-place Chicago White Sox in sight.

But will playing .500 baseball be good enough the rest of the way? Is the glass half full or half empty? It's still early, but with the Indians having swept two series from the Tigers and taken two of three games from the Royals, the glass looks half full to me.

Crowquill, by Plain Dealer artist Ted Crow, appears three times a week on cleveland.com.

The Indians drew five walks in the fifth inning Tuesday night at Progressive Field, four coming with the bases loaded against Cincinnati reliever Steve Delabar

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Indians are not a patient team. They'd rather swing the bat than walk.

There are exceptions. Carlos Santana is always among the American League leaders in walks at the end of the season, but after Santana the list is short. The majority of Santana's teammates prefer to swing first and ask questions later.

That changed Tuesday night, at least for a moment, in the fifth inning at Progressive Field. Cincinnati right-hander Steve Delabar certainly had a lot to do with it, but the Indians have faced other pitchers who couldn't throw strikes this season and haven't reacted like this.

The Indians were winning, 8-0, well on their way to a 13-1 victory, when Alfredo Simon was mercifully removed with runners on first and third after allowing 14 hits over 4 1/3 innings. Delabar relieved and walked Jason Kipnis on a 3-1 pitch to load the bases.

Delabar struck out Francisco Lindor, which took some doing because the switch-hitting shortstop was on his way to another three-hit night. Lindor has 14 multi-hit games this season, including four in the last five games. Then the strike zone eluded Delabar.

He walked Mike Napoli in a six-pitch at-bat to score Rajai Davis. How hard is it to walk Napoli? He's struck out 51 times in 131 at-bats. Walks? He owns 13 of them.

Jose Ramirez was another six-pitch walk that scored Santana. Ramirez, like Santana, is an exception. For the season, he has eight walks and eight strikeouts.

Next up was Yan Gomes. What are the chances of Gomes walking? Well, he has 29 strikeouts and six walks in 30 games this season. You do the math.

Delabar, however, started the at-bat with three straight balls to Gomes. He got back into the count at 3-2, but walked him on the seventh pitch of the at-bat. Kipnis jogged home to make it 11-0.

Finally, there was Lonnie Chisenhall, just activated from the bereavement list before the game. Chisenhall has 11 strikeouts and four walks.

Delabar had him down in the count 0-2, but Chisenhall worked his way back to draw yet another seven-pitch walk. This time Napoli scored for a 12-0 lead.

Manager Terry Francona said Napoli set the tone for the avalanche of walks because he rarely chases balls out of the strike zone. He applauded his team's concentration in that inning.

Kipnis, who started the walk-a-thon, was complimentary as well.

"That might have been the easiest run I've ever scored," said Kipnis. "I worked on my leads. I was very professional and got some good work done. I had some good crow hops and secondary leads.

"It doesn't happen often. When pitchers are struggling like that, you never want to help them. That's what the best part about it was. Guys were swinging at strikes, not getting greedy with the guys on base and getting to the next guy. That's what we've been preaching."

Gomes was still trying to decipher the patience that he and his teammates showed in the fifth inning. He used the work "unexpected' when asked to describe it.

"Other than Napoli, that part of the lineup, I don't think any of us are sitting there waiting to see pitches," said Gomes. "We're fairly aggressive hitters. It's definitely a good sign. It shows how well our lineup is doing right now.

"It's not what we expected, but we were waiting for good pitches and we didn't get them. So we were unexpectedly taking walks."

Indians hitters started Tuesday's game with the sixth most strikeouts in the AL at 298. They ranked 11^th in walks with 108, which makes what happened in the fifth inning Tuesday night even more unexpected than Gomes could imagine.

The Cleveland Cavaliers led by 22 at halftime and cruised to a 115-84 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James and Kyrie Irving combined for 51 points on 22-of-30 shooting from the field as the Cleveland Cavaliers flattened the Toronto Raptors, 115-84, Tuesday night at The Q. The Cavs lead the Eastern Conference final, 1-0.

Here is a capsule look at the key aspect(s) of the game, which was televised by ESPN:

Perfection to date: The Cavs are 9-0 in the playoffs -- the most consecutive victories to open the NBA playoffs since San Antonio's 10 in 2012.

(In 2012, the Spurs swept the Jazz and Clippers and won the first two against the Thunder in the Western Conference Final. Then the Thunder won four straight.)

Not the same: The 2008-2009 Cavs, with LeBron at the helm, went 66-16 in the regular season and earned the No. 1 overall seed for the playoffs. They swept the Pistons and Hawks in the first two rounds, but lost the first game of the conference final to the Magic.

The Magic won the series, 4-2.

Late in the fourth quarter Tuesday, ESPN play-by-play voice Mike Breen spoke of the 2009 Cavs' fantastic start to the playoffs and how it went for naught.

ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy said: "But this Cavaliers team is so much more talented.''

Skip to my T-Lue: Tyronn Lue has won his first nine playoff games as an NBA head coach. He replaced David Blatt in-season.

Remarkable, no matter the conference: The Cavs have won 16 straight playoff games against Eastern Conference opponents. The streak began when they tied the Bulls, 2-2, in a 2015 semifinal. 

Juice vs. no juice: The Cavs had not played since finishing the Hawks on May 8. Their fresh legs were evident. They ran the floor with energy to burn.

The Raptors were coming off a seven-game series against the Heat that ended Sunday in Toronto. They looked and executed like a tired team, especially on defense.

It's not the Cavs' fault that they swept the Hawks and the Raptors struggled to dispose of the Heat. And the Raptors didn't help themselves by failing to make the Cavs' starters work; Irving played the most minutes (30).

The 58-point swing: The Raptors eliminated the Heat by a score of 116-89.

Oh, well: Toronto led, 7-0, with 10:11 left in the first quarter.

By the end of the quarter, the Cavs were ahead, 33-28. The Cavs led, 66-44, by halftime and 95-67 after three.

ESPN on-site analyst Tim Legler said: "What you saw tonight was complete physical domination. Toronto has very little depth -- they have almost no depth up front -- and whenever they go to a smaller lineup, the Cleveland Cavaliers are determined to get to the rim. They dominated them in the paint, at the backboard, and they got to the foul line.''

Regarding Legler's overview, the Cavs held advantages of 56-36 in paint points, 45-23 in rebounds and 33-20 in free throws attempted.

Different approach: The Cavs rained 3-pointers on the Hawks. They were more accurate from beyond the arc (77-of-152) than inside it (81-of-191).

In Game 1 against the Raptors, the Cavs were 7-of-20 from 3-point range and 34-of-54 inside it.

Through two quarters the Cavs had shot 17-of-21 in the paint, prompting ESPN studio analyst Doug Collins to say of the Raptors: "You've got to guard the paint before you worry about the 3-point line. I think what's happened with Toronto is, they've been spooked by the 3-point shot.''

The Raptors opened the floor that much more by being so focused on the Cavs' 3-ball potential. The Cavs patiently picked them apart with extra passes and strong cuts to the basket. It helped to have fantastic finishers such as LeBron and Irving.

King's English: LeBron shot 11-of-13 from the field and 2-of-4 from the line for 24 points. He had six rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block and posted a +20 in 28 minutes.

On the court after the game, LeBron told ESPN reporter Doris Burke: "We understand the moment, and guys are rising to that. Our coaching staff is doing a great job of giving us a game plan, and we're just trying to go out and execute it.''

KI on fire: Irving, continuing his superb postseason, shot 11-of-17 from the field and 4-of-4 from the line for 27. He was a +15.

The challenge for Cleveland: The Cavs need to find a way to block out the noise about how the series will be a breeze. The Cavs can't expect to win simply by showing up. The Raptors have pride, and they have Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, so they likely will be much better in Game 2 on Thursday in Cleveland.

These playoffs are turning into a cakewalk for LeBron James and the Cavaliers, who insist they remain focused and are prepared to handle adversity if or when it arrives. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Neither LeBron James nor Kyrie Irving saw it coming.

They were up at the podium following another Cavs playoff win, this time a 115-84 dismembering of the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, while teammate Mo Williams snuck into the aisle between press seats to film the session on his phone.

The two Cleveland stars cracked up.

It's easy to see how the Cavs might be a little loopy. They've had 17 days off between series since the playoffs started, and when they actually find their way onto the court, all they do is win.

Not even James has seen a postseason run like this. Cleveland has played nine and won nine in the playoffs to date, becoming the fifth team in NBA history to start that way.

In 2009, James and the Cavs swept both Detroit and Atlanta in the first two rounds, just like this year. But seven years ago, the Orlando Magic came into The Q for the start of the conference finals, stunned the Cavs in Game 1, and took the series.

After Tuesday night's Game 1, this series already as the feel of "what, precisely, are the Raptors supposed to do now?"

James scored 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting - all of his field goals were dunks or layups. Irving scored a game-high 27 on 11-of-17 shooting, mostly on darting drives to the hoop.

The Cavs set an NBA record with 77 3s in the last series against the Hawks. So Toronto came in and tried to run Cleveland's sharpshooters off the 3-point line and succeeded, to a point. The Cavs were 7-of-19 shooting.

But the Cavs scored 56 points in the paint, won the rebounding battled 45-23, and James and Irving both got just about everything they wanted in the lane.

How can the Raptors, or any team, really, keep both James and Irving out of the paint and not cough up wide-open 3s for the cadre of Cavs marksmen to convert?

"That's a pretty, you just said a mouthful right there," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said, when the question was posed to him. "That's the challenge. ... They're a problem, but, again, there's things we can do better to combat some of that."

 

Well, the Cavs' 31-point margin victory was a franchise record for the playoffs, so, yes, there are probably a few things upon which the Raptors can improve.

But that's not the way these playoffs have gone, at least for the teams playing Cleveland. Things have gotten easier as the postseason moves along for the Cavs -- it's supposed to be the other way around.

The Raptors should be able to tighten the series up a bit in Game 2 Thursday, if for no other reason than the Cavs won't be as ridiculously fresh as they were following a nine-day layoff.

Then again, maybe not. And the point is, all the rest and relaxation between series, and, let's face it, the rest and relaxation during these series, could ripen the Cavs for a letdown.

If not now, then in the Finals.

"I don't think we have complacency on our minds right now," James responded. "We have a goal, and our goal was not nine wins. It's just not my focus. I've won nine games in the postseason before, won 14 games in the postseason before. And as the leader of this team, I'm going to continue to make sure that these guys understand what our goal is, and they know."

Yes, James and the Cavs won 14 times in the 2015 playoffs. It takes 16 to hoist the trophy. From the outset of training camp, this was to be a season of finishing the unfinished business.

So no matter what Cleveland winds up doing to the Raptors in this series, there would still be work of much greater importance ahead.

"And we will face some adversity," James added. "We will. And we have to be able to handle that, which I think we'll be ready for."

Adversity almost arrived in Game 1 when Iman Shumpert landed awkwardly after a nasty dunk in the second quarter and didn't get up. His knee bent the wrong way. But he eventually made it to his feet and stayed in the game, and finished with eight points. The Cavs outscored Toronto by 24 in the 22 minutes Shumpert was on the court.

If Shumpert or any rotational player gets hurt, obviously, that could cause a problem.

Should Cleveland lose a game in this series before Game 4, it would also count for adversity, if only because the Raptors would have a chance to steal homecourt advantage. 

The last four teams to sweep the first two rounds, including the 2012 San Antonio Spurs, all lost in the conference finals.

Otherwise, the Finals and a likely rematch with the Warriors will be filled with adversity. Golden State is of course the defending champion, the best team in NBA regular-season history with the two-time reigning MVP on its side. Oh, and the Warriors currently trail in their conference finals series with the Thunder. So they've been tested.

The only team to sweep the first three rounds -- the 2001 Lakers, who swept their first-round series in three games -- won it all. Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue played on that team.

The Williams example referenced above was supposed to illustrate a potential crack in the Cavs' collective focus. But, come to think of it, neither James nor Irving saw Williams creep into the room and bust out his camera phone.

Perhaps they were too fixated on the here and now. On sweeping the Raptors and chasing 16 wins.

Opposing batters are 3-for-58 with 32 strikeouts against Salazar's split-changeup this season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Along each leg of his journey around the bases, Jason Kipnis worked on his secondary leads and his crow-hops.

Kipnis never had to hit the accelerator during his 360-foot trek. He reached first on a walk. He reached second on Mike Napoli's walk. He reached third on Jose Ramirez's walk. He scored on Yan Gomes' walk.

"That might have been the easiest run scored that I've had," Kipnis said after the Indians' 13-1 victory on Tuesday. "I worked on my leads. I was very professional. I got some stuff done there, some good crow-hops and secondary leads."

The Indians totaled nine walks and 17 hits against Cincinnati, a day after they amassed 15 runs, 19 hits and six walks against the hapless Reds.

Cleveland has already locked up the Ohio Cup for another year. The Indians won the season series in 2015 and the worst they can do this year is split with Cincinnati.

Here are some numbers and thoughts following the Tribe's win on Tuesday.

1. On the gridiron: The Indians have outscored the Reds, 28-7, the last two evenings at Progressive Field, which sounds more like a (reversed) Browns-Bengals score. Cleveland hadn't scored 13-plus runs in consecutive games since May 17-19, 1999.

2. Top to bottom: Rajai Davis scored four runs out of the leadoff spot on Monday. On Tuesday, he scored four runs out of the No. 9 hole in the order. He became the first player to cross home plate four times as the No. 9 hitter since Ben Francisco achieved the feat in 2009.

"We did it one through nine," said Indians manager Terry Francona. "Everyone chipped in. Everybody got some hits and took some walks."

3. Sophomore sizzle: Shortstop Francisco Lindor collected three more hits, including a pair of doubles. He has multiple hits in four of his last five games. During that stretch, the 22-year-old is batting .454 (10-for-22).

4. The Czar: Davis first heard the nickname "Sala-star" when the Indians played in Houston last week. Former Indian Nick Swisher provided the moniker for Danny Salazar a few years back.

The nickname holds some merit this season, as Salazar has posted a 1.80 ERA in eight starts. He has limited the opposition to 27 hits in 50 innings, and he has tallied 61 strikeouts (and 23 walks). On Tuesday, he surrendered five hits, the first time all season he has allowed more than four base knocks.

"He's a stud," Kipnis said. "He's definitely taken the next step forward. He's pitching like a top-of-the-rotation guy, which he is. He's not just a thrower anymore. He's not just a guy coming out, throwing 97 [mph]. You're seeing him work really well off of his changeup and his slider and he's really figuring out what he is as a pitcher. It's fun to watch."

5. Change of pace: What has contributed to Salazar's step forward this season?

"His changeup," Francona said. "He's having a tough time working ahead at times. That's probably the one thing he's still continuing to work on. But when he does, that changeup is filthy. It's almost like a forkball. It's so hard, but it's got so much deception."

Opposing batters are 3-for-58 with 32 strikeouts against Salazar's split-changeup this season, according to PITCHf/x data. The Reds went 1-for-11 with six strikeouts against the pitch on Tuesday.

"I feel like I can throw it in any count," Salazar said.

Ohio State and Michigan assistant coaches will attend a Raw Talent football camp on June 8, the same day the rivals will host satellite camps in New Jersey. Watch video

WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, Ohio - Each Saturday since December, high school football players gather inside a soccer complex on Northfield Road.

They train on their footwork, speed and agility for about 90 minutes.

This is independent from what any of them do with their high school programs. They will travel on a bus tour in the next month to participate in satellite camps around the region. Raw Talent Sports, which organizes the weekend sessions and bus tours, will also host its own camp on Wednesday, June 8 at Cleveland Heights.

Ohio State and Michigan are among the confirmed guests.

"From what I counted last, we had 36 schools," Raw Talent Sports founder Mark Harris said. "I want 50."

Harris' "Raw Talent U Camp" is in its fourth year and has attracted Ohio State each time. This one happens to fall on the same day Ohio State is teaming with Rutgers for a New Jersey camp to rival Michigan's satellite camp at nearby Paramus Catholic.

NJ coaches encouraging players to attend OSU, Rutgers campThe tug of war in New Jersey almost cost Harris some noteworthy schools, but he said the Buckeyes will send assistant Tony Alford to Cleveland Heights. Several other Big Ten schools are confirmed (see list below).

Raw Talent's June 8 camp precedes a seven-camp bus tour from June 11-21. Harris, a Shaker Heights graduate, will team with a former Kent State football teammate, who runs a version of Raw Talent in Canada, to bus about 90 high school players to those events.

The local contingent includes Stow quarterback Kyle Vantrease, Cleveland Heights' Cameron Searight and Bedford receiver Trent Cloud.

"I'm working on my craft, getting my routes better, working on my speed," Cloud said. "It's normal because I don't do anything but football and track."

The concept of chauffeuring high school players to college camps is not new. Glenville coach Ted Ginn does it. Michigan-based Sound Mind Football Academy has six camps planned in June, stretching from its home base in Detroit to Los Angeles.

Harris acknowledged what he's doing is hit and miss with local high school coaches. Some embrace it, which is how Cleveland Heights became a host for the June 8 camp. Other coaches, Harris said, are cautious his training techniques might not mesh with their high school teams.

OHSAA rules limit coach and player instruction during the offseason, but nothing prevents players from independent workouts.

Last Saturday, Cloud worked on his receiver routes while matched up with 6-foot Archbishop Hoban cornerback Daulson Fitzpatrick during a seven-on-seven drill. A St. Edward cornerback took his turn on Cloud for the next play.

Watch the video above for a peek into a Raw Talent camp. Read below for a list of satellite camps involving FBS programs in the coming month around Northeast Ohio.

Why it's tougher for Ohio prospects to receive OSU offers

University of Toledo camp: 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 31 at Bedford High School.

Bowling Green camp: 7 p.m. Friday, June 3 at Baldwin Wallace.

Raw Talent camp: 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 8 at Cleveland Heights High School. (Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Purdue, Syracuse, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, Youngstown State, St. Francis, Pa., Morehead State, Albany are confirmed.)

Ohio University camp: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 8 at Bedford High School.

Miami (Ohio) camp: 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 8 at Independence High School.

Please email sports reporter Matt Goul (mgoul@cleveland.com) about satellite camp additions or corrections. Also follow him on Twitter (@mgoul) or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

Four-star wide receiver Jaylen Harris of Cleveland Heights is one of Ohio State's top targets in the 2017 class, but his future could be impacted by the Buckeyes' numbers crunch. Watch video

EUCLID, Ohio -- Jaylen Harris follows all of Ohio State's top-remaining 2017 wide receiver targets on Twitter, he sees all of the recruiting updates the entire world sees. 

"I see it all, I do," Harris told cleveland.com during an in-person interview on Tuesday evening. "If I hear they committed, then I'll see it. But I don't follow it and go to their pages and pay that much attention. I just worry about what I need to do." 

If Harris, a four-star wide receiver of Cleveland Heights, got hung up on every word -- or, worse yet, the names -- in those recruiting updates, he'd probably go crazy. Doing that would be counter-productive. 

Harris knows the facts. He knows that he's one of Urban Meyer's top wide receiver priorities in the country, but he also knows that there are many others, all of which are actually rated higher than him. 

You know all those names by now: Five-star Donovan Peoples-Jones of Detroit Cass Tech; Five-star Trevon Grimes of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas; Five-star Tyjon Lindsey of Corona (Calif.) Centennial; Five-star Tee Harris of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Ohio State is basically at the center of the recruitments of the top five receivers in the country, so of course the list is impressive. 

But want to know what else Harris knows? That spots in Ohio State's class are limited, and despite the fact he's the only one of the Buckeyes receivers targets who lives in Ohio, he could lose his spot if he waits too long. 

So that creates a tough scenario for Harris. He has to consider every opportunity -- like the scholarships he's been offered from Alabama, Georgia, Miami (Fla.), Tennessee, Michigan State and many others -- while balancing all of that time and travel with making sure he doesn't lose his chance to be a Buckeye. 

Four-star wide receiver Jaylen Harris of Cleveland Heights is one of Ohio State's top targets in the 2017 class, but his future could be impacted by the Buckeyes' numbers crunch. Ari Wasserman, cleveland.com 

That's difficult for a teenager. 

"I spoke with Zach Smith (Monday), and one of the questions I asked him was, 'How many receivers are you guys going to take at this point?' " Cleveland Heights coach Mac Stephens told cleveland.com. "I believe his response was definitely one, possibly two. The reason I asked the question is because I know the time-gap is closing, so I'm trying to figure out what's Jaylen's time-frame from their perspective?" 

One or two?

One or two spots in Ohio State's class for wide receivers? 

That's tight, but it's important to consider that Ohio State has 13 committed players in its 2017 recruiting class, and, as the roster sits right now, the Buckeyes only have room for six spots. So wiggle room for positions isn't what it typically is. 

One or two, though? Harris' window is actually a lot smaller than you'd think, especially with Grimes basically telling the world he intends on committing to Ohio State last week. 

"It's really tight," Harris said. "I think about that a lot. That's why I am about to cut my list soon, and hopefully be able to make a decision soon. Out of all the schools I've been talking to, Ohio State has been the main school talking about spots and saying how it's getting kind of tight. That's why I have to take a couple more visits, check out a couple more places, then get closer to knowing what I'm going to do." 

Trevon Grimes close to committing to OSU?

Sometimes Ohio State conveys to prospects that they have a spot in the class no matter what. If a player is good enough, the Buckeyes will find room. 

Nobody has specifically told Harris that he can be a Buckeye regardless of how long he waits, but the 6-foot-5, 210-pound receiver feels as if Ohio State will always be an option based on how much he communicates with Meyer. Harris speaks to Ohio State daily, and he had a phone conversation with Meyer as recently as Tuesday evening. 

"How hard they've been recruiting me and the relationship I've built with Coach Meyer, Coach (Tony) Alford and Coach Smith, I think I'll always have a spot," Harris said. 

So Harris is going to take his visits. He only has one visit scheduled to Penn State, but he plans on getting around this summer to Alabama, Miami, Georgia, Tennessee and Michigan State. 

In Harris' perfect world, he'd like to make a commitment some time before his senior year, which would be advantageous if that decision is ultimately to go to Ohio State. Five-star, national prospects like the ones Ohio State is pursuing at wide receiver typically take official visits in the fall before ending their recruitments, so Harris could seal up his spot before the weather changes. 

"I know he's a big Ohio State fan, and growing up in the state of Ohio, how could you not be?" Stephens said of Harris. "With that being said, he wants to go about the process the right way and not just rush into a decision based solely on football.

Harris is rated the No. 22 wide receiver in the 2017 class in the 247Sports composite rankings, but Stephens said Ohio State has yet to him at his full potential.

Harris earned his offer last summer camping in Columbus, but changes an offseason workout regimen and the fact that Cleveland Heights has a new, pure quarterback in its offense this year has Stephens believing Harris' recruiting rating is on its way up. 

"The thing is, last year Zach Smith didn't even see the real Jaylen last June," Stephens said. "As much as Coach Meyer and Coach Smith like Jaylen now, I think they're going to like him a whole lot more this year because you're just going to see a different type of player." 

"I'm still kind of grasping at the words for it," Clevinger said. "I don't think it's sunk in yet. I'm just riding on cloud nine." Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Chris Tremie, the manager at Triple-A Columbus, called Mike Clevinger on Monday night and delivered the news.

Five minutes later, Clevinger received a second call from his minor-league skipper.

"Clev, I just wanted to make sure you heard me," Tremie told him. "You're going to the big leagues."

The second conversation helped push the message across. Clevinger was left speechless after Tremie first informed the pitcher that he would make his major-league debut with the Indians on Wednesday. Tremie wasn't sure if the right-hander understood.

"He actually had to call me again to tell me," Clevinger said. "Like, 'No, [really], you're going.' It really didn't sink in. It was a good moment."

Clevinger placed his first call to his mother and his girlfriend, who were together.

"It was just tears and laughing and then I think they enjoyed a few glasses of wine," Clevinger said, "so it was a good celebration."

For Clevinger, the news prompted some nerves and restlessness.

His girlfriend gave birth to a baby girl earlier this month. Clevinger said he got less sleep on Monday night, even though the newborn was not nearby.

"I'm still kind of grasping at the words for it," he said. "I don't think it's sunk in yet. I'm just riding on cloud nine."

Clevinger said he "had the shakes" early Tuesday morning, before he flew to Cleveland to join the Indians. He'll toe the rubber at Great American Ball Park on Wednesday evening. Clevinger was originally scheduled to start for Columbus on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old went 5-0 with a 3.03 ERA in seven starts at Triple-A this season. He posted a 2.73 ERA at Double-A Akron last season.

With the Clippers, he walked 17 and struck out 36 in 35 2/3 innings.

"I was pitching decent," he said. "But my strike percentage should have been better."

Clevinger claims Anderson's rotation spot

During spring training, Tribe manager Terry Francona said Clevinger looked "like he's ready for Game 7 of the World Series." Clevinger surmised that he'd have "emotions in play" when he steps onto the mound on the banks of the Ohio River on Wednesday.

Cleveland Indians rookie pitcher Mike Clevinger, who will make his first major league start in Cincinnati on Wednesday, in the outfield during batting practice before the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on May 17, 2016. Chuck Crow/PD 

Francona recalled a scene from the spring, when he spotted Clevinger pacing near the clubhouse door.

"I was like, 'Oh, [shoot]. Something must have gone wrong at home,'" Francona said. "I knew his wife was pregnant. And Tremie's like, 'No, man. He's just getting ready to throw. ... He kind of gets after it.'

"That's the way he's built. As long as it doesn't hurt -- shoot, everybody's got their own [style]. He's ultra competitive."

Clevinger will wear No. 52, the same number worn by former Tribe reliever Vinnie Pestano. The two were traded for each other in August 2014. Since then, Clevinger has developed into one of the Indians' top prospects. Ruben Niebla, the organization's minor league pitching coordinator, helped Clevinger revamp his delivery last year.

"Since the end of last year," Francona said, "he's been a guy that everybody has been talking about. We're really excited to watch him. I don't think [Wednesday's] start is going to define his career, and I do think he's still developing, but there's a lot to like with a kid with that kind of breaking ball, that kind of velocity, that kind of competitiveness."

The Indians improved to 19-17 for the season and 9-6 in May with another one-sided victory over Cincinnati on Tuesday night at Progressive Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Alfredo Simon owned the Indians last year when he pitched for Detroit. This year, well, let's just say that is no longer the case.

The Indians routed the Reds for the second straight game Tuesday night on the way to a 13-1 victory at Progressive Field. In the first two games of the Battle of Ohio, the Indians have scored 28 runs on 36 hits.

Last season Simon went 4-0 in five starts against the Indians. On Tuesday night, they extracted some revenge. At the very least, they took a bit big out of the right-hander known as Big Pasta.

The Indians scored 10 runs on 14 hits in 4 1/3 innings against Simon (1-4, 10.34). In Simon's four wins against the Indians last season, they scored four runs against him. In all fairness it must be said that Simon stayed in the game well past his expiration date to try and keep the Reds' bullpen out of harm's way.

Cincinnati's bullpen entered the game with the highest ERA in the National League at 6.44. From April 11 through May 5, a stretch of 23 games, Reds relievers allowed at least one run in each game to set a new MLB record.

The Indians have scored 10 runs in two games against the Reds' bullpen. In the fifth inning, Steve Delabar, working in relief of Simon, faced six batters and walked five of them. He issued consecutive walks to Mike Napoli, Jose Ramirez, Yan Gomes and Lonnie Chisenhall with the bases loaded to set the tone for the five-run inning.

"I think it starts with the way Napoli approaches it," said manager Terry Francona. "He doesn't leave the strike zone. I'm glad our guys kept their concentration. It's easy in a game like that to start to want to swing."

Lost in the flood of offense was a strong performance by Danny Salazar. He threw six scoreless innings before allowing a run in the seventh. Salazar (4-2, 1.80) left with a 13-1 lead with one out in the eighth.

Salazar, in his first career win against the Reds, allowed one run on five hits in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked one. Salazar, for the season, has 61 strikeouts and 23 walks in 50 innings.

He retired 16 straight after a second inning single by Jay Bruce.

"All my pitches were there," said Salazar. "I was ahead in the count with the first pitch. I didn't have to come back with the second pitch and make it a strike. That was huge.

"I was on the same page with Yan (Gomes). I was throwing my fastball inside and outside and using my two-seamer. I think that was the key."

Chisenhall, just off the bereavement list, Rajai Davis and Francisco Lindor led the Indians with three hits each. Davis, batting in the ninth spot, scored four runs and drove in three runs.

The Indians took control early with a four-run second inning. Davis singled home Gomes, Marlon Byrd scored on a wild pitch and Jason Kipnis drove in two more runs with a single to center.

The Tribe has won eight of its last 14 games. The Reds fell to 3-14 on the road.

The pitches

Salazar threw 95 pitches, 67 or 71 percent for strikes. Simon threw 95 pitches, 58 for strikes.

Two by two

Kipnis, for the second straight night, had a two-run single. He singled home two runs in the second on Wednesday. On Tuesday, he drove in two runs with a single in the fourth.

He has eight RBI in May.

Rolling

Davis, in the last two games, has reached base nine times and scored six runs.

He batted leadoff Tuesday night and went 2-for-4 with two runs and two walks. On Wednesday, he batted in the ninth spot and went 3-for-3 with two walks and four runs.

Thanks for coming

The Reds and Indians drew 13,095 to Progressive Field on Wednesday night. They Indians have drawn 275,986 in 19 home dates this season.

First pitch was at 6:10 p.m. with a temperature of 57 degrees.

What's next?

Right-hander Mike Clevinger will make his big-league debut Wednesday when he faces Cincinnati's lefty Brandon Finnegan (1-2, 4.40) at 7:10 p.m. at Great American Ball Park. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM/AM and WMMS/FM 100,7

Clevinger, who will be activated before Wednesday's start, was 5-0 with a 3.03 ERA in seven starts for Class AAA Columbus this year. Clevinger struck out 36, walked 17 and allowed 12 earned runs in 35 2/3 innings.

In his last start Finnegan lost to the Phillies as he allowed three runs on four hits in four innings. He's 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in four relief appearances against the Indians. Ramirez is 1-for-3 against him.

The RubberDucks had won four games straight in the Class AA Eastern League.

Jeremy LucasAkron RubberDucks 

HARTFORD, Connecticut -- The RubberDucks saw a 2-0 lead vanish in the fourth inning and were unable to rally, losing to the Yard Goats, 4-2, in a Class AA Eastern League game Wednesday night.

Akron built its 2-0 lead thanks to an RBI single from Todd Hankins in the third inning and a solo homer from Jeremy Lucas in the fourth.

But RubberDucks left-hander Anderson Polanco struggled with his control in the bottom of the fourth, and the Yard Goats took advantage.

Polanco struck out the first hitter, but then gave up a solo homer to David Dahl. Polanco walked the next two batters, then with Correlle Prime batting he threw two wild pitches in a row, allowing a runner to score.

Prime struck out, but Jackson Williams singled to bring in another run and ended Polanco's outing.

Ryan McMahon's sacrifice fly off Akron reliever Perci Garner gave the Yard Goats a 4-2 lead in the sixth, and the RubberDucks never threatened after that.

Yard Goats starter Carlos Hernandez (3-3, 4.78 ERA) pitched six innings, giving up two runs and five hits and striking out four. Polanco (0-2, 11.74 ERA) gave up three runs on four hits in 3 2/3 innings, also striking out four.

Go here to see a box score from the game.

In the 12th inning Wednesday night, Francisco Lindor was just trying to get on base. Instead, he hit what turned out to be the game-winning homer in the Indians' 8-7 victory over the Reds. Watch video

CINCINNATI -- Francisco Lindor wasn't trying to do anything out of the ordinary. He was just trying to get on base.

But there were danger signs flashing all around the Indians' shortstop as he came to the plate in the 12^th inning Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park. For one thing, the Indians were on the road. They've suffered four walk-off losses this season away from Progressive Field. For another, they were in extra innings, a place where they were 0-3 before Wednesday.

"I was just trying to get on base and make something happen or let Mike Napoli drive me in," said Lindor.

Those plans changed when Lindor hit Keyvius Sampson's 3-2 pitch over the center field fence to give the Indians an 8-7 victory.

"I'll tell you what," said manager Terry Francona. "When he hit that ball, it had a little different sound. That was just a rocket. We needed something like that.

"There was a lot of frustration. We talk about it a lot. We were on the road in extra innings and just one pitch away (from getting beat). That really changed the mood in the dugout."

It was Lindor's third homer of the season third straight three-hit game, all of them against the Reds. In his short career, Lindor is hitting .469 (15-for-32) against the Reds.

While the sound Lindor's bat made when it met Sampson's pitch was music to Francona's ears, it didn't ring as true with Lindor.

"No, I didn't think it was gone," said Lindor. "I'm a small guy. I hope I hit them and I hope for the best."

Lindor has 15 multihit games this season. The Indians are 10-5 in those games.

He hit .293 (24-for-82) with one homer and nine RBI in April. He's hitting .362 (25-for-69) with two homers and eight RBI in May. He runs the bases well and plays Gold Glove defense. You keep waiting for him to go into a slump just to see how he will handle it and the slump never comes.

No player is skid proof, but when asked about that, Francona said, "Maybe that's how you think, but not me. I think he's a good player and he has a lot of ways to get hits because he uses the whole field. He can run. I think he's just a good player."

After Lindor gave the Indians the lead in the 12^th, there was still the bottom of the inning to contend with. Francona had already used Kyle Crockett, Zach McAllister, Joba Chamberlain, Jeff Manship, Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen.

"I kind of knew after Cody went in there was nobody down there but me," said Dan Otero. "I said, 'OK, it's me. Go get three outs.'"

Otero retired Adam Duvall to start the inning, but it took a great sprawling catch by second baseman Jason Kipnis against Zack Cozart behind first base to get the second out.

"That was a game-changer," said Lindor.

Said Francona, "I thought Kipnis' play in the last inning was one of the best plays I've ever seen him make. Taking into account the time of the game and where he started and where he ended, that was a great play. That's a double. It was like he willed himself to catch that ball."

Speedster Billy Hamilton followed with a single to left to bring Joey Votto to the plate. Otero, working carefully, walked Votto to face Brandon Phillips. In his career, Phillips is a .346 (72-for-208) lifetime hitter against the Indians, but Otero got ahead of him at 0-2 and retired him on a weak fly ball to right field.

It was Otero's first save since 2014 when he pitched for the A's.

A look deeper into Kevin Love's unique comparisons for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Following Game 1 of the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals, Cavaliers forward Kevin Love had an interesting comparison for his teammates LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.

He told reporters after the Cavs' 115-84 win that he felt the duo of James and Irving resembled the potent USC running back tandem of LenDale White and Reggie Bush.

When asked after the game, neither James nor Irving had a good answer to give. They might not have liked that comparison, but those that remember the explosive running attack of Thunder and Lightning from USC can make some comparisons between them even though they play different sports.

At USC, White was the power back and Bush was the game-breaker, making explosive plays on the perimeter.

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, James did the bulk of his work inside the restricted area and Irving befuddled Toronto's defenders with an array of dribble moves and creative finishes around the basket.

That's not to say James can't do that. But his role most of this postseason has been in the post with Irving creating on the outside.

Sounds just like a Thunder and Lightning combo.

At USC in 2005, the year that Bush won, and eventually surrendered, the Heisman trophy, he averaged 8.7 yards per carry, rushing for 1,740 yards and 16 touchdowns.

White rushed for 1,302 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Trojans.

Although those records were vacated due to NCAA violations, there's no doubt White and Bush were one of the better running back duos in recent memory.

Getting back to basketball, there may be some merit to Love's comparison.

James, in Game 1, missed just one shot in the restricted area and only took one shot outside of the restricted area.

Irving was 6-for-8 in the restricted area, but was also 5-for-9 from everywhere else on the floor. He hit a couple of mid-range jumpers as well as a 3-pointer. But he also had some nice drives to the basket as well.

Love's unique comparison may have caught James and Irving off guard. But based on how they played in Game 1, there is some merit to it.

Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell will have every opportunity to duplicate the rushing success Hue Jackson had in Cincinnati. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Think Cleveland Browns fans are excited about Hue Jackson and the offense he's bringing to their football team? You should hear the team's running backs. 

"I know I am," second-year back Duke Johnson said on Wednesday following practice, "especially, just seeing the way he used (running backs) in the past and just splitting them out wide. Getting the best out of them and using their strength in every way he can, so I'm excited to see. We're off to a good start already but just happy to see how far and how in-depth we go with the offense." 

Johnson's backfield mate, Isaiah Crowell, feels the same way. 

"I'm very excited about it because I know Hue likes to run the ball and I feel like running the ball is a very important factor in winning and losing," Crowell said. "I'm just, basically, happy about it." 

Jackson's offense in Cincinnati averaged 112.8 yards per game last season, a number that came despite the struggles of second-year back Jeremy Hill. Hill, who rushed for 1,124 yards as a rookie under Jackson, managed just 794 yards in 2015. His inconsistency was balanced by a career-high 730 yards out of Giovani Bernard. 

The Bengals managed 134.2 yards per game in 2014 under Jackson, good for sixth in the NFL while Jackson's Raiders were seventh in the league in 2011 at 131.9 yards per game when he was the head coach and second in the league in 2010 at 155.9 yards per game when Jackson was the offensive coordinator. 

Of those four seasons mentioned, Jackson's offense was never outside of the top 10 in rushing attempts.

None of this should come as a surprise. Jackson broke into the NFL with Washington as a running backs coach in 2001 and, after getting fired from Oakland following the 2011 season, worked his way back to a coordinator position by coaching first the Bengals' secondary in 2012 and then -- you guessed it -- working as their running backs coach in 2013. 

Jackson's recent resume is in stark contrast to a Browns team that ranked 27th in rushing attempts in 2015. Some of that can be attributed to the team trailing in games, but the commitment to the running game never seemed evident, especially early in the season. 

For his part, Crowell -- who expressed frustration about lack of rhythm due to lack of carries last season -- and the Browns did get some semblance of a running game going as the season wore down. It left Crowell wondering where it had been all year long.

"Yeah, it was like that," he said. "I wish we could have had more of that during the whole season but we're off to a good start now. Just got to erase the tape and move forward. I feel like Hue will do a better job so I'm just happy about that." 

That's not to say, of course, that Crowell wasn't partly to blame for the struggles. He managed more than 60 yards rushing in a game just twice in the first 11 games and managed more than four yards per carry just twice in those games. 

"I feel like I missed a lot of opportunities last year, running the ball and pass protection, catching the ball out of the backfield, everything," he said. "I feel like I want to do better in all phases this coming up year." 

If either back needed a vote of confidence, it came in late April when the team selected 14 players in the NFL Draft and not a single running back.  

"We are confident in that group," Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown said on the draft's final day. "It doesn't mean that it is as necessarily as accomplished as other running back corps around the league are, but Isaiah has a great opportunity, along with the other guys in that room. 

"Duke certainly impressed us his rookie year. We expect big things out of both of those guys -- (RBs) Glenn (Winston), Terrell (Watson) and the rest of that group as well." 

Jackson would say a few days later on the team's draft review radio show that Crowell and Johnson "are as good as I've seen in a while" and called their talent "extreme." 

Jackson: Duke Johnson, Isaiah Crowell 'as good as I've seen in a while'

Johnson called comments like that from his head coach exciting. 

"I just think he has a lot of confidence in us, period, just knowing that we're going out there getting the job done," Johnson said. "We're both two young guys they have a lot of trust in knowing that we're going to go out there every day and give our all and do our job and he's willing to bet it all with us just because he knows. He knows our work ethic. He knows that we're going to do whatever it takes and we got his back." 

Can Crowell and Johnson give Jackson something similar to what he had with Bernard and Hill? 

"We're here to give him whatever he wants," Johnson said. "We really don't have a name for it, just whatever he wants -- split out, running the ball, whatever Coach wants, that's what we're here for."

Are 1,000-yard seasons in their futures?

"We'll see," Johnson said.

"Hopefully," Crowell laughed.

J.R. Smith appears to have found his NBA home, away from the busy nightlife that also earned him the rep as a notorious partygoer. The Cavs believed in him when the Knicks had enough.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- J.R. Smith arrived in Cleveland with a reputation.

His on-court behavior was as colorful as the tattoos that cover his body, something that electrified crowds, but also agitated his employers as much as the opponent.

A well-known knucklehead, Smith was unpredictable, capable of catching fire from beyond the arc but just as apt to burn his own team with his free spirit, maddening shot selection and a knack for losing his cool in pressure moments -- getting in fights, throwing elbows and untying opponent's shoes.

"Just a scorer," Tyronn Lue told cleveland.com when asked Wednesday how he viewed Smith as an opposing coach. "A guy who could get hot at any time and then put points on the board. Could go for 20-25 points in a quarter. That's the reputation guys get -- Ben Gordon, Jamal Crawford -- guys that can score the basketball."

That one trait -- the scorer -- was what the Cavs were hoping to obtain in January 2015, minus the irritating ones. Instead, they've gotten much more.

After a frustrating start to the 2014-15 season, staring at an underachieving and imperfect roster, General Manager David Griffin could no longer ignore the flaws. The Cavs needed more athleticism on the wing and more shooting around LeBron James.

With James' backing, the Cavs made the risky deal, addressing both weaknesses in one move by acquiring defensive-minded Iman Shumpert and the explosive Smith, who had been "exhibiting delinquent behavior," according to Phil Jackson.

"I knew what J.R. was capable of. I was absolutely excited," James said recently, as he reflected on the trade. "I understand that he was ready to make a change in not only his personal goals, but to help a team. We've always preached defense, I'm a huge defensive guy, so it's great to have someone that kind of wants to be a part of that and just took that responsibility." 

That part of the deal with Smith was unexpected. That wasn't his reputation.

"I never even looked at it that way," Lue said when asked if he saw Smith becoming a defensive-minded player. "When you see a player, you just know he's dangerous at scoring the basketball. Never looked at it the other way. It's a credit to him, the things he's done. He's taking on that challenge every single night of guarding the best player."

Lue believes the evolution started last year, as Smith went from lottery-bound team to championship contender, when one phone call changed his attitude and NBA fortunes.  

"It wasn't easy, trust me, it wasn't easy coming in here thinking I'm not going to shoot the ball because we got these three guys or four guys," Smith said of his role. "I looked at it as I really have to mature and grow up. If it's really all about winning, play defense. Regardless of if it's point guard, smalls, shooters, drivers, whatever the case may be, I got to [take] that guy.

"Like I said, it wasn't easy. Sometimes it's hard running up and down the court for five minutes without touching the ball, but knowing that your impact is on the defensive end and our team keeps running."

Smith came straight out of high school and played with New Orleans before finding his NBA footing in Denver alongside Carmelo Anthony. But the Nuggets weren't known for defense. They played fast, charging up and down the court and bombing 3-pointers at will.

Early in his career, Smith admits that guys were in his ear, telling him to "get his numbers in order to get paid."

"When I was in Denver, New York, I was never that guy to have to try to guard the Kobes, Tracy McGradys, DeRozans or whatever," Smith said. "It was more of a scoring opportunity. In this situation, I have those opportunities, I look at them as a challenge. Fortunately the majority of the time we have the better team, but for the most part just taking on the challenge."

The challenge started last year from the coaching staff. They saw his athleticism, lateral quickness, agility and an understanding of how to get around screens, something that comes from his early offensive prowess.

The coaches kept challenging him. But even as Smith improved, Shumpert was getting the bulk of the recognition for drawing the toughest perimeter assignment.

When Shumpert missed the first 21 games of this season to recover from right wrist surgery, someone needed to step into that role. The Cavs didn't want to overwork James, who was already carrying a bulk of the scoring load in Kyrie Irving's absence.

That's when Smith stepped forward.

"Whether it's (DeMar) DeRozan, D-Wade or whoever else, whoever is their hot guy, I look at it as my job to try and cool them down or slow them down," Smith said. "Whatever needs to be done for us to get the win."

Shortly after David Blatt was fired, Lue held a meeting with the team. The Cavs were in Detroit, playing their first road game of the Lue era. That's when, in front of everyone, Lue talked to players about their roles, pointing to each one individually and told them what he expected.

"It's finally come around," Lue told me.

Each player received a verbal directive. Surprisingly, Smith's wasn't about shot selection. It centered on defense.

"Be a great defender every single night even though he can take any shot he wants," Lue recalled saying. "He can catch fire, he makes tough, difficult shots and they call him 911 on the team, emergency shot guy. I mean, he's taken that (defensive) challenge and I'm happy and proud of him."

In the conference semifinals, Smith averaged 11.0 points and made 50 percent of his 3s, knocking down 14 in the four-game sweep, out of the 77 made by the team.

But it was Smith's defensive effort that earned praise. Smith was told to stay with Atlanta's 3-point ace Kyle Korver no matter what, removing an explosive part of the Hawks' attack. Smith compared his work as worthy of Deion Sanders (Smith is a Cowboys fan, after all) -- and Korver was a non-factor.

Korver shot 43 percent from the field, but averaged just 7.5 points. He never really got open -- getting a little less than six shots a game.

"He'll tell me in a heartbeat, 'Your shots are coming. Your shots are coming,"' Smith said of Lue's message. "Being a scorer my whole life, it's hard because I'm really playing without the ball and playing on the other side. He's been consistently in my ear every timeout, every time down the floor. 'Don't lose him, stay with him, stay with him, just keep flowing, let the game come to you.' Fortunately, he's been like that since he got the head job."

In the Eastern Conference Finals, Smith will spend most of his time guarding DeRozan, the NBA's eighth-leading scorer in the regular season.

"DeMar likes to put the ball on the floor, he likes to attack the rim, tries to get to the free-throw line as much as he can with his shot fakes," Smith said. "He's not so much an outside threat, he loves the mid-range game. More than anything, staying down, not fouling him ... and making him just shoot tough 2s."

In Game 1, DeRozan got off to a quick start, scoring 12 points on 6-of-9 from the field.

"I thought early, because we were going under on pick-and-rolls and we were being loose and off his body, it kind of took away JR's physicality," Lue told cleveland.com. "I think in that second quarter we really talked about being physical, getting into his body and being aggressive. That seemed to work better."

After a sizzling first quarter, DeRozan cooled, scoring six points on 3-of-8 from the field in the final three quarters. The Cavs thumped the Raptors, 115-84.

That game encapsulates the Smith now playing for the Cavaliers. It won't always be perfect. His mercurial behavior will keep people on their edge of their seats, waiting for the next surprise.

He's made his share of mistakes, especially during last year's postseason run. But if Smith "stays with it," a message Lue preaches, he can be a vital piece.

"He's going to compete and give you effort every night," Lue said. "His body position might not be great every time, and he might lose his guy, but he's going to compete and give maximum effort every night."

Smith's playing style isn't for everyone. He's captivating and terrifying at the same time. He believes open shots are boring. He'll tell anyone who will listen that the twisting attempts where he gets a brief glimpse of the rim before flicking his right wrist are "his shots."

But he appears to have found his NBA home, away from the busy nightlife that also earned him the rep as a notorious partygoer. The Cavs believed in him when the Knicks had enough. David Blatt threw his support behind Smith even when others questioned it.

Lue is doing the same, willing to embrace the full J.R. Smith Experience, even the moments that cause the even-keeled coach to chuckle in order to avoid screaming.

It's all been part of Smith's growth from New York castoff to 3-point ace and, now, defensive nuisance.

"Knowing J.R. from when he first got in the league, just the way he's matured over the years," Lue said. "People didn't think he could do that when he was with other teams. They thought he was just a specialist, a shooter, a scorer.

"He's become our best defensive player this year."

Stephen Curry scored 28 points, including 15 in a third quarter that propelled the Golden State Warriors past the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of their NBA Western Conference finals.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - So much for another second-half letdown.

The Golden State Warriors expanded on an eight-point halftime lead and blew past the Oklahoma City Thunder, 118-91, on Wednesday night in Oakland, Calif., to even their NBA Western Conference final after Game 2.

Two-time MVP Stephen Curry scored 15 of his 28 points in the third quarter - a quarter where Oklahoma City turned around its fortunes in Game 1 - and this time directed a 27-point blowout.

The series resumes Sunday in Oklahoma City.

Here is a look at the Western Conference finals and roundup of league-wide news in the NBA.

THE SERIES (tied at 1-1)

Game 1: Oklahoma City 108, Golden State 102

Game 2: Golden State 118, Oklahoma City 91

Game 3: Golden State at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m. Sunday (TNT)

Game 4: Golden State at Oklahoma City, 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 24 (TNT)

Game 5: Oklahoma City at Golden State, 9 p.m. Thursday, May 26 (TNT)

Game 6, if necessary: Golden State at Oklahoma City, 9 p.m. Saturday, May 28 (TNT)

Game 7, if necessary: Oklahoma City at Golden State, 9 p.m. Monday, May 30 (TNT)

Inside Trax from tonight's #WCF Game 2! https://t.co/RuuK5Fbuv0

-- NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 19, 2016

WHO'S HOT

• Stephen Curry, Golden State: A game after Russell Westbrook outperformed him in the second half, the league's MVP shot 5-of-8 on 3-pointers and scored a team-high 28 points. He also cut down on his turnovers; seven in Game 1 but three in Game 2.

Curry using the handles to get to the basket. https://t.co/DIMsw0lDEQ

-- NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 19, 2016

• Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City: The Thunder forward closed strong in Game 1, but shot 10-of-30. He improved significantly on his shooting, going 11-of-18 from the floor. He scored 29 points as the series shifts to Oklahoma City with a 1-1 tie.

WHO'S NOT

• Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City: After helping the Thunder frontcourt dominate the glass in Game 1, Ibaka had eight rebounds in Game 2. However, in 30 minutes, he provided just three points on 1-of-6 shooting.

TWEETS OF THE NIGHT

See picture above.

For all the praise I heaped on Oracle earlier, I still think the confetti post-wins is beneath a team this good.

-- Amin Elhassan (@AminESPN) May 19, 2016

The Thunder apparently have a relative of the President playing PF

(via @the_isaac_olson) pic.twitter.com/AGZ0fV7oVJ

-- Someone's An Idiot (@SomeonesAnIdiot) May 19, 2016

Think fast. What would you do if your team's player charged at you in the stands after a loose ball? Save him?

Golden State fans let the MVP fall on his face...#Division6Boundhttps://t.co/7oYmzIgA0h

-- Division 6 Bound(r) (@Division6Bound) May 19, 2016

How about Iman Shumpert?

Mr. T starter kit [?] https://t.co/n2h4QiDvPb

-- NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 19, 2016

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Here's what else went on around the association Wednesday from other newspapers and websites:

* ESPN reported Jeff Hornacek will be the New York Knicks' next coach. Hornacek was fired by Phoenix after 49 games. The New York Times reported his hiring in New York could come in the next few days.

* On the free agency front, the Knicks' big-market recruiting advantage is no longer in play. Commissioner Adam Silver explained to the New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy.

* Former Knicks and Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni has emerged as the Houston Rockets' frontrunner, according to the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen.

* The further Oklahoma City advances, the less likely Kevin Durant leaves the Thunder, writes Washington Post columnist Jerry Brewer.

* Tim Bontemps of The Post provides winners and losers from the draft lottery. The draft will be held June 23 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

* With the top pick, it could prove to be false hope for the Sixers, writes the New York Times' Harvey Araton.

* Heat president Pat Riley addressed his to-do list for the offseason. Re-signing Hassan Whiteside and getting Chris Bosh back on the court are priorities, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Dwyane Wade remains on Riley's radar, too.

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

The Cleveland Indians moved to 3-0 against the Cincinnati Reds this season after a stirring 8-7 victory in 12 innings on Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Rajai Davis hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning and Francisco Lindor homered in the 12th as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 8-7, Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Davis and the Reds' Jay Bruce homered twice.

Here is a capsule look at the key aspect(s) of the game, which was televised by Fox Sports Time Ohio:

Tito's Fun Bunch: Manager Terry Francona's Indians (20-17 overall, 9-9 on road) have won three straight -- the first three of a four-game season series against the Reds.

On Monday and Tuesday in Cleveland, the Indians held a combined 28-7 advantage in runs.

Reeling: The Reds (15-25 overall, 12-11 at home) have dropped six of seven.

Streak busted: The Indians had lost their first three extra-inning games this season. They were walked-off by homers in the previous two (Philadelphia, Houston). 

They prefer to see red: Davis and Lindor have feasted on Cincinnati pitching for three nights.

Davis has gone 2-for-4 with two walks, an RBI and two runs; 3-for-3 with one double, two walks, three RBI and four runs; and 2-for-5 with the two homers, one walk, three RBI, three runs and one steal.

In four games before facing Cincinnati, Davis was a combined 0-for-18.

Lindor has gone 3-for-5 with one double, two RBI and two runs; 3-for-6 with two doubles; and 3-for-6 with the homer, two RBI and one run.

Legalized theft at GABP: On Wednesday, the Tribe entered the ninth trailing, 7-5. Reds lefty Tony Cingrani replaced righty reliever Ross Ohlendorf, who had struck out two in a perfect eighth.

Carlos Santana, pinch-hitting for pitcher Jeff Manship, grounded to short. Then came a plate appearance that must not be overlooked when reviewing this game.

Lefty Lonnie Chisenhall, against a lefty with a funky delivery, fell behind, 1-2. In other words: He was supposed to be in jail.

Chisenhall fouled twice, took two balls and fouled twice more. Cingrani threw a close pitch near the inside edge, and Chisenhall spit on it. Umpire Tim Timmons agreed with Chisenhall.

Davis bunted foul and swung for a foul, meaning he was down, 0-2. After a ball, Cingrani threw a hanging breaking pitch that Davis drove into the left-field seats to tie the score.

From the ninth through the 11th, Tribe relievers Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen combined to retire 9-of-9, four by strikeout. They made it possible for Lindor to bring his thunder.

Leading off the 12th against righty Keyvius Sampson, Lindor lined a full-count fastball over the wall in center.

No question that Cincinnati's bullpen is terrible, but pointing to it as the sole cause of the Tribe's comeback victory short-changes the clutch (power) hitting of Davis and Lindor.

Don't forget about me: Tribe second baseman Jason Kipnis went 1-for-5 with one double, one walk and one run, and he made two enormous defensive plays.

With Reds on first and second and two outs in the seventh, former Indian Brandon Phillips stepped in against Joba Chamberlain. Phillips tried to shoot an 0-1 pitch to right, but Kipnis gloved the liner while moving to his left. Kipnis appeared to have begun moving before Phillips swung; if so, it made the play that much more impressive. Kipnis prevented the Reds from padding their 6-5 lead. 

With none on and one out in the Cincinnati 12th, Zack Cozart sent a bloop near the right-field line. Kipnis covered ground in a hurry and made a tumbling catch. If Kipnis had come up empty, Cozart might have had a double.

The play took on added significance when the next batter against Dan Otero, Billy Hamilton, slapped a single to left. Joey Votto walked. Phillips, in an 0-2 count, flied to right fielder Chisenhall.

Phillips has tormented his former employer for years, and he was 1-for-3 with a walk in each of the first two meetings this week. Wednesday, though, was not his night. He went 0-for-6 with one strikeout as the Reds' cleanup batter.

Mirror images: Each team finished 10-for-46 with two doubles, three homers, seven RBI and 14 strikeouts. The Indians walked four times; the Reds, three.

Not so fast: Indians right-hander Mike Clevinger, in his major-league debut, allowed four runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out five.

Clevinger gave up one run on two hits through five and carried a 4-1 lead into the sixth. The opportunity for a victory unraveled in a hurry.

Here is a pitch-by-pitch breakdown of his start:

First inning

Zack Cozart -- 94 fastball, single to left.

Skinny: Cozart ambushed Clevinger with good piece of hitting. He pulled in hands against pitch on inner third. 

(L) Billy Hamilton -- 94 fastball called strike; 94 fastball outside; 88 changeup swinging strike;  93 fastball foul; 89 changeup foul; 73 breaking pitch outside; 95 fastball, grounder/fielder's choice 4-6.

(L) Joey Votto -- 95 fastball outside; 95 fastball up and in (barely); 94 fastball called strike; 88 changeup foul; 81 breaking pitch, swinging strikeout (Hamilton steals).

Brandon Phillips -- 95 fastball called strike (outside corner at knees); 75 breaking pitch, grounder to short (Hamilton was on the move).

Skinny: Pitch on outer half at knees had B-Phil off-balance.

Second inning

(L) Jay Bruce -- 94 fastball called strike (knees); 93 fastball foul; 87 changeup outside; 74 breaking pitch outside; 93 fastball outside; 94 fastball outside, walk.

Skinny: Clevinger tried to be too fine after getting ahead, 0-2.

Eugenio Suarez -- 93 fastball foul; 80 breaking pitch called strike; 80 breaking pitch, swinging strikeout.

Skinny: Excellent sequence capped by pitch down and just outside.

Tyler Holt -- 94 fastball called strike; 74 breaking pitch called strike; 94 fastball, fly to right.

(L) Tucker Barnhart -- 94 fastball low; 88 changeup foul; 94 fastball low; 93 fastball, fly to left.

Skinny: Clevinger 31 pitches through two innings.

Third inning

(L) Brandon Finnegan -- 91 fastball outside; 92 fastball called strike; 93 fastball ball (should have been a strike); 92 fastball foul; 94 fastball foul; 93 fastball foul; 75 breaking pitch foul; 94 fastball outside; 92 fastball foul; 94 fastball, swinging strikeout.

Zack Cozart -- 81 breaking pitch called strike (outside edge); 93 fastball foul; 78 breaking pitch, fly to center.

Skinny: Cozart off-balance.

(L) Billy Hamilton -- 88 changeup swinging strike; 74 breaking pitch called strike; 94 fastball outside (barely); 86 changeup outside; 86 changeup outside; 93 fastball foul; 92 fastball, pop to center.

Skinny: Clevinger 51 pitches through three.

Fourth inning

(L) Joey Votto -- 85 changeup outside; 93 fastball called strike; 92 fastball inside (barely); 93 fastball foul (pitch to hit); 87 changeup outside; 86 changeup, swinging strikeout.

Skinny: Votto fooled into half-swing.

Brandon Phillips -- 81 breaking pitch down and away; 93 fastball outside barely; 92 outside (barely); 92 fastball called strike; 93 fastball foul; 80 breaking pitch, grounder to short.

Skinny: Outer third and down took sting out of bat.

(L) Jay Bruce -- 87 changeup, homer to right.

Skinny: Hanging changeup. Marlon Byrd narrowly missed leaping catch as ball snuck over wall.

Eugenio Suarez -- 94 fastball swinging strike; 93 fastball inside; 81 breaking pitch swinging strike; 81 breaking pitch foul; 93 fastball, grounder to third.

Fifth inning

Tyler Holt -- 91 fastball low; 92 fastball swinging strike; 93 fastball foul; 80 breaking pitch, pop to center.

(L) Tucker Barnhart -- 87 changeup swinging strike; 74 curve high; 92 fastball called strike; 87 changeup low and away; 87 changeup, grounder to pitcher.

Skinny: Clevinger fielded backhanded with back to plate.

(L) Brandon Finnegan -- 92 fastball, grounder to second.

Skinny: Clevinger 79 pitches through five.

Sixth inning

Zack Cozart -- 92 fastball called strike; 80 breaking pitch swinging strike; 79 breaking pitch foul; 92 fastball, single to left.

Skinny: Catcher Yan Gomes was set up away; pitch tailed over middle. Bad pitch, especially in 0-2 count.

(L) Billy Hamilton -- 92 fastball, bunt single to third.

Skinny: Juan Uribe almost made the play. Throw hit Hamilton in back.

(L) Joey Votto -- 92 fastball inside; 92 fastball called strike; 93 fastball, two-run double to center.

Skinny: Gomes was set up inside; pitched tailed over inner half. Why Gomes and Clevinger would not opt for a 1-1 changeup is head-scratching.

Brandon Phillips -- 80 breaking pitch foul; 92 fastball foul; 80 breaking pitch foul; 87 changeup, swinging strikeout.

Skinny: Good changeup in dirt.

(LEfty Kyle Crockett relieves.)

Not good: Crockett gave up a bloop single to Bruce. Zach McAllister replaced Crockett and allowed a three-run homer to Suarez (2-0 fastball down/to right field) that put Cincinnati in front, 6-4.

The Tribe pulled within 6-5 in the seventh. Bruce homered off Manship in the eighth.

Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals is set for an 8:30 p.m. start on Thursday. The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Toronto Raptors, 1-0.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - A layoff that extended beyond a week did not faze the Cavaliers.

They crushed Toronto, 115-84, on Tuesday in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals. If you ask Siri on your iPhone, it might have responded with a quirky comment. Details on that, the state of both teams entering tonight's Game 2 and more are listed in this playoffs guide.

Game 2 is set for an 8:30 p.m. start with broadcasts slated for ESPN on TV, plus WTAM 1100-AM and LA MEGA 87.7-FM on the radio. Fox Sports Ohio will carry pregame and postgame shows.

THE SERIES (Cavaliers lead, 1-0)

Game 1: Cleveland 115, Toronto 84

Game 2: Toronto at Cleveland, 8:30 p.m. Thursday (TV: ESPN, Radio: WTAM 1100-AM, LA MEGA 87.7-FM)

Game 3: Cleveland at Toronto, 8:30 p.m. Saturday

Game 4: Cleveland at Toronto, 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 23

Game 5, if necessary: Toronto at Cleveland, 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 25

Game 6, if necessary: Cleveland at Toronto, 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 27

Game 7, if necessary: Toronto at Cleveland, 8:30 p.m. Sunday, May 29

GAME 2 PROJECTED LINEUPS (with playoff averages)

Raptors starters: PG Kyle Lowry (17.9 points, 6.6 assists, 39.0 minutes), SG DeMar DeRozan (19.9 points, 37.1 minutes), SF DeMarre Carroll (9.1 points, 30.4 minutes), PF Patrick Patterson (7.7 points, 29.2 minutes), C Bismack Biyombo (6.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 23.3 minutes).

Raptors key reserves: PG Cory Joseph (8.8 points, 23.6 minutes), SF Terrence Ross (7.1 points, 18.0 minutes).

Cavaliers starters: PG Kyrie Irving (24.7 points, 5.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 52.7 percent 3-point shooting, 35.7 minutes), SG J.R. Smith (11.4 points, 1.1 steals, 48.4 percent 3-point shooting, 34.1 minutes), SF LeBron James (23.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 2.3 steals, 37.7 minutes), PF Kevin Love (18.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, 44.8 percent 3-point shooting, 33.4 minutes), C Tristan Thompson (5.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 28.7 minutes).

Cavaliers key reserves: PF Channing Frye (8.3 points, 58.3 percent 3-point shooting, 14.9 minutes), SG Iman Shumpert (4.7 points, 16.8 minutes), PG Matthew Dellavedova (6.2 points, 15.7 minutes), SF Richard Jefferson (5.0 points, 47.1 percent 3-point shooting, 15.1 minutes).

Injuries: Raptors C Jonas Valanciunas (out, sprained right ankle, 15.0 points, 12.1 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 28.5 minutes).

LOOKING AHEAD

Here are stories from cleveland.com and other newspapers and websites covering the Eastern Conference finals. Click on the breakout links or blue text to read the full story.

LeBron feels 'flagrant' hits

James, Cavaliers at their best in Game 2s

Siri says Raptors went way of the dinosaurs

Toronto not buying Cavaliers as 'super team'

Shaw: LeBron gives voice to playoff dominance

Five points for the Raptors

FROM TORONTO

* The Raptors are facing the harsh reality of LeBron James, writes Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun.

* Jonas Valanciunas' injury has forced coach Dwane Casey to juggle his lineups. That has created first-rate problems with the Raptors' second unit, writes Mike Ganter of the Sun.

* Bruce Arthur of The Toronto Star writes that the key to LeBron James' success is sharing his greatness. Arthur also outlines the harsh reality facing the Raptors.

* Shellshocked. Toronto searches for answers ahead of Game 2, writes Doug Smith of The Toronto Star.

* The Cavaliers look like an unstoppable freight train, writes the Sun's Ryan Wolstat.

* Following Game 1, a question came up. Is this series already over? Steve Simmons of the Sun asks if it's the beginning of the end for the Raptors.

* Kyrie Irving didn't need an Uncle Drew disguise in Game 1, writes Chris O'Leary of The Star.

* Meanwhile, Kyle Lowry is a longtime admirer of Cavs coach Tyronn Lue. Simmons has the details.

* The Raptors picked up the No. 9 pick Tuesday during the NBA Draft Lottery. Toronto general manager Masai Ujiri called it a "good, good asset." Here's more from The Star's Chris O'Leary.

* A CBSSports.com poll asked who will win the NBA title. It listed every team left except the Raptors, who were replaced with "other." It prompted a letter from Toronto's mayor.

* The Star looks at five players who made a difference in Game 1.

OFF THE COURT

Haden: If Browns were winning, 'it'd be a whole different vibe'

Dressing up The Q with art, photos and history

Drake mocked on social media

Poll: Where do these Raptors rank among LeBron's conference final foes?

LOOKING BACK AT GAME 1

Cavaliers dominate paint to take 1-0 lead

See the plays that led to the Cavaliers' 115-84 victory

Nine soundbites after Game 1

Pluto: Cavaliers' quickness surprised Toronto

Raptors struggle to find scoring

Shaw: Cleveland presents long list of predicaments for Raptors

Cavaliers show versatility, Kyrie becoming player LeBron envisioned

LeBron: team ready to handle adversity

Livingston on Love's USC comparison

Social media reaction from Game 1

Takeaways from the ESPN broadcast

DMan's Report of Game 1

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.