Raptors again knocked out of playoffs by LeBron James, Cavaliers

There were no excuses coming from the Toronto Raptors after they absorbed another devastating playoff series defeat at the hands of LeBron James and the Cavaliers.

The Cavs drilled the Raptors at Quicken Loans Arena on May 7, 128-93, in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. It was a four-game sweep for the Cavs in the best-of-seven series.

For the Raptors, it was the third straight year in which they were knocked out of the playoffs by the Cavs.

“We’re hard on ourselves because we couldn’t get it done. We had opportunity after opportunity after opportunity,” Toronto guard DeMar DeRozan said. “The fact of the matter is, we’re done. It’s back to reality tomorrow.”

DeRozan was held to 13 points by the swarming Cavs defense. He was ejected late in the third quarter after being hit with a Flagrant 2 foul on Cavs guard Jordan Clarkson.

“It sucks not knowing if this opportunity will present itself again,” DeRozan said. “If it doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger.”

DeRozan gave full credit to Cavs superstar LeBron James for his stellar play in the series. In Game 4, James led all scorers with 29 points. He added 11 assists and eight rebounds.

“It’s not just him going out there scoring 128 points,” DeRozan said. “He got those other guys involved and they made plays.”

Toronto coach Dwane Casey said the Cavs out-classed his team in Game 4.

“They showed their championship pedigree. They’re playing at a high level now,” Casey said.

Casey said he took little consolation from the fact his team had chances to win Games 1 and 3 in the series but fell short.

“There are no moral victories in the NBA. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades,” he said. “They came back and played like a championship team plays.”

The Raptors now have dropped 10 straight layoff games to James and the Cavaliers.

“LeBron is big part of it,” Casey said. “You re looking at a guy who will go down as one of the greatest ever. It’s a match-up nightmare for everybody.”

.Casey said he never envisioned the Raptors being swept after they finished the regular season with 59 victories to earn first seed in the Eastern Conference.

“In my heart, I didn’t think so. I had all the confidence in the world we’d come in and fight,” Casey said. “People thought (the Cavs) were vulnerable. But as long as they have him, they have a chance.”

Him, of course, being LeBron James.