2019 NBA Finals Thread #5: Golden State Warriors vs Toronto Raptors | TOR 2-1 GSW

[BayArea408415]

funny how before the finals, people were saying Raptors would be lucky to win a game...but now that they've won 2 all of a sudden it's not legit because KD isn't playing...what happened to all the 73 win Warriors talk?

I can't speak for others but a lot of people thought the series was fairly even with KD out and Cousins hobbled/not capable of all-star performances. I was thinking Warriors in 6 if Durant returns or Warriors in 7 if Steph/Klay play out of their minds.

Now, that Klay went out, I'm hearing about how Bogut is an elite rim protector (guy was picked up from Australian league), Boogie is a 4-time all-star even though he is clearly hobbled and not capable of putting out 25/12 stat-lines and how 35 year old Iguodala is a Finals MVP. Yet, at the same time, I don't see people going on about how Gasol is a DPOY/All-star/All-NBA defensive team/Former top 3-4 center, Lowry is a 5 time all-star, Kawhi is a top 3-4 player/Finals MVP/All NBA Defensive team, Danny Green is 2017 All defensive team/lit up 2013 NBA Finals, Siakam is MIP and future all-star. Only the Warriors former accolades and awards are mentioned to show how overwhelmingly talented they are even with Durant/Klay missing 100% and 40% of the series, respectively.

[will]

Hot damn. That Toronto in 5 option getting the most votes.

Sheesh.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Lose one more and Warriors fans will start pointing out how Mark Stevens was an integral owner.

[AIfan3]

Man, I'd tolerate the annoyance of the hoard of Raptors fans all summer if they pull this out. All season everyone spoke about how the Warriors were going to run away with the chip, how the East is trash. That tune changed real quick.

[Samurai]

Man, I'd tolerate the annoyance of the hoard of Raptors fans all summer if they pull this out. All season everyone spoke about how the Warriors were going to run away with the chip, how the East is trash. That tune changed real quick.

That tune changed as soon as KD got hurt. All through the WCF, so many people kept saying that if the seeding had Houston in the WCF instead of the Blazers, the Rockets would smoke the KD-less Warriors easily and it would be a dogfight between Houston and either the Bucks/Raptors. And many felt that either Bucks/Raptors could beat the Rockets in the Finals. The tune about the Warriors being a shoe-in and the West being superior to the East suddenly stopped once KD limped to the locker room; it was a whole new tune.

[Samurai]

There's no risk. Even if he severely worsens it and is out for the series, he should be OK by early next season and the Warriors will max him anyway. At this point, without KD and Looney (people seriously underestimate how valuable Loon has been for the team), they aren't winning a chip this season anyway; might as well go down swinging.

I don't understand why people are concerned about Klay and his career? They don't think Klay and the Warriors training staff are working to look out for his best interest? He would have played Game 3 if the training staff didn't care about his future. It was them who ruled him out. He wanted to play.

You are correct. The training staff looks at each situation from a medical point of view, not an emotional one. Players get emotional and insisting they can play. Coaches try to be impartial but they want the player back as soon as possible because they are trying to win. To his credit, Kerr acknowledged this bias and is leaving it to the medical professionals. Even today, KD reportedly really wanted to participate in the scrimmage they had planned so that he could play tomorrow night; it was one of the doctors who was against it.

[Triples333]

Read on Twitter

Conducted after Game 2. I'd agree with this list by and large.

[everdiso]

Man, I'd tolerate the annoyance of the hoard of Raptors fans all summer if they pull this out. All season everyone spoke about how the Warriors were going to run away with the chip, how the East is trash. That tune changed real quick.

in retrospect, did it really make sense to be so annoyed with raptors fans claiming that their team was an elite contender?

[AIfan3]

Man, I'd tolerate the annoyance of the hoard of Raptors fans all summer if they pull this out. All season everyone spoke about how the Warriors were going to run away with the chip, how the East is trash. That tune changed real quick.

That tune changed as soon as KD got hurt. All through the WCF, so many people kept saying that if the seeding had Houston in the WCF instead of the Blazers, the Rockets would smoke the KD-less Warriors easily and it would be a dogfight between Houston and either the Bucks/Raptors. And many felt that either Bucks/Raptors could beat the Rockets in the Finals. The tune about the Warriors being a shoe-in and the West being superior to the East suddenly stopped once KD limped to the locker room; it was a whole new tune.

A lot of posters here and pundits still thought the Warriors were still going to cake walk to the championship after sweeping the Blazers.. It wasn't that long ago.

[HOOOMAN]

Nobody really talks about an edge that Toronto has and that is desperation. A sense of urgency if you will


Golden State been there done that, the losses don't sting as bad. Injuries have piled up on a team that has a lot of miles after alot of finals appearances. Do they not only have health but a mental edge still?

Raptors know this might've been their only shot ever with this group of guys. Lowry and gasol never been to this level, they are going to do anything at this point( like taking out fans in Oracle lmao).

Kd is obviously the wild card. He comes back, the talent level is immediately stacked in gsw favor. But I think he is done..not having practiced yet is a very bad sign

[My2CentsR]

Don’t give af about ratings personally, and Toronto’s TV ratings make up for it, but it does show the power of Lebron tbh.

Read on Twitter

I wonder whether people increasingly watching the games on laptops and other electronic devices (if they aren't logged into a cable acct) has something to do with it. But ya, the missing big name rivalry factor might also play a role.

[BayArea408415]

You are correct. The training staff looks at each situation from a medical point of view, not an emotional one. Players get emotional and insisting they can play. Coaches try to be impartial but they want the player back as soon as possible because they are trying to win. To his credit, Kerr acknowledged this bias and is leaving it to the medical professionals. Even today, KD reportedly really wanted to participate in the scrimmage they had planned so that he could play tomorrow night; it was one of the doctors who was against it.

I was actually hinting at some fans being so insecure about Klay returning that they were "worried" the Warriors would jeopardize his health and career. Your post is spot on though. Players and fans are both coming from an emotional perspective. I wanted Klay to play in Game 3 but I understand why the medical staff sat him out.

[Samurai]

Man, I'd tolerate the annoyance of the hoard of Raptors fans all summer if they pull this out. All season everyone spoke about how the Warriors were going to run away with the chip, how the East is trash. That tune changed real quick.

That tune changed as soon as KD got hurt. All through the WCF, so many people kept saying that if the seeding had Houston in the WCF instead of the Blazers, the Rockets would smoke the KD-less Warriors easily and it would be a dogfight between Houston and either the Bucks/Raptors. And many felt that either Bucks/Raptors could beat the Rockets in the Finals. The tune about the Warriors being a shoe-in and the West being superior to the East suddenly stopped once KD limped to the locker room; it was a whole new tune.

A lot of posters here and pundits still thought the Warriors were still going to cake walk to the championship after sweeping the Blazers.. It wasn't that long ago.

Might be "a lot" on RealGM, but it was certainly not the case among people in the Bay Area who closely follow this team. I can't vouch for the knowledge of many of the posters here.

[BayArea408415]

A lot of posters here and pundits still thought the Warriors were still going to cake walk to the championship after sweeping the Blazers.. It wasn't that long ago.

The posters were definitely not Warrior's fans. I thought the Warriors were in for a gruelingly 6 or 7 game series if Durant was not returning and Cousins out/hobbled. As for the pundits, many of them chose the Warriors with the assumption that Durant would return by Game 4 or 5.

[My2CentsR]

Don’t give af about ratings personally, and Toronto’s TV ratings make up for it, but it does show the power of Lebron tbh.

Read on Twitter

I would speculate that a majority of the younger audience would be watching via illegal streams - no young person is buying/ paying for cable.

The start time of these games is also killer

Who me? Never

Ya, me neither

[Triples333]

Don’t give af about ratings personally, and Toronto’s TV ratings make up for it, but it does show the power of Lebron tbh.

Read on Twitter

I wonder whether people increasingly watching the games on laptops and other electronic devices (if they aren't logged into a cable acct) has something to do with it. But ya, the missing big name rivalry factor might also play a role.

Not having 50% of the Finalists home metropolis (in this case Country) ratings count towards these numbers is obviously playing the biggest role here. If those numbers were counted this isn't the case.

[AIfan3]

Man, I'd tolerate the annoyance of the hoard of Raptors fans all summer if they pull this out. All season everyone spoke about how the Warriors were going to run away with the chip, how the East is trash. That tune changed real quick.

in retrospect, did it really make sense to be so annoyed with raptors fans claiming that their team was an elite contender?

Personally, I wasn't annoyed.. Raps were my pick after the Gasol trade to make it to the finals.. But I don't even think Raptors fans thought their team would be this close.

[everdiso]

Man, I'd tolerate the annoyance of the hoard of Raptors fans all summer if they pull this out. All season everyone spoke about how the Warriors were going to run away with the chip, how the East is trash. That tune changed real quick.

in retrospect, did it really make sense to be so annoyed with raptors fans claiming that their team was an elite contender?

Personally, I wasn't annoyed.. Raps were my pick after the Gasol trade to make it to the finals.. But I don't even think Raptors fans thought their team would be this close.

eh, some of us were pretty sure we were the class of the east. and that the east wasn't weak.

[will]

WE HERE, BABY!

[Cyrusman122000]

man I’m not sure if there’s anything more bipolar than real gm polls.

After game one Raptors in 6 was dominating the results
After game 2 warrriors is 6 was dominating the results
After game 3 Raptors in 5 is dominating the results


You would’ve thought going into the series people make their predictions based on knowing both teams will make adjustments through the course of a series and both win games