2019 NBA Finals Thread, Part 1 | Golden State Warriors vs Toronto Raptors

[SK21209]

Put Lowry on Curry and Green on Klay, with Kawhi on Draymond and Siakam helping off Iggy. The Curry-Draymond pick and roll is their best weapon, having Leonard blow those up makes the most sense.

[PhilBlackson]

The Rockets have far better defense at guarding the Warriors.

Who is the Raptors small ball center that can guard on the perimiter? They are going to need one to play big minutes this series.

1. Not even remotely true. Raptors have much more length overall nevermind Kawhi Leonard who easily trumps anything HOU had
2. The obvious answer is Serge Ibaka
3. Check the stats...Raps have had THE best defense out anyone this post season, yet again you're making baseless claims

Serge Ibaka is not a small ball center. Not even close.

I never said the Raptors werent a good defensive team, but the Rockets from top to bottom have been the #1 defense against the warriors for years, and have proved it in the playoffs.

"Serge Ibaka is not a small ball center. Not even close." lol

That's exactly what he's been all season. Do even know what you're saying?!

Again by ANY defensive metric, the Rockets in this season or last simply don't compare to this year's Raptors (or Bucks) in the Playoffs, doesn't matter if the Rockets played the Jazz or Warriors, the Rockets were not the best defensive team in the Playoffs no matter who they played. All you've "proven" is the Rockets have BEEN (past tense) the relatively best defense they HAD faced to date in the Playoffs. That doesn't make it true moving forward lol.

It's as silly as me stating the Bucks are the best offensive team the Raps will face just because up until today that would be true. Doesn't make it true going forward because NOW the Warriors will be, just like the Raps will be their toughest defensive team they've faced. All you have to do is compare stats of this year's Raptors' team to the Rockets this year or last and you'll see it's just factually not true that the Rockets are/were the best defense the Warriors have/will face.

I don't what to tell you when you think the toughest defense the Warriors will face doesn't include the best defender in the last 2 decades in Kawhi checking your best player while being surrounded with great defenders but I look forward to seeing your surprise on how the numbers pan out after this series...

[RaptorHooter]

USA vs Canada! Here we go!

When this series ends at game 7 in Toronto, the first and last game ever played in the NBA will have been in TO.

[Raps in 4]

538 has picked the Raptors to win this series.

They picked us to win the last series too.

Might as well not even play the games. It's over.

[Raps in 4]

USA vs Canada! Here we go!

I'm pretty sure California would rather be a part of Canada than the US.

[Clyde Frazier]

Read on Twitter

[kuchu]

538 has picked the Raptors to win this series.

They picked us to win the last series too.

Might as well not even play the games. It's over.

Only the guys over at 538 don't agree with the model's prediction themselves...

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/our-model-loves-the-raptors-maybe-a-little-too-much/

[NoBias]

Green on Curry
Pascal on Klay
Lowry on Iggy
Kawhi on Draymond
Gasol on Looney? Cousins?

With Green on Curry the Raptors could expense all the running around screens, because he doesn’t play that much anyways.. he could give his whole defensive effort.

Pascal on Klay, means that Klay won’t be able to streak to the rim for easy layups and post ups from 12-14 feet like he usually does. If he becomes a scorching Klay that scores 37 in a quarter strictly off jump shots, so be it.

Kyle on Iggy means that he can save his energy on offense and take it at Klay, hopefully getting him tired. Running off screens can do that.

Kawhi on Draymond means that GSWs most effective play aka the 1,4 pick and roll won’t be as effective. Danny green can effectively switch on to Draymond with Kawhi on Curry. There’s no mismatch or pick your poison, like what usually happens whenever GSW runs this play.

I like the Raptors chances, they must slow this game down to a half court offense, like they did with the Bucks. If they can do that, i can see them winning without Durant playing. Obviously if Durant comes earlier than expected, the game plan must change. Nick Nurse did an excellent job adjusting through the Philly and Bucks series. He can potentially do it again.

I said raptors in 6 against the Bucks, even when down in the series. I’m going to say raptors in 6 against GSW. Possibly 7, because Curry is really good.

[James40]

Anyone have odds on what game Draymond lets a knee accidentally crack Kawhi’s thigh?

[MindState]

1. Not even remotely true. Raptors have much more length overall nevermind Kawhi Leonard who easily trumps anything HOU had
2. The obvious answer is Serge Ibaka
3. Check the stats...Raps have had THE best defense out anyone this post season, yet again you're making baseless claims

Serge Ibaka is not a small ball center. Not even close.

I never said the Raptors werent a good defensive team, but the Rockets from top to bottom have been the #1 defense against the warriors for years, and have proved it in the playoffs.

"Serge Ibaka is not a small ball center. Not even close." lol

That's exactly what he's been all season. Do even know what you're saying?!

Again by ANY defensive metric, the Rockets in this season or last simply don't compare to this year's Raptors (or Bucks) in the Playoffs, doesn't matter if the Rockets played the Jazz or Warriors, the Rockets were not the best defensive team in the Playoffs no matter who they played. All you've "proven" is the Rockets have BEEN (past tense) the relatively best defense they HAD faced to date in the Playoffs. That doesn't make it true moving forward lol.

It's as silly as me stating the Bucks are the best offensive team the Raps will face just because up until today that would be true. Doesn't make it true going forward because NOW the Warriors will be, just like the Raps will be their toughest defensive team they've faced. All you have to do is compare stats of this year's Raptors' team to the Rockets this year or last and you'll see it's just factually not true that the Rockets are/were the best defense the Warriors have/will face.

I don't what to tell you when you think the toughest defense the Warriors will face doesn't include the best defender in the last 2 decades in Kawhi checking your best player while being surrounded with great defenders but I look forward to seeing your surprise on how the numbers pan out after this series...

Ratings and Numbers dont matter. Its all about matchups, and the Rockets matchup better then any other team against the Warriors. Its been proven in-game. Nobody makes the Warriors look more mortal then the Houston Rockets.

[anatomicbomb]

Anyone have odds on what game Draymond lets a knee accidentally crack Kawhi’s thigh?

I'm saying Game 2 we get a scuffle because the Ws are down a bit and Draymond wants to amp up the energy, making things chippy for the rest of the series. Ibaka will eventually do something stupid in retaliation and get suspended a game. I'm thinking that happens in Game 3.

[anatomicbomb]

.

[guess_wh0]

This Raptors defense has constantly exposed "all stars" or almost "all stars" all post season.
Vucevic, Harris, Simmons, Bledsoe, Middleton. Who got next? I'm thinking Klay.

[James40]

Anyone have odds on what game Draymond lets a knee accidentally crack Kawhi’s thigh?

I'm saying Game 2 we get a scuffle because the Ws are down a bit and Draymond wants to amp up the energy, making things chippy for the rest of the series. Ibaka will eventually do something stupid in retaliation and get suspended a game. I'm thinking that happens in Game 3.

I could see that, game one would be too obvious. I think the Raps take game one.

[freethedevil]

Gs sweep. Real NBA Finals was Hou GS

houston were trash caompred to thebucks or the raptors in the regular season and the playoffs.

The bucks beat the celtics in 5. Jazz are as good if not better than the Celtics and they also won in 5. What the Bucks and Raptors did against the Pistons or Magic does not count. Then they faced one another. The only way to compare how good those teams are vs Houston is by how Toronto fares against GS, the common opponent.

So much dumb.

The jazz failed because their offence mimicked houston's and their slow precise style was perfect for houston's defence. The only similarity to the bucks the jazz have was that they implemented the bucks defensive scheme without anywhere near the quality of personnel the bucks had. And yet, when govery adjusted, the rockets offense was absymal for three straight games. Then their defence got exposed vs the warriors where they were perfectly fine with kd isos as the warrior's offensive focal point but got embarrased by a kd-less warriors team the second they turned to fast paced offence.

Winning against magic absolutely counts. Magic hadonw of the best records post the asb, and was the hottest team entering the playoffs. Rockets haven't done anything this season that puts them on the bucks or the raptors level. Both were far better during the regular season and this didn't change in the playoffs untill they played each other.

[anatomicbomb]

Serge Ibaka is not a small ball center. Not even close.

I never said the Raptors werent a good defensive team, but the Rockets from top to bottom have been the #1 defense against the warriors for years, and have proved it in the playoffs.

"Serge Ibaka is not a small ball center. Not even close." lol

That's exactly what he's been all season. Do even know what you're saying?!

Again by ANY defensive metric, the Rockets in this season or last simply don't compare to this year's Raptors (or Bucks) in the Playoffs, doesn't matter if the Rockets played the Jazz or Warriors, the Rockets were not the best defensive team in the Playoffs no matter who they played. All you've "proven" is the Rockets have BEEN (past tense) the relatively best defense they HAD faced to date in the Playoffs. That doesn't make it true moving forward lol.

It's as silly as me stating the Bucks are the best offensive team the Raps will face just because up until today that would be true. Doesn't make it true going forward because NOW the Warriors will be, just like the Raps will be their toughest defensive team they've faced. All you have to do is compare stats of this year's Raptors' team to the Rockets this year or last and you'll see it's just factually not true that the Rockets are/were the best defense the Warriors have/will face.

I don't what to tell you when you think the toughest defense the Warriors will face doesn't include the best defender in the last 2 decades in Kawhi checking your best player while being surrounded with great defenders but I look forward to seeing your surprise on how the numbers pan out after this series...

Ratings and Numbers dont matter. Its all about matchups, and the Rockets matchup better then any other team against the Warriors. Its been proven in-game. Nobody makes the Warriors look more mortal then the Houston Rockets.

"The Rockets are the best chance to beat the Warriors because they looked the best against the Warriors so far" is not a great argument against the Raptors' chances.

[nikster]

1) Look at the odds. It is like 70-30% according to betting companies.
2) Look at the players and advanced stats.
Steph+Dray combo has an impact of two superstars. It is very difficult to match this impact. The warriors have terrific 1 on 1 defenders such as Iggy and Klay. This will decrease Kawhi’s efficiency. The warriors have 3 of the top 4 players in this series. Curry is the best offensive player by a decent margin and Dray is the best defensive player by a decent margin at the same time. If Curry plays his usual game this is most likely a 4-2 wins for the Warriors. Note that KD may also return at some point. He is not a bad player either.

Butler/Simmons with Embiid waiting in the middle was tougher matchup for Kawhi and the Raps in general than anything the Warriors defense will throw at them.

And GS will make him work harder defensively too. I really don’t think they’ll put much emphasis on defending Kawhi. Just make him carry the load on both ends of the court.

Kawhii was just guarding Giannis for most of the conference finals. If their emphasis isn’t guarding Kawhii then they’re screwed

[nikster]

I wonder who the Raptors put Kawhi on since KD is not playing....do they put him on Klay and shut him down, or Curry.

Kawhi on one leg is not shutting anyone down, especially guards that run off of screens.

Giannis shut himself down with his inability to shoot, and it was a team defensive effort. For the most part, Kawhi has been a team defender. I cant recall many 1 on 1 defensive stops by Kawhi all playoffs. He cant carry the Raptors on offense and also exert max effort on defense. Its not going to happen.

He literally just did that. In two series.

[MindState]

Butler/Simmons with Embiid waiting in the middle was tougher matchup for Kawhi and the Raps in general than anything the Warriors defense will throw at them.

And GS will make him work harder defensively too. I really don’t think they’ll put much emphasis on defending Kawhi. Just make him carry the load on both ends of the court.

Kawhii was just guarding Giannis for most of the conference finals. If their emphasis isn’t guarding Kawhii then they’re screwed

Giannis actually wasnt really being guarded at all. The Raptors just packed the paint. Giannis was wide open anytime he was outside the paint the entire series. His inability to shoot is the reason the Raptors won the series.

[cjx]

2019 Finals

Game 2 Prediction
Golden State 133, Toronto 131 (3 OT) (Series tied 1-1)

King Kawhi the Sensational KLaw: 46 pts, 9 rebs, 9 asts, 2 stls (38.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 7.5 apg over 2 gms)
Pascal Siakam: 16 pts, 8 rebs, 2 asts, 1 blk
Kyle Lowry: 21 pts, 4 rebs, 7 asts

Steph Curry: 39 pts, 6 rebs, 7 asts (31.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.5 apg over 2 gms)
Klay Thompson: 28 pts, 5 rebs, 1 ast, 1 stl
Kevon Looney: 13 pts, 14 rebs, 1 ast, 1 stl