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

[Joker]

Regardless of whoever came out of the East, they were always going to be the underdog. This was written at the beginning of the season, not sure why anyone is surprised.

To be fair, at the beginning of the season it was assumed Golden State would have a healthy Durant and Cousins for the finals should they make it there. That's changed.

[tleikheen]

If you think Toronto is somehow a better basketball team, you haven't been watching the last 5 years...And they're not favored, in fact, Tor is a huge underdog for the series...Truth is, Raptors will lose this series, and then lose Kawhi in the offseason...I love the optimism, but let's keep it real...lol

you must not have watched Toronto in the playoffs or their season this year......this team has nothing to do with the past Toronto teams ,since Toronto didn't have Kawhi, Danny Green or Marc Gasol on the past Toronto teams . Also Pascal Siakam only started 5 games last year and started 79 games this season. avg 10 more ppg.
At least try to understand basketball ,you can't equate a basketball team as the same team with 4 completely different players playing than the past squads.
As far as GS is concerned they are the same team but they didn't play as good as their past years. It was seen and that's why a lot of basketball observers think this years squad isn't as good of a team as their past years .
Toronto will stifle GS's offense playing and establishing the pace their comfortable with .
Toronto in 6 games

[Catchall]

Danny Green bout to run a Low Post Clinic on Curry this series

Get ready for the Reincarnation of Hakeem

If the Raptors put the ball in anyone's hands other than Kawhi's, that's gotta be seen as a win for the Warriors.

[freethedevil]

Regardless of whoever came out of the East, they were always going to be the underdog. This was written at the beginning of the season, not sure why anyone is surprised.

what I find interesting, though, is that noises were being made about both Philly and Milwaukee being able to challenge the warriors this year - even WITH durant - right up until when Toronto beat them, and then suddenly it was just accepted that the Warriors would wipe the floor with the raptors, even without KD.

Because people decided the warriors were favorites before the season, so what happened inthe season didn't matter to them. What happened in the playoffs doesn't matter either.

If the raptors win, everyone's gonna act shocked by the upset even though there's no reason to be suprised.

[everdiso]

Danny Green bout to run a Low Post Clinic on Curry this series

Get ready for the Reincarnation of Hakeem

If the Raptors put the ball in anyone's hands other than Kawhi's, that's gotta be seen as a win for the Warriors.

People seem to think the Raps' offense is a lot more Kawhi-dependant than it actually is.

The Raps didn't need 37 pts a game from Kawhi against the bucks like Curry did against the blazers.

Every single starting Rap can score the ball. Every single rap can initiate the offense other than Danny, and he makes up for that by being a lethal shooter (and if he's not scoring then Fred plays more and he can initiate the offense and shoot too).

[IAMZOOTED2]

Got the Warriors in 4. Raps fittna get served like some poutine. Hope they content with the ECF banner!

[will]

I am worried about Clay. Unlimited range.

[Matty]

Got the Warriors in 4. Raps fittna get served like some poutine. Hope they content with the ECF banner!

Very ironic a Basque supporter finna be siding with the majority on this one.

[JAYZGOAT]

Lets go Warriors. It's going to feel so good to finally root for these guys

[JAYZGOAT]

Got the Warriors in 4. Raps fittna get served like some poutine. Hope they content with the ECF banner!

I think they are

[Red Shoelace]

Im concerned about Kawhi. He looked like he was 60 years old by Game 3 of the last series. Front rimming shots and had zero lift/explosion. Is this guy going to hold up over a finals series? He needs to average 35-40 a night and play 44 minutes.

You sir are delusional/trolling, whatever makes you feel confident heading into the Finals I guess

Same poster who had this nugget of wisdom:

[Blacksheep25]

I’ll be cheering for the Dubs in every game Durant doesn’t play. If he comes back, I’ll immediately be cheering for the Raps. Pure hater series as I hate the Durant warriors and find raptors fans insufferable. Ideal series would be warriors win first 3, Durant comes back, they lose, soreness sets in, and he sits the next game and warriors close it out. Kawhi leaves. Durant leaves with legacy hit. That’s about all good that come out of this thing for me. Just not a fan.

things raptors fans have been called "insufferable" for this year:

1. thinking we were better than the celtics coming into the year
2. thinking we should beat the 6ers in the playoffs
3. thinking that we should beat the Bucks in the playoffs
4. thinking that we COULD beat the KD-less Warriors in the playoffs

That’s this year. The problem is your fans think you’re going to the finals every year, even when it was the laughable DeRozan/Lowry combo. You’re nice kids. That’s the problem though. Your fans are mostly kids. It’s an incredibly young fanbase with a team only 24 years old. So there is a ton of you on every forum and message board because older fans don’t generally post on the internet, and in the raptors case, there aren’t many older fans. Anyone up there over 35-40 grew up on mostly hockey. So you guys tend to overreact to everything because you’re young and that’s what young people do.

[TrustFundBaby]

I’ll be cheering for the Dubs in every game Durant doesn’t play. If he comes back, I’ll immediately be cheering for the Raps. Pure hater series as I hate the Durant warriors and find raptors fans insufferable. Ideal series would be warriors win first 3, Durant comes back, they lose, soreness sets in, and he sits the next game and warriors close it out. Kawhi leaves. Durant leaves with legacy hit. That’s about all good that come out of this thing for me. Just not a fan.

things raptors fans have been called "insufferable" for this year:

1. thinking we were better than the celtics coming into the year
2. thinking we should beat the 6ers in the playoffs
3. thinking that we should beat the Bucks in the playoffs
4. thinking that we COULD beat the KD-less Warriors in the playoffs

That’s this year. The problem is your fans think you’re going to the finals every year, even when it was the laughable DeRozan/Lowry combo. You’re nice kids. That’s the problem though. Your fans are mostly kids. It’s an incredibly young fanbase with a team only 24 years old. So there is a ton of you on every forum and message board because older fans don’t generally post on the internet, and in the raptors case, there aren’t many older fans. Anyone up there over 35-40 grew up on mostly hockey. So you guys tend to overreact to everything because you’re young and that’s what young people do.

Revisionist history

Nobody thought that TOR could get to finals other than 2018 ( which tbf the Cavs looked Vulnerable after the IND series) & 2019

From 2014-2017, the issue Raps fans had were the large amounts of people who would constantly **** on the Team and question if they could exit the first round, and these critics would RAMP up when the Raptors would drop game 1.

I get that they underperformed HEAVILY, but we never claimed finals lol, just that we should be favoured over the likes of 2017 MIL or 2016 IND

[everdiso]

I’ll be cheering for the Dubs in every game Durant doesn’t play. If he comes back, I’ll immediately be cheering for the Raps. Pure hater series as I hate the Durant warriors and find raptors fans insufferable. Ideal series would be warriors win first 3, Durant comes back, they lose, soreness sets in, and he sits the next game and warriors close it out. Kawhi leaves. Durant leaves with legacy hit. That’s about all good that come out of this thing for me. Just not a fan.

things raptors fans have been called "insufferable" for this year:

1. thinking we were better than the celtics coming into the year
2. thinking we should beat the 6ers in the playoffs
3. thinking that we should beat the Bucks in the playoffs
4. thinking that we COULD beat the KD-less Warriors in the playoffs

That’s this year. The problem is your fans think you’re going to the finals every year, even when it was the laughable DeRozan/Lowry combo. You’re nice kids. That’s the problem though. Your fans are mostly kids. It’s an incredibly young fanbase with a team only 24 years old. So there is a ton of you on every forum and message board because older fans don’t generally post on the internet, and in the raptors case, there aren’t many older fans. Anyone up there over 35-40 grew up on mostly hockey. So you guys tend to overreact to everything because you’re young and that’s what young people do.

It was a reasonable belief that the Raps' top place finishes with great underlying 2-way numbers gave them a legit chance to get to the ECF.

And it's most probably wrong to depend on one player choking so badly every playoffs to make YOUR predictions come true.

[Blacksheep25]

things raptors fans have been called "insufferable" for this year:

1. thinking we were better than the celtics coming into the year
2. thinking we should beat the 6ers in the playoffs
3. thinking that we should beat the Bucks in the playoffs
4. thinking that we COULD beat the KD-less Warriors in the playoffs

That’s this year. The problem is your fans think you’re going to the finals every year, even when it was the laughable DeRozan/Lowry combo. You’re nice kids. That’s the problem though. Your fans are mostly kids. It’s an incredibly young fanbase with a team only 24 years old. So there is a ton of you on every forum and message board because older fans don’t generally post on the internet, and in the raptors case, there aren’t many older fans. Anyone up there over 35-40 grew up on mostly hockey. So you guys tend to overreact to everything because you’re young and that’s what young people do.

Revisionist history

Nobody thought that TOR could get to finals other than 2018 ( which tbf the Cavs looked Vulnerable after the IND series) & 2019

From 2014-2017, the issue Raps fans had were the large amounts of people who would constantly **** on the Team and question if they could exit the first round, and these critics would RAMP up when the Raptors would drop game 1.

I get that they underperformed HEAVILY, but we never claimed finals lol, just that we should be favoured over the likes of 2017 MIL or 2016 IND

It’s been more than just last year. Last year was the srs was everything year right before you got swept. You discovered this year with Kawhi, it’s a nice stat if all teams are trying equally. Superstars don’t give a **** about the regular season. I’ve heard how the Cavs are in trouble multiple seasons. As a lifelong Cavs fans, you probably annoy me more than most. You have a contingent come down for games being so close and we’ve had a lot of playoff battles in recent history. I said, you’re nice kids. Wonderful city. Just a bit much at times. Great atmosphere for a game.

[SFour]

Raptors down 0-1 against the Magic, oh typical Raptors meltdown.

Raptors down 2-1 against the 76ers, they’re just not talented enough.

Raptors down 2-0 against the Bucks, going to be a sweep for the new NBA champions.

Raptors beat the Bucks "oh Bucks are overrated and trash anyways, Warriors in 4"

[SFour]

Update-
Raptors are now the Vegas favorite in game 1 after line movement.
56% of Realgm thinks the Raptors will win.
There is no sign yet that Durant is going to play in this series.

The point is that just about no one actually picks their team based on underdog status. The Raptors are probably slight favorites now and I expect roughly zero people to change which side they're rooting for.

If you think Toronto is somehow a better basketball team, you haven't been watching the last 5 years...And they're not favored, in fact, Tor is a huge underdog for the series...Truth is, Raptors will lose this series, and then lose Kawhi in the offseason...I love the optimism, but let's keep it real...lol

Raptors were also huge underdogs against the Bucks...truth is, without KD the Warriors are in for a tough battle and that will be very evident after game 1. Kawhi is out for revenge, just remember that.

[minami]

Got the Warriors in 4. Raps fittna get served like some poutine. Hope they content with the ECF banner!

Very ironic a Basque supporter finna be siding with the majority on this one.

Don´t worry here is another one rooting for Toronto.

[HiMyNameIsTrey]

Warriors fans are sick of being the heavy favourites for another year that they're actually convincing themselves they are somehow the underdogs. Wow I guess they really do need KD.

[afox]

Regardless of whoever came out of the East, they were always going to be the underdog. This was written at the beginning of the season, not sure why anyone is surprised.

what I find interesting, though, is that noises were being made about both Philly and Milwaukee being able to challenge the warriors this year - even WITH durant - right up until when Toronto beat them, and then suddenly it was just accepted that the Warriors would wipe the floor with the raptors, even without KD.

I think any talk of an Eastern team(Mil Philly) being able to hang with the Warriors, was just to keep people interested.. I had Toronto coming out of the East all year...I think because of their past playoff failures, no one thought they would be here...Any East team is as capable as the next...Which is to say, not capable..