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

[everdiso]

While I think the Raptors have a shot and I've felt that way all year, seeing all the cockiness from the Toronto side is a bit disheartening. One thing to see confidence in a team to beat another, but some of this is just a bit much lol. Yikes.

so Raptors fans are cocky for thinking their team can compete with a KD-less Warriors team....ya ok. Fans of other teams have been calling us cocky, delusional, and arrogant against the Magic, Sixers, Bucks, and now the Warriors. Most of us are Raptors homers, of course we're going to believe in our team. Do you want us to be insecure and say Warriors in 4?

If you want to see what cockiness is then read this:

Spoiler:

Ehh, I don't think we're on the same page at all. I don't think picking the Raptors to win is being cocky. It's the constant attacking of people picking the Warriors or people saying the Warriors might win this in 4 or 5 or 6 or w/e. I think Milwaukee was very overrated by Gen Board so I definitely agree with you there. The Raptors can definitely compete with the Warriors, KD or not. But it's not that crazy to claim the Warriors might dominate either considering well.. outside of the chokejob in 2016 might be the 4 time champions and the closest dynasty we've seen to the 90s Bulls and the 50/60's Celtics.

As per usual....

....fans of the Raptors saying their team can win = INSUFFERABLY COCKY

....fans of every other team saying their team will whomp the Raps = JUST BEING REASONABLE

[OriginalRed]

While I think the Raptors have a shot and I've felt that way all year, seeing all the cockiness from the Toronto side is a bit disheartening. One thing to see confidence in a team to beat another, but some of this is just a bit much lol. Yikes.

so Raptors fans are cocky for thinking their team can compete with a KD-less Warriors team....ya ok. Fans of other teams have been calling us cocky, delusional, and arrogant against the Magic, Sixers, Bucks, and now the Warriors. Most of us are Raptors homers, of course we're going to believe in our team. Do you want us to be insecure and say Warriors in 4?

If you want to see what cockiness is then read this:

Spoiler:

God damn.

I was one of the ones in that post as well and I can admit I (and almost every single person on this board) was completely wrong about the Raptors. The way people were talking about the Bucks team really shows you how underrated Toronto was and how much of an utter collapse the Bucks had to lose four straight games when they hadn't even lost three times all season long.

If that series taught us anything, it's that stats don't account for heart and grit, which the Raptors utterly overwhelmed the Bucks with in Game's 3, 5, and 6.

[jc23]

While I think the Raptors have a shot and I've felt that way all year, seeing all the cockiness from the Toronto side is a bit disheartening. One thing to see confidence in a team to beat another, but some of this is just a bit much lol. Yikes.

so Raptors fans are cocky for thinking their team can compete with a KD-less Warriors team....ya ok. Fans of other teams have been calling us cocky, delusional, and arrogant against the Magic, Sixers, Bucks, and now the Warriors. Most of us are Raptors homers, of course we're going to believe in our team. Do you want us to be insecure and say Warriors in 4?

If you want to see what cockiness is then read this:

Spoiler:

awesome collection you got there, that could fuel a space shuttle to Mars.

[sophie23]

GSW has not been facing defence in playoffs like this. Houston and Portland are way below Toronto defence abilities.
Tough match-ups. Hope for some fun between Green and Ibaka.

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[alseca]

I hope this series will yield some great basketball.

Regular season means little as we all know, but rockets beat the raptors (2/2) games this season, both in which Kawhi played well in. What is more interesting is that Chris Paul didn't play in one of the games and was 'decent' in the other one (5p 10 ast).

Great defense is one thing, but it doesn't always guarantee a win.

oh well..

[Mr. Perfect]

If we win first two at home with no KD, we might just actually be able to bring this home. Raps in 7.

[Bankai]

VS

[Deep1984]

Regardless if KD plays or not this is going to be a tough series for Raptors, we generally make everything harder Bless the Raptors and hopefully we pull out a upset

[newsletter]

I hope this series will yield some great basketball.

Regular season means little as we all know, but rockets beat the raptors (2/2) games this season, both in which Kawhi played well in. What is more interesting is that Chris Paul didn't play in one of the games and was 'decent' in the other one (5p 10 ast).

Great defense is one thing, but it doesn't always guarantee a win.

oh well..

True true. However, Raptors also beat Warriors (2/2) games this season. Kawhi didn't play in one game.

[dakomish23]

Does TOR use Siakam a lot as the screener?

I think he can do some damage against GSW in these situations b/c of his finishing ability.

Edit. Found this on him running the PnR. Still looking for him being the screener.

https://www.raptorsrepublic.com/2019/01/22/raptors-playbook-4-1-pick-roll-pascal-siakam/

[California Gold]

so Raptors fans are cocky for thinking their team can compete with a KD-less Warriors team....ya ok. Fans of other teams have been calling us cocky, delusional, and arrogant against the Magic, Sixers, Bucks, and now the Warriors. Most of us are Raptors homers, of course we're going to believe in our team. Do you want us to be insecure and say Warriors in 4?

If you want to see what cockiness is then read this:

Spoiler:

Ehh, I don't think we're on the same page at all. I don't think picking the Raptors to win is being cocky. It's the constant attacking of people picking the Warriors or people saying the Warriors might win this in 4 or 5 or 6 or w/e. I think Milwaukee was very overrated by Gen Board so I definitely agree with you there. The Raptors can definitely compete with the Warriors, KD or not. But it's not that crazy to claim the Warriors might dominate either considering well.. outside of the chokejob in 2016 might be the 4 time champions and the closest dynasty we've seen to the 90s Bulls and the 50/60's Celtics.

As per usual....

....fans of the Raptors saying their team can win = INSUFFERABLY COCKY

....fans of every other team saying their team will whomp the Raps = JUST BEING REASONABLE

I'm not really saying that at all. I think the Warriors are the lone exception in the entire league given how they've pretty much smacked around everyone for the last 4 years outside of Cleveland who almost needed a miracle themselves. If this almost any other team, I'd agree. If the Roles were reversed, I'd be saying the same thing. A team earns its reputation over several years -- especially one that might be the greatest team ever assembled (with or without Durant).

[djsunyc]

just a what if scenario here, but if durant doesn't come back, and the raptors win the series, that means the core of steph + klay + green would be 1-2 in the finals w/o KD and the one win was a cavs team w/o irving + love. does it hurt their legacy? especially if kd leaves?

[everdiso]

Ehh, I don't think we're on the same page at all. I don't think picking the Raptors to win is being cocky. It's the constant attacking of people picking the Warriors or people saying the Warriors might win this in 4 or 5 or 6 or w/e. I think Milwaukee was very overrated by Gen Board so I definitely agree with you there. The Raptors can definitely compete with the Warriors, KD or not. But it's not that crazy to claim the Warriors might dominate either considering well.. outside of the chokejob in 2016 might be the 4 time champions and the closest dynasty we've seen to the 90s Bulls and the 50/60's Celtics.

As per usual....

....fans of the Raptors saying their team can win = INSUFFERABLY COCKY

....fans of every other team saying their team will whomp the Raps = JUST BEING REASONABLE

I'm not really saying that at all. I think the Warriors are the lone exception in the entire league given how they've pretty much smacked around everyone for the last 4 years outside of Cleveland who almost needed a miracle themselves. If this almost any other team, I'd agree. If the Roles were reversed, I'd be saying the same thing. A team earns its reputation over several years -- especially one that might be the greatest team ever assembled (with or without Durant).

So the real issue is just that you think the Warriors without KD are simply a much better team than the Raps and should whomp them, no matter what evidence we have that suggests otherwise.

So by definition, anyone who disagrees with that can only be a cocky raptors homer.

For the record, we've heard the very same thing from all of Boston, Philly, and Milwaukee fans this year. No matter what the evidence suggested.

[SwaggyB]

Also they only lost to the rockets by 2 on a missed buzzer beater in the first game. They also didn't have Gasol. They didn't have VanVleet in the second game (and this was pre-playoff slump) and Gasol was still recently acquired so only played 18 minutes off the bench.

I also don't think the Raptors really went all out on defense during the regular season quite like they have in the playoffs..

I hope this series will yield some great basketball.

Regular season means little as we all know, but rockets beat the raptors (2/2) games this season, both in which Kawhi played well in. What is more interesting is that Chris Paul didn't play in one of the games and was 'decent' in the other one (5p 10 ast).

Great defense is one thing, but it doesn't always guarantee a win.

oh well..

True true. However, Raptors also beat Warriors (2/2) games this season. Kawhi didn't play in one game.

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[California Gold]

As per usual....

....fans of the Raptors saying their team can win = INSUFFERABLY COCKY

....fans of every other team saying their team will whomp the Raps = JUST BEING REASONABLE

I'm not really saying that at all. I think the Warriors are the lone exception in the entire league given how they've pretty much smacked around everyone for the last 4 years outside of Cleveland who almost needed a miracle themselves. If this almost any other team, I'd agree. If the Roles were reversed, I'd be saying the same thing. A team earns its reputation over several years -- especially one that might be the greatest team ever assembled (with or without Durant).

So the real issue is just that you think the Warriors without KD are simply a much better team than the Raps and should whomp them, no matter what evidence we have that suggests otherwise.

So by definition, anyone who disagrees with that can only be a cocky raptors homer.

For the record, we've heard the very same thing from all of Boston, Philly, and Milwaukee fans this year. No matter what the evidence suggested.

No I don't think the Warriors are that much better and in fact I think the Raptors match up very well with the Warriors KD or not. What I'm saying is that it's a reasonable assumption to have especially given that the Warriors are an all time great club and probably the only team that anyone can claim can go into a series and beat a team in 4 or 5 or w/e because they have proven that they are that good. I personally think it'll go 6 or 7 though I'm hard pressed to pick a winner because I'm not entirely sure what the kind of game plan we'll see with the Warriors (will it be what they ran against Portland or something new?).

And anyone who disagrees with them is not a cocky raptors homer. But at the same time to think it's blasphemous is another story. The Warriors have the type of team that is capable of destroying any opponent in the league because over the past 5 (including this run) playoff runs only three teams have gotten close to even beating them (one of which did beat them). That's sheer dominance and this year seems to be no different. They seem to have played better as a team without KD so far in the playoffs than with him (which is crazy to say) from the last 6 game sample size.

I understand regarding the other teams and that made little sense to claim such a thing given that those teams themselves haven't proven a whole lot in the postseason in regards to championships or finals appearances.

[TheGOATWill]

GSW has not been facing defence in playoffs like this. Houston and Portland are way below Toronto defence abilities.
Tough match-ups. Hope for some fun between Green and Ibaka.

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I have to give credit to the Raptors for solving the riddle against the bucks but to be fair it wasn’t a difficult riddle. That defensive strategy is now worthless. Gasoline and Ibaka will be called out to a dance floor 35 feet from the basket and that is worrisome.

[guess_wh0]

GSW has not been facing defence in playoffs like this. Houston and Portland are way below Toronto defence abilities.
Tough match-ups. Hope for some fun between Green and Ibaka.

Sent from my SLA-L22 using RealGM mobile app

I have to give credit to the Raptors for solving the riddle against the bucks but to be fair it wasn’t a difficult riddle. That defensive strategy is now worthless. Gasoline and Ibaka will be called out to a dance floor 35 feet from the basket and that is worrisome.

Bucks take and make more 3's than the Warriors. I think the Raptors know a thing or two about defending the 3 point line. Not having to worry about the paint will only make their 3 point defense better which was already elite to begin with.

[Gooner]

Golden State in 6. Durant injury gives Raptors a slight chance, but ultimately, I don't think they have enough to take down the Warriors.

[Gooner]

GSW has not been facing defence in playoffs like this. Houston and Portland are way below Toronto defence abilities.
Tough match-ups. Hope for some fun between Green and Ibaka.

Sent from my SLA-L22 using RealGM mobile app

I have to give credit to the Raptors for solving the riddle against the bucks but to be fair it wasn’t a difficult riddle. That defensive strategy is now worthless. Gasoline and Ibaka will be called out to a dance floor 35 feet from the basket and that is worrisome.

Bucks take and make more 3's than the Warriors. I think the Raptors know a thing or two about defending the 3 point line. Not having to worry about the paint will only make their 3 point defense better which was already elite to begin with.

Bucks have more shooters on their team, but Steph and Klay are just different. No one can dominate the game just with three point shooting, like those guys do. Warriors also have much better halfcourt offense than Milwaukee. More movement, more counters. It's just a different level.

[JunkYardDog6ix]

Does TOR use Siakam a lot as the screener?

I think he can do some damage against GSW in these situations b/c of his finishing ability.

Edit. Found this on him running the PnR. Still looking for him being the screener.

https://www.raptorsrepublic.com/2019/01/22/raptors-playbook-4-1-pick-roll-pascal-siakam/

He sets screens when Kawhi has the ball