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

[Lateral Quicks]

Raps in 4

One of us! One of us!

[everdiso]

Kawhi > Curry
Lowry = Dray
Siakam = Klay
Gasol > Looney
Green = Igoudala

Fred > Livingston
Ibaka > Bogut
Norm > McKinnie

Kawhi > Curry, Kawhi has to be better than Curry or the Raptors lose.
Lowry < Dray
Siakam < Klay
Gasol = or > Looney
Green = or < Igoudala. Green better hit his shots.

Fred > Livingston
Ibaka > Bogut
Norm > McKinnie

Raptors better outrebound the Warriors.
Raptors might want to try to win by stamina attrition. Pick up the pace (in the short run that favors the Warriors), press, play 48 hard minutes to try to force the Warriors to play their bench more.

I think the Warriors team play on offense and defense is smarter than the Raptors. I think the Warriors team has more synergy than the Raptors so even if the Raptors have a small superiority in talent they will still lose.

the Lowry/Dray and Siakam/Klay comps are interesting for sure. I think the numbers actually like both the raps players better at the moment, but I kept it as equal just because dray and klay get a large benefit of the doubt, especially when it comes to regular season stats.

[15Years]

Toronto was amazing defensively this series. But the Bucks' offense just looked really bad for long stretches this series. Playing Giannis and Bledsoe together for long minutes in the 4th killed their chances. They had no spacing and Raps just played a 3-2 zone and dared the two of them to hit jump shots. They can't play the same kind of defense on the Warriors.

How do you praise their defense and then in the next sentence completely contradict your praise? We've held every team we've faced in check defensively. The warriors are the champs and favorites until they lose but we gotta give toronto their full due when it comes to defense.

[Coach Carter]

who's getting cocky now

[Charlie Sollers]

Warriors haven't faced a defense like this during their run. Raps in 6.

[djsunyc]

respect this man. heart. soul. gives it all. always ridiculed in mainstream media but they just don't know what this guy meant to this franchise since 2014. i don't blame y'all b/c you don't watch this team day in and day out but he is what makes this team go. underappreciated, even by his own fans, but this guy, more than anyone else in the league, deserves this.

[D.Brasco]

No one on the Warriors is holding back this beast

[Stix]

I agree with Raps in 7. It's a lot more of an even series than some people think. Raps have the best player on the court with some unfinished business against the Dubs. Deeper bench. They will be motivated to win their first title. Add in home court advantage. So if/when this does come down to a game 7, they have the crowd and the drive to win.

Dubs have been there and done that... the drive will not be there. Curry is also notorious for choking in the finals. This will be one for the ages.

[oaktownwarriors87]

RIP RealGM 2003-2019

We hardly knew ye

[oaktownwarriors87]

I agree with Raps in 7. It's a lot more of an even series than some people think. Raps have the best player on the court with some unfinished business against the Dubs. Deeper bench. They will be motivated to win their first title. Add in home court advantage. So if/when this does come down to a game 7, they have the crowd and the drive to win.

Dubs have been there and done that... the drive will not be there. Curry is also notorious for choking in the finals. This will be one for the ages.

Durants out, not Curry. Warriors still have the best player on the floor.

[Blood Orange]

Raps in 4.

[Admiral-Kizaru]

I agree with Raps in 7. It's a lot more of an even series than some people think. Raps have the best player on the court with some unfinished business against the Dubs. Deeper bench. They will be motivated to win their first title. Add in home court advantage. So if/when this does come down to a game 7, they have the crowd and the drive to win.

Dubs have been there and done that... the drive will not be there. Curry is also notorious for choking in the finals. This will be one for the ages.

Want to do an AV and Signature Bet?

[reignfire]

It's reasonable to pick the Warriors because they have the pedigree.

But this will be the first series the Raptors won't be out sized while playing the lineup they want. FVV, Lowry, and Norm finally aren't looking up all series.

Kawhi will be even more dominant this series because the Warriors don't play physical basketball. They are a finesse team which Kawhi will feast on.

I'm not sure what I'm picking yet but I feel like Kawhi is having one the GOAT postseason runs. Everything is just falling into place for him.

[dakomish23]

I wish Durant was fully ready from game 1 for the Kawhi matchup.

But without him this will be a more enjoyable series

[CodeBreaker]

Raps in 6

[e83pw2oa9hl5f]

ECF no full court press. Hardley any screens and passes vs WC press trapping multiple screens. Agree with earlier post about screening to get gasol in pick n role . See if he can stay in the game. This is going to be fun. Seems like the coasts are biased. But it usually comes down to injuries at this point and fielding health teams game of attrition. These comparisons of greater than lesser than doesnt work.

[NiL8r87]

Prepare to see Gasol put in 1 million pnr plays a game since that is the player on torontos starting lineup that GS can easily attack.
Toronto is going to have to find a way for Siakam to get a bit of run at the 5 since Gasol and Ibaka will probably struggle a lot on the perimeter.
Klay will guard Lowry. Steph will guard Green. Iguodala will guard Kawhi. Draymond will play free safety on Siakam and not guard him at all.
Toronto will be praying that Cousins can play so Gasol has somewhere to match up with. Otherwise the small ball will play him off the floor. FVV will get ate up by livington/klay unless Toronto sends double teams.

yeah Gasol is an amazing defender but he'll be in tough this series. this is the worst possible matchup for him. the good news is that the raps will be free to double down on curry and klay as needed, without worrying much about the rest.

And Siakam will make them pay for cheating off of him - it took two incredible unique defenders in Embiid and Giannis to slow him down the past two series. Nobody on the warriors has that kind of combo of size and quicks to slow him down like that.

Poor guy had to deal with Vucevic, Embiid and Lopez and now he’s stuck trying to defend Kevon Looney.

[java051997]

Okay ive been watching this Raptors for about many seasons.
They are different from what ive seen, with Kawhi having their best player .

They fought hard to get here .
I think this series will become competitive and tight. It might go to 6 atleast. Given the fact that Raptors has HCA
Without Durant I think GS will play more better but they are more liability on defense.
Kawhi will have easier life of not having to worry on the defensive end.

If we will compare the Bench:
I think Warriors has no answer against Raptor's bench.
Vanvleet has been great since Game 4 of ECF , who can warriors put since iggy will start? Livingston's old ass has been awful.

I got Warriors on 6 if they play like themselves. but if it goes to 7.. I will put my money on Raptors.

This will be interesting series.

[TimRobbins]

I can't see what the Raptors can do here. I don't think they have the tools to stop the splash brothers. They are too big and slow.

There's nobody better equipped to stop the splash bros than the team that can throw all of lowry green kawhi siakam vanvleet at them all game long.

I don't think any of these guys have the speed to chase the splash bros. around. Gasol will definitely be unable to the PNR. Not seeing it.

[Ballings7]

Warriors in 6.

Hoping for a Raptors in 6.

For Kawhi, back full circle (just no Zaza).. except things are a bit different in a few ways this time. Very glad its worked out this way for him..

I don't see Leonard being contained by GSW... they will need to contain the rest of the team and shut down the 3PT line for Toronto, and keep them off the FT line.

I don't see this being a sweep, would be shocked if so... don't think it'll go 5. Leonard alone with some good 3PT shooting and defense can win them two games, at least.

Danny Green needs to step up and make an impact, and should be able to being pretty familiar with GSW. I'll be looking for him to play better and contribute.

Think this'll be a fun finals, and feels "fresh" obviouslly... The Kawhi storylines are awesome.

This playoff run by Kawhi has been truly great and could end up being very special in the end if they win. Real happy to see it for him.