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

[Hindenburg]

[BBallchallenged]

With that being said

I’m going to believe in kawhi
I’m going to believe in the underdog story
I’m going to believe in The Raptors

Raptors in 7, they win it on the Road like the Cavaliers did

Join the club of shocking the world

Raptors have home court.

So did the bucks

[BBallchallenged]

Patrick McCaw could be a factor in this series

Sure, if every other Raptor can't play then, yes.

[everdiso]

My thoughts on my Raps heading into this series:

REGS: 53.9 2p%, 36.6 3p%, 57.9ts%
RND1: 54.8 2p%, 36.8 3p%, 58.2ts%
RND2: 52.4 2p%, 29.8 3p%, 54.2ts%
RND3: 44.9 2p%, 37.4 3p%, 54.5ts%

PHI and especially MIL had elite interior rim protection, which absolutely smothered our 2pt shooting. Especially with Milwaukee having both Giannis and brook down there while with Philly it was just Embiid. This made life tougher for Siakam more than anyone.

What made it worse against philly is that we compounded it by going ice cold from 3 (though some of that was probably due to their super long guards smothering Kyle and fred).

Against the Bucks, the 3pt shooting got back on track making for an easier series, even if their interior D was killing us.

The warriors, on the other hand, have nothing close to the rim protection that our last two opponent's had. This should be a huge bonus for our scoring inside, especially like I said for Siakam, who finally gets a series where he doesn't have to deal with a physical freak like Giannis or Embiid shutting him down. On top of that, the warriors guards don t have near the length that we've been up against the last two rounds, which should ensure that our 3pt shooting doesn't go into another slump again. On the other hand, Dray/Iggy is about as good a combo as there is to slow down Kawhi. It'll be super important that Siakam exploits their lack of size to keep the heat off Kawhi.

On the flipside, with Kyle green fred Kawhi Siakam we have a team perfectly built to chase and switch off against the splash bros. The fact that they don't have even one other reliable shooter or offensive mismatch for us to worry about should make it extra tough on them to get the looks they're used to.

The biggest thing though might be their proven awesomeness - this is not a team we can count on getting rattled, scared, making mistakes, or getting outhustled. We're gonna have to earn every bit if it.

Thing is, I have so much faith in the mental makeup of our team now that I don't think that edge is nearly as big an issue as you'll hear the talking heads say it is this week.

[510TWSS]

One thing GSW half court offense is vastly better than the Bucks. I’m excited for this fun series. Dubz in 6 is my prediction

[NyKnicks1714]

Warriors in 6, but a series that's never really in doubt

[everdiso]

Going GS here. Toronto got to the finals by turning the last two series into 90's style rock fights and I don't think they'll be able to slow down GS to that level. Both of those series were decided because there was 1+ guys that the Raptors could literally ignore on defense (Simmons, Bledsoe) and 1-2 guys that carried those offenses (Butler, Embiid kinda, GIannis) that they could focus down on. The Raptors pulling this off wouldn't surprise me though but they won a lot of closer games with guys like VanVleet going supernova.

Can't the raps literally ignore every warrior other than the splash bros?

[WalterBenjamin]

70 min of Lowry and FVV will enable Curry to just shoot over the Raptors.

[SeniorWalker]

Congratulations raps fan. You are a great fanbase and I'm really happy for you. You deserve to be here.

I cant root for either team cause I like players on both teams. I would love to see Toronto win one but would also like to see steph dominate and get that finals MVP.

Toronto has a chance to win this contrary to what oddsmakers say. The warriors should be the favorite but Toronto has been my sleeper pick all year. I thought the bucks matched up better with GSW than they do but I never felt confident Milwaukee would actually beat the Raps.

Gut says raps in 6 or 7. Head says warriors in 6.

[Uncle Dennis]

Just so happy to be in the finals. Realistically speaking Warriors are huge favs, but you never know what can happen in a 7 game series.

[PizzaSteve]

Yeah their size could make a major difference this series. Their front courts better and with Durant out they’ve got more size in the back court too

Warriors have more size than folks realize. Look up wing spans of Looney, Iguadala, Green. Klay is 6 7. It will be fairly close, even without KD.

Agree Gasol and kawhi's play will be key. Renting the clutch genes for a push year is paying dividends for Toronto. Good moves/good fortune. Warriors experience key, but showing some age.

Warriors energy levels available the decider IMHO.

Raps are still longer at like every position. Gasol still got a bigger wingspan 7 5" than looney 7 4"and is way taller. Siakam has 5 cm in height and wingspan on Green. Kawhii has 10 cm wingspan advantage over Igoudala. Green has a 6’10 wingspan, he’s longer than Klay.

So roughy 2 inch avg advantage on avg for the players you cherry picked. Klay has a 3 inch wingspan advantage over Lowrey. Boogie has a 1 inch advantage over Gasol. You basically make my point.

[trickshot]

Going GS here. Toronto got to the finals by turning the last two series into 90's style rock fights and I don't think they'll be able to slow down GS to that level. Both of those series were decided because there was 1+ guys that the Raptors could literally ignore on defense (Simmons, Bledsoe) and 1-2 guys that carried those offenses (Butler, Embiid kinda, GIannis) that they could focus down on. The Raptors pulling this off wouldn't surprise me though but they won a lot of closer games with guys like VanVleet going supernova.

Can't the raps literally ignore every warrior other than the splash bros?

You know the other dimension of the Warriors' dominance is taking advantage of teams that try this.

[PizzaSteve]

Going GS here. Toronto got to the finals by turning the last two series into 90's style rock fights and I don't think they'll be able to slow down GS to that level. Both of those series were decided because there was 1+ guys that the Raptors could literally ignore on defense (Simmons, Bledsoe) and 1-2 guys that carried those offenses (Butler, Embiid kinda, GIannis) that they could focus down on. The Raptors pulling this off wouldn't surprise me though but they won a lot of closer games with guys like VanVleet going supernova.

Can't the raps literally ignore every warrior other than the splash bros?

Didnt work for Portland....maybe....

[will]

WE HERE, BABY!!!

[B-Ball Freak]

Gonna be interesting to see how the Raptors D do against an offensive juggernaut in GS. The Raptors defense completely stymied 2 high powered offenses in the Sixers and then the Bucks.

[everdiso]

Going GS here. Toronto got to the finals by turning the last two series into 90's style rock fights and I don't think they'll be able to slow down GS to that level. Both of those series were decided because there was 1+ guys that the Raptors could literally ignore on defense (Simmons, Bledsoe) and 1-2 guys that carried those offenses (Butler, Embiid kinda, GIannis) that they could focus down on. The Raptors pulling this off wouldn't surprise me though but they won a lot of closer games with guys like VanVleet going supernova.

Can't the raps literally ignore every warrior other than the splash bros?

Didnt work for Portland....maybe....

Is that what Portland tried?

Doesn't seem like It, given that they let Steph and Klay average 58pts per game.

[Ugly Duckling]

Gsw sweep. This isn't even close, raps don't have the guards to run around chasing the splash brothers

Nurse could put Klaw on Steph, Green on Klay, Siakam/Ibaka on KD and Gasol on Cousins

Putting anyone on Steph is kind of pointless because he runs most of his action off the P&R so he will get the switch he wants. Raptors will have to run small with Siakam/Kawhi/Green on the floor at the same time and hope they don't give up the offensive rebound after the switch.

The only time Steph is really bothered is someone who is willing to chase him around like a Dellavedova and Kawhi isn't exact the most fleet of foot when it comes to chasing people around. Guarding Steph or Klay won't be easy for Kawhi since both are great catch and shoot threats after running off of screens. It's Siakam and Green who will have to do most of the heavy lifting defensively this series.

Hmm that's a good point.. maybe Norman Powell can take on the responsibility of chasing Steph around when Danny Green's not doing it? Chasing Steph around would also tire out Kawhi and they need him offensively

[Bornstellar]

Dubs in 5 if Kerr doesn't overplay Cousins. If he does play a lot then I can see Raps winning in 7. If KD comes back though I don't think Toronto has a chance. Warriors are a completely different animal than the Bucks or 76ers. And they are way more experienced and ready for this. Not having homecourt doesn't bother them at all. I expect a big series defensively from Iggy and Green on Leonard.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

Raps may turn to McCaw to chase Curry around.

[VinBaker6]

Warriors fans will be shook at how much Freddy V can guard Steph. I'll warn them right now