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

[Clyde Frazier]

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[nikster]

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.

Giannis has been killing teams all season, and just dropped 28 ppg on one of the best defenses in the league the round before. Guess nobody else realized the secret was just not guarding him.

[everdiso]

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.

Giannis has been killing teams all season, and just dropped 28 ppg on one of the best defenses in the league the round before. Guess nobody else realized the secret was just not guarding him.

[PhilBlackson]

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.

Weak lol so we'll negate every stat/metric that already covers this but let's go...

Matchups....hmm let's quickly look at that...

Kawhi/Siakam (far tougher than any HOU perimeter combo) will alternate between Steph/Klay so someone is always glued to them with far greater length than ANY perimeter defender HOU has besides Leonard being the best defender of the last 2 decades. Lowry will defend Green until help is required at the rim by Gasol or Ibaka (likewise for Steph/Klay). Green and Powell will check Iggy unless you think he's gonna be able to takeover and drop 30+ night. Now you show me how HOU "matches up" better....lol

[tdotrep2]

could be wrong but its possible siakam could do serious damage this series, embiid and giannis' rim protection bothered him

[Stillwater]

If GSW was not coming off the several year run they have been on which is definitely impacting the odds, there is no way with their injuries, or season overall they would be considered the heavy favorites that they are . I still don't love Toronto getting it done, but the way they contained Giannis was impressive and nothing would surprise me if they continue to find their spots and dominate the paint.
I voted Raps in 6

[everdiso]

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.

A) what does that even mean?
B)

Ibaka 6'10" height, 7'3" wingspan, 235lbs
Siakam 6'9" height, 7'3" wingspan, 230lbs
Looney 6'9" height, 7'3" wingspan, 220lbs

Take your pick of whichever smallball center fits the bill for you.

[MindState]

"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.

Weak lol so we'll negate every stat/metric that already covers this but let's go...

Matchups....hmm let's quickly look at that...

Kawhi/Siakam (far tougher than any HOU perimeter combo) will alternate between Steph/Klay so someone is always glued to them with far greater length than ANY perimeter defender HOU has besides Leonard being the best defender of the last 2 decades. Lowry will defend Green until help is required at the rim by Gasol or Ibaka (likewise for Steph/Klay). Green and Powell will check Iggy unless you think he's gonna be able to takeover and drop 30+ night. Now you show me how HOU "matches up" better....lol

Please stop. This post makes zero sense. Rockets developed their roster and game plan around stopping the warriors. The Raptors didnt.

[pingpongrac]

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.

Your whole stance is very narrow-minded. Toronto hasn't had the chance to play the Warriors in the playoffs yet. Their team is arguably the best suited in the league when it comes to defending the Warriors, though.

Assuming KD doesn't play, Toronto can either preserve Kawhi's energy on the defensive end by guarding the likes of Iguodala/Green/McKinnie/Jerebko/Livingston or they can put him on Klay or Steph to make things extremely difficult for them. FVV, Powell, Lowry, Green and Siakam are all viable options to defend Steph; most of those players can defend Klay, too. Aside from that, GSW has no serious scoring threats - unless Cousins plays, in which case Gasol will have more of a role in this series and could very well shut Cousins down like he did to Vucevic and Embiid.

On the other end, who is going to stop Kawhi? Siakam has had some great games against the Warriors in his career, and I expect him to show out like he did in RD 1. Lowry and FVV have both turned things around and are shooting at an elite level lately. If Danny Green ever finds his shot again, Toronto's offence can definitely more than keep up with the KD-less Warriors.

[everdiso]

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/

The statistical models at 538 are much more important than what the writers think, right? especially since their arguments against the model seem to be "I just don't believe it". Remember, their model has been right about the raps so far, their writers have been wrong, especially against the bucks.

Choice quotes:

sara.ziegler: I guess my point here is that the opinions on who we think will win are based most on knowing that Golden State has won.

chris.herring: That’s fair.

tchow: The model has been really high on Toronto, compared to other models, all playoffs long. That prediction is looking pretty good so far this series, which is making us Bucks believers (fear-ers?) look bad. Maybe I’m still salty about being wrong about Toronto, because my initial reaction on seeing the new finals projections was also “no f-ing way.”

neil: I mean, that was my honest reaction too, Tony

Maybe they should start listening to their model!

[will]

Raps taking this in 6 or 7!

[dred926]

is igoudala still good enough to stop kawhi? but what i like with kawhi is he is damn patient... doesnt rush the offense in anyway.. and i believe that there is no rim protection from the dubs like how embiid did it and like how giannis did it. Green is the only one ...

[Donkey19]

Watching how Raptors won against the Warriors in season, and how the Raptors beat a LeBron like team Giannis' Milwaukee, I think they will have a good chance of beating the Warriors.
Raptors offense dominance doesn't depend on one player, and their defense is suffocating.
On the other hand, Durants injury brings back Steph Currys true game. They seems unstoppable again.


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[MindState]

is igoudala still good enough to stop kawhi? but what i like with kawhi is he is damn patient... doesnt rush the offense in anyway.. and i believe that there is no rim protection from the dubs like how embiid did it and like how giannis did it. Green is the only one ...

Iggy will be fine. Hes guarded much tougher offensive players like LeBron and Harden.

[everdiso]

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.

Weak lol so we'll negate every stat/metric that already covers this but let's go...

Matchups....hmm let's quickly look at that...

Kawhi/Siakam (far tougher than any HOU perimeter combo) will alternate between Steph/Klay so someone is always glued to them with far greater length than ANY perimeter defender HOU has besides Leonard being the best defender of the last 2 decades. Lowry will defend Green until help is required at the rim by Gasol or Ibaka (likewise for Steph/Klay). Green and Powell will check Iggy unless you think he's gonna be able to takeover and drop 30+ night. Now you show me how HOU "matches up" better....lol

Please stop. This post makes zero sense. Rockets developed their roster and game plan around stopping the warriors. The Raptors didnt.

Maybe Houston should have concentrated on getting better defenders.

DRPM

Gasol 2.9 ----- Capela 2.0
Siakam 2.0 -- Tucker 1.9
Kawhi 0.2 ---- Harden 0.0
Green 2.2 ----- Gordon -1.3
Lowry 1.9 ------- Paul 2.3

Ibaka 0.4 ------- Shumpert -0.8
Fred 0.4 --------- Rivers -0.9
Norm -0.1------- House -0.2

And we know Kawhi is only down at harden's level because he was going half out on the defensive end this regular season.

How did Houston ever actually think they could defend the warriors with only one good perimeter defender?

Now I kind of understand why they fell apart when KD was injured - Tucker was a nice match on KD, but became kind of useless once KD was out, as he couldn't defend the guards. Meanwhile, the warriors increased guard play with KD out totally exposed the fact that the rockets only had one guy who could guard the perimeter.

[SK21209]

I for one am very excited for these Finals; it's the first time since 2014 probably that I've felt that way. I think it'll be the Warriors in 6 tough games but the Raptors can absolutely pull this off. This is great for the NBA and I'm happy for the Raptors and their fans.

[Vampirate]

This series imo is harder to win than when the Raptors went against the Lebron, Kyrie, Love Cavs.

To put it into perspective, when KD joined the Warriors the Cavs could never beat that team with KD.

[Froob]

Is Rapsmania on par with the Leafs? I know it was a hockey town, but looks like it may be just as much a basketball Town now too.

[TheBoi10]

Raptors in 5

[AkelaLoneWolf]

could be wrong but its possible siakam could do serious damage this series, embiid and giannis' rim protection bothered him

he wouldn't even drive against lopez; his issue is more mental right now