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

[SlowPaced]

Let's go Raptors!

This was my prediction for the Finals before the Playoffs started. I was cheering for the Bucks to make it, but the Raptors is the best matchup against the Warriors imo. Loaded with great defenders, super versatile. Kawhi is probably the most reliable offensive weapon to have against the Warriors except for LeBron.

Should be a fun series, especially with the KD conundrum. If KD doesn't come back before Game 4, I'd actually favor the Raptors to win the series. They'll need KD in this one. With KD, the Dubs are the favorites, but I don't think it'll be a breeze at all.

[Vampirate]

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.

No, but i'd say they are like what the Red Sox are to Boston (maybe i'm wrong here).

I 'could' make an argument, but there's too much tradition with the Leafs even in their Cup drought.

Your talking 75+ years of existence and pride versus a franchise that is only a couple decades old and is on their first finals.

What I can say is that the raptors have probably supplanted the Blue Jays as the official #2 team to Toronto fans.

The Jays are third and the Argonaughts are a very distant forth.

[CS707]

Butler/Simmons with Embiid waiting in the middle was tougher matchup for Kawhi and the Raps in general than anything the Warriors defense will throw at them.

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

If Kawhi can score 100 plus points while locking down GS offensively then more power to him. Otherwise let him get his 30 points while working his butt off on the other end and focus on not letting the role players become a factor.

[Red Shoelace]

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.

Remember when we were 90%+ favourites due to our SRS difference and Cavs horrible defense, then we got swept in the 2nd round last year?

[Young Stapler]

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.

No, but i'd say they are like what the Red Sox are to Boston (maybe i'm wrong here).

I 'could' make an argument, but there's too much tradition with the Leafs even in their Cup drought.

Your talking 75+ years of existence and pride versus a franchise that is only a couple decades old and is on their first finals.

What I can say is that the raptors have probably supplanted the Blue Jays as the official #2 team to Toronto fans.

The Jays are third and the Argonaughts are a very distant forth.

What about Toronto FC?

[Red Shoelace]

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.

So you can see the future now too?

[iamworthy]

I think Warriors in 5 but question, can KL shut curry down? If he can, that changes the entire series.

[Tha King]

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.

Hockey is still king overall but the Raptors and basketball are just as popular if not more with the younger generation (gap widens the younger you get). Toronto will eventually become a basketball city.

[Raps in 4]

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.

Remember when we were 90%+ favourites due to our SRS difference and Cavs horrible defense, then we got swept in the 2nd round last year?

SRS is bush league.

538's statistical modelling is next level.

This series is over.

[Red Shoelace]

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.

No, we still have an aging but very large puck head contingent. Our sports media also does its best to downplay basketball on a regular basis in favor of hockey (and curling, I **** you not.)

[Red Shoelace]

I think Warriors in 5 but question, can KL shut curry down? If he can, that changes the entire series.

I know regular season is dismissed when discussing playoff matchups but ask GSW fans and they will attest to how epic and close our games have been the past 4-5 years. Sure we won for the first time this season (2/2) but all those games came down to the wire and were very competitive, Lowry also has been a reason for that. I don't even think Lowry matches up all the time against Curry either, I foresee some sneaky inverted stuff from Nurse to protect against the PnR. I am going to love watching what our defense is going to do against GSW offense.

[AdagioPace]

wait a moment...

before game 1 of the Raptors-Bucks series the realgm poll was favouring the Bucks, at least one single option (I don't remember if by aggregate too)
Now one of the options favouring the Raptors is leading the poll against the Warriors before game 1

either the Raptors fans flooded the general board (and they forgot to do it 2 weeks ago) or the collective hate vs the Warriors is being felt

[justme400e]

[img]
Drake rocks snakeskin Kevin Durant vest at Oracle Arena concert[instagram][/instagram]

[xdrta+]

wait a moment...

before game 1 of the Raptors-Bucks series the realgm poll was favouring the Bucks, at least one single option (I don't remember if by aggregate too)
Now one of the options favouring the Raptors is leading the poll against the Warriors before game 1

either the Raptors fans flooded the general board (and they forgot to do it 2 weeks ago) or the collective hate vs the Warriors is being felt

Or maybe more people think they match up well against the Warriors. And, without Durant, I have to agree (as a Warrior fan.)

[laika]

wait a moment...

before game 1 of the Raptors-Bucks series the realgm poll was favouring the Bucks, at least one single option (I don't remember if by aggregate too)
Now one of the options favouring the Raptors is leading the poll against the Warriors before game 1

either the Raptors fans flooded the general board (and they forgot to do it 2 weeks ago) or the collective hate vs the Warriors is being felt

Realgm loves to have their cake and eat it too.
Right now the Raptors are leading the poll 56 to 44- aka, a solid favorite.
Yet you can be sure that if the Raptors do win the title it will be portrayed as a massive upset.

[Red Shoelace]

wait a moment...

before game 1 of the Raptors-Bucks series the realgm poll was favouring the Bucks, at least one single option (I don't remember if by aggregate too)
Now one of the options favouring the Raptors is leading the poll against the Warriors before game 1

either the Raptors fans flooded the general board (and they forgot to do it 2 weeks ago) or the collective hate vs the Warriors is being felt

I feel more confident against GSW without Durant than I did against the Bucks.

Though to be fair I did predict Raps in 6 last series.

[pingpongrac]

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.

I'm assuming you mean if KD actually plays? If so, I'd say it's easier for these Raptors than against the 2016 Cavs. Kawhi is MUCH better than DeRozan was and, while Lowry's scoring has declined, Toronto is just as good - if not much better - at the C/PF positions and the bench is more proven. Toronto also has HCA this time around.

With KD, Toronto would probably lose in 6 with a blowout loss or two - not four blowout losses by an average of 28.5 PTS, like against the 2016 Cavs. Without KD, Toronto should be the favourites.

[oaktownwarriors87]

Golden State doesn't have anyone that can guard Kawhi ……. I see guys saying 35 year old Igoudala or maybe Klay ,both giving up 15 lbs of muscle to Kawhi . Draymond who then would leave Siakam free ,who should be a bigger factor against a finesse team like GS. Kawhi is a nightmare matchup problem for GS.

Iguodala holds LeBron to just over 30% shooting.

He keeps Harden just under 30%

Uhh...go look at LeBron's shooting percentages game-by-game against the Warriors the last few years.

Then look at the numbers when he was being defended by Iguodala vs Durant

[pb-ceo]

if KD doesn't play GSW in 4. if he does raptors in 4.

[Hindenburg]

Feel old yet?