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

[XxIronChainzxX]

If the Raptors win it all, would it make for the greatest narrative Ever?

1) A maligned superstar, vilified by the whole league.
2) A team synonymous with choking in the playoffs.
3) Down 2-0 to what some were calling a top 10 team ever.
4) The 'Shot', the bounces....Destiny?


Don't believe in Fate, but it seems like the stars have aligned for the Raptors. The last minute Gasol trade with Charlotte pulling out, The Shot & now going against the Dynasty without their best player and with Home-court. Redemption on so many levels. Almost feels like its meant to be.

If they beat the Dubs it would be the greatest and most shocking upset since the Mavericks over the Heatles. That was one of the most epic playoff runs since Hakeem stole D-Robb’s soul. IMO, would do wonders for Kawhis legacy.

[everdiso]

3pt Shooting Comparison

Last 2 seasons, Regular Season:

Lowry 7.3att, 37.7% ------ Curry 10.9att, 43.2%
Green 5.0att, 41.6% ------ Klay 7.4att, 42.0%
Kawhi 4.9att, 36.5% ------ Cousins 5.0att, 33.4%
Fred 4.0att, 39.5% ------- Dray 3.1att, 29.5%
Gasol 3.9att, 35.1% ------ Iggy 2.0att, 31.0%
Ibaka 3.1att, 33.5% ------ McKinnie 1.5att, 35.4%
Norm 2.7att, 34.0% ------- Looney 0.1att, 13.3%
Siakam 2.1att, 31.2% ---- Livingston 0.1att, 0.0%


last 2 Seasons, Playoffs:

Lowry 6.1att, 38.8% ------ Curry 10.9att, 39.2%
Kawhi 5.3att, 41.1% ------ Klay 7.4att, 41.2%
Green 4.6att, 30.2% ------ Dray 3.2att, 24.8%
Fred 3.6att, 34.9% -------- Iggy 3.0att, 37.4%
Gasol 3.4att, 42.7% ------- Cousins 1.5att, 33.3%
Siakam 3.1att, 31.0% ----- McKinnie 1.4att, 31.8%
Norm 2.7att, 38.1% -------- Looney 0.1att, 00.0%
Ibaka 2.0att, 28.6% ------- Livingston 0.1att, 0.0%


Obviously the raps have to do their best to chase the splash bros off the line, but they can feel free to cheat off pretty much anyone else - or at least switch freely without worry about a split second gap. the only other guy they have to worry about out there is when iggy sneaks off for corner threes.

[B-Ball Freak]

It just hit me again today that the Raptors are in the f***** Finals!...its STILL surreal

[BigShaq34]

And I thought Bucks fans were obnoxious... If you are so sure of your defense (as if gsw don't play great defense as well and as if gsws' offense isnt all time great...?) go place your bets since your getting insane value and stop gloating here. Bucks' best player is the second worst shooter in the league and 76ers' pg is the worst shooter ever while gsws backcourt are the best shooters ever. Jeezus...

Bucks best player is also the MVP of the league. Assuming KD is out for awhile, the Warriors only have Curry & Klay that can shoot from 3...no one else on the roster is a threat from 3 except maybe Iggy. The Bucks had way more 3 point shooters (Middleton, Lopez, Hill, Brogdon, Mirotic, Illyasova).

Yeah, they only have Curry and Klay. No big deal.

draymond is their second best player right now dude is playing the best ball of his life and he looks like he's in supreme shape

[everdiso]

If the Raptors win it all, would it make for the greatest narrative Ever?

1) A maligned superstar, vilified by the whole league.
2) A team synonymous with choking in the playoffs.
3) Down 2-0 to what some were calling a top 10 team ever.
4) The 'Shot', the bounces....Destiny?


Don't believe in Fate, but it seems like the stars have aligned for the Raptors. The last minute Gasol trade with Charlotte pulling out, The Shot & now going against the Dynasty without their best player and with Home-court. Redemption on so many levels. Almost feels like its meant to be.

If they beat the Dubs it would be the greatest and most shocking upset since the Mavericks over the Heatles. That was one of the most epic playoff runs since Hakeem stole D-Robb’s soul. IMO, would do wonders for Kawhis legacy.

the raps with the best player in the series beating a team with less wins than them would not be the most shocking upset.

[XxIronChainzxX]

If the Raptors win it all, would it make for the greatest narrative Ever?

1) A maligned superstar, vilified by the whole league.
2) A team synonymous with choking in the playoffs.
3) Down 2-0 to what some were calling a top 10 team ever.
4) The 'Shot', the bounces....Destiny?


Don't believe in Fate, but it seems like the stars have aligned for the Raptors. The last minute Gasol trade with Charlotte pulling out, The Shot & now going against the Dynasty without their best player and with Home-court. Redemption on so many levels. Almost feels like its meant to be.

If they beat the Dubs it would be the greatest and most shocking upset since the Mavericks over the Heatles. That was one of the most epic playoff runs since Hakeem stole D-Robb’s soul. IMO, would do wonders for Kawhis legacy.

the raps with the best player in the series beating a team with less wins than them would not be the most shocking upset.

The Raptors have 1-2 more wins. Accepting Kawhi is the best player in the series, the gap between him and Curry or KD is not huge - and the Dubs have the by far second best player in the series, and if KD comes back anywhere near healthy they've got the by far 2nd and 3rd best players. After that, IMO, the Raptors best case are only mildly outclassed.

I'm not saying we cant win. We're hungry, we're resilient, we've played unbelievable defense, and Kawhi is a 'bloody monster' to quote Game of Zones. But with KD healthy the talent gap is hugely not in our favour.

[B00Yah]

Mm, Curry is the best shooter, ever, Klay is top 5, easily if not top 3. Curry's been averaging 37 points in the past 6 games. We aren't talking about some random dudes. Oh, and Green has been balling out of control and looked incredible in these 6 games as well.

Obviously, anything can happen, but it will be interesting to see how the Raptors guard Steph and Klay.

Isn't Clay a finals choker?

Might start by spelling his name right....it is just above. Your take is equally accurate.

Clay was intentional, because he bricks in the finals.

At least, that was my understanding based on the last two finals I paid attention to (2015 & 2016). In 2016 he probably cost them the chip with his dreadful shooting and I recall him crying on the bench.

Good to see he turned it around in 2017 and 2018 as I like his game.

Thanks for pointing out my misunderstanding.

FYI - those looking for his finals history: https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompkl01.html#all_playoffs_totals

[thomchatt3rton]

I’m looking forward to this one! Should be a great series and there are a lot of unknowns going in.

I’ll be rooting for TOR....unless the games start and I find Im still bitter from the ecf and want revenge...but i dont think so.

Not a Warriors hater either at all (maybe im a tiny bit “warriors weary”) but I admire this TOR team and I always root for my fellow hard-luck franchises.





Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

[everdiso]

this is just regular season stats for now. I'll do a playoffs stats one tommorrow.



I do think the raps have a solid advantage right through the lineup with Durant out, especially with Playoffs Kawhi showing that Regular Season Kawhi was just going at 50%.

Playoffs Stats now. I put in Cousins for Bogut.

[PizzaSteve]

Isn't Clay a finals choker?

Might start by spelling his name right....it is just above. Your take is equally accurate.

Clay was intentional, because he bricks in the finals.

At least, that was my understanding based on the last two finals I paid attention to (2015 & 2016). In 2016 he probably cost them the chip with his dreadful shooting and I recall him crying on the bench.

Good to see he turned it around in 2017 and 2018 as I like his game.

Thanks for pointing out my misunderstanding.

FYI - those looking for his finals history: https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompkl01.html#all_playoffs_totals

Fair enough, but his finals history is 1) play every game, 2) 3 titles-1 loss.

Not saying warriors win, but this random hate of warriors players. Am I saying Lowrey cant win because, well, you know.... Warriors intentionally hurt guys, warriors players choke under pressure... Yet somehow as 1/5 of a three time champ team they choke more than players who havent seen a title game in a decade.

All those shots to beat Houston, comeback to tie games, then sweep wcf dont count because...too easy in west, but one buzzer beater by kawhi to advance, game 7 and he is god. It's silly. Somehow players losing in early rounds are more clutch than success. Playoff stats = different opponents, different bench strategies, small sample sizes, matchup dependent.

[Tigersrule]

when does finals media day start?

[guess_wh0]

Do people calling for a sweep realize GS was down 17+ points in Games 2, 3 & 4 to the Blazers. They need Durant back fast if they want to win this series. Toronto will not choke away 17 point leads constantly.

[6ixSideSniper]

Wait until Curry and Klay pour some mind boggling offense that will make the Raptors lose control of their defense.

As a Cavs fan, I was always getting angry at how bad the defense against playing against Warriors.
But after watching the Warriors demolished the Portland, now I understand that they can do it to any other teams.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Portland is by no means a good defensive team.

[6ixSideSniper]

And I thought Bucks fans were obnoxious... If you are so sure of your defense (as if gsw don't play great defense as well and as if gsws' offense isnt all time great...?) go place your bets since your getting insane value and stop gloating here. Bucks' best player is the second worst shooter in the league and 76ers' pg is the worst shooter ever while gsws backcourt are the best shooters ever. Jeezus...

If you’re so sure the Warriors are going to dismantle the Raptors why don’t you go out your money where your mouth is instead of complaining about Raptors fans here? Jeezus....

Judging by your username, you don’t even have a horse in the race and you’re already salty? Games haven’t even started yet my friend!

[1bigfan13]

I just hate the 9 PM EST start times. The games probably won't actually tip off until 9:15 or later. Which means we're looking at games probably ending around midnight....assuming they don't go into OT.

I know it's because they're trying to make it more convenient for the West coast audience, but when 50% of the nation's population lives in the eastern time zone I believe more should be done to ensure you get that audience for the entirety of your programming.

Some will sacrifice sleep to watch but there are also a ton of fans who tap out and go to bed around 11 PM and just watch the highlights the next morning.

[ropjhk]

I'm not putting too much stock in the Warriors playoff stats over the past 2 years because those stats are mainly with Durant. Without Durant the stats change, and probably for the better.

Without Durant the Warriors will lose IF they play like they did against before KD went down. If they play like they normally play without Durant then the Warriors should be slight favourites. If Durant comes back healthy and eager to prove something then the series will be over for Toronto.

I give Toronto a better chance than the last two Cavs teams but I'm still picking GS in 6.

[And1+2]

I just hate the 9 PM EST start times. The games probably won't actually tip off until 9:15 or later. Which means we're looking at games probably ending around midnight....assuming they don't go into OT.

I know it's because they're trying to make it more convenient for the West coast audience, but when 50% of the nation's population lives in the eastern time zone I believe more should be done to ensure you get that audience for the entirety of your programming.

Some will sacrifice sleep to watch but there are also a ton of fans who tap out and go to bed around 11 PM and just watch the highlights the next morning.

Games start at 10:00 for me.

[SichtingLives]

I don't want to get my hopes up because we've taken so many beatings over the years but I just have a feeling this year is special for us. The basketball gods can't do us dirty again. This is what I will tell myself for now.

[MindState]

Im concerned about Kawhi. He looked like he was 60 years old by Game 3 of the last series. Front rimming shots and had zero lift/explosion. Is this guy going to hold up over a finals series? He needs to average 35-40 a night and play 44 minutes.

[B-Ball Freak]

Im concerned about Kawhi. He looked like he was 60 years old by Game 3 of the last series. Front rimming shots and had zero lift/explosion. Is this guy going to hold up over a finals series? He needs to average 35-40 a night and play 44 minutes.

You sir are delusional/trolling, whatever makes you feel confident heading into the Finals I guess