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

[B00Yah]

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.

It's not random hate, it's hopeful expectations.

I love that GS has been dominant after going through decades of futility like the Raptors.
I love the passion of their fans.
I love the style of ball they play and their players (other than dirty Draymond - whose game I still respect).

You have all the pedigree, players, system, experience that gives the Warriors the edge over everybody in the league, including the Raps.

I just hope we can catch lightning in a bottle and make it competitive.

As for playoff "chokers", we've had our own. Times change, people grow and I'm glad for Klay that he's had his moments of success.

Looking forward to a good series.

[B00Yah]

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.

He looked a lot better in games 5 and 6.
The few days rest will help and he'll be fully-functioning basketbot in time for G1.

[-G-]

I don't trust the Raptors - specifically Lowry, Gasol, Siakam, and Green.

I know Lowry was great in the ECF, I'll just never trust the guy in a big spot. Gasol seems scared to shoot. Pull it. Siakam is going to get mentally annihilated by Draymond. Danny Green just sucks.

GO RAPTORS!!!

[Detective]

Watch on YouTube

Absolutely Insane Avengers Endgame Finals Hype Vid

Credit to Kash VFX

Mad respectful to both fanbases

That Kawhi + Quote moment, though. PHEW

[Triple7]

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.

I don’t think it would be that shocking. First off, without KD, i think kawhi is the best player in the series. Second, they do have hc advantage. Without KD, its not like the warriors are really dominant. Even the sweep against the blazers, the last 3 games could have gone either way, and that with Draymond playing the best basketball i’ve seen him in a stretch. The Mavs over the Heat, and also the Pistons winning over the Lakers, i think was the legitimate shockers in recent history. I say this series without KD is dead even. With a slight edge for the warriors if they get 1 of the first 2 games. If the warriors go down 0-2, i think the raps can win this. This series should be fun.

[PhilBlackson]

Watch on YouTube

Absolutely Insane Avengers Endgame Finals Hype Vid

Credit to Kash VFX

Mad respectful to both fanbases

That Kawhi + Quote moment, though. PHEW

Won't lie...I didn't think it was that hype tbh lol

I was probably expecting something that implied taking out a seemingly unbeatable force in GSW/Thanos or some type of plot line running in it. Instead it was just kinda random HD footage of either team.

[The_Hater]

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.

I don’t think it would be that shocking. First off, without KD, i think kawhi is the best player in the series. Second, they do have hc advantage. Without KD, its not like the warriors are really dominant. Even the sweep against the blazers, the last 3 games could have gone either way, and that with Draymond playing the best basketball i’ve seen him in a stretch. The Mavs over the Heat, and also the Pistons winning over the Lakers, i think was the legitimate shockers in recent history. I say this series without KD is dead even. With a slight edge for the warriors if they get 1 of the first 2 games. If the warriors go down 0-2, i think the raps can win this. This series should be fun.

The Warriors with and without KD is the difference between the Raptors competing in a close, hard fought series that could go either way and the Warriors have firm control every step of the way. And that makes this an incredibly difficult series to handicap.

If the Warriors have KD back and healthy, a Raps upset would be up there with Pistons over the Lakers in 2004. People don't like to view that as an upset in hindsight, but practically nobody was picking the Pistons to beat Shaq, Kobe, Payton, Malone and a team that had won 3/4 of the previous titles.

[laika]

Update-
Raptors are now the Vegas favorite in game 1 after line movement.
56% of Realgm thinks the Raptors will win.
There is no sign yet that Durant is going to play in this series.

The point is that just about no one actually picks their team based on underdog status. The Raptors are probably slight favorites now and I expect roughly zero people to change which side they're rooting for.

[Durant Durant]

Raptors is the only team in history (i think) with no player drafted in the lottery that has reached the Finals. Kawhi is the highest at 15th. The rest were late 1st round, 2nd round and undrafted. Talk about underdogs.

[TrustFundBaby]

Danny Green bout to run a Low Post Clinic on Curry this series

Get ready for the Reincarnation of Hakeem

[Triple7]

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.

I don’t think it would be that shocking. First off, without KD, i think kawhi is the best player in the series. Second, they do have hc advantage. Without KD, its not like the warriors are really dominant. Even the sweep against the blazers, the last 3 games could have gone either way, and that with Draymond playing the best basketball i’ve seen him in a stretch. The Mavs over the Heat, and also the Pistons winning over the Lakers, i think was the legitimate shockers in recent history. I say this series without KD is dead even. With a slight edge for the warriors if they get 1 of the first 2 games. If the warriors go down 0-2, i think the raps can win this. This series should be fun.

The Warriors with and without KD is the difference between the Raptors competing in a close, hard fought series that could go either way and the Warriors have firm control every step of the way. And that makes this an incredibly difficult series to handicap.

If the Warriors have KD back and healthy, a Raps upset would be up there with Pistons over the Lakers in 2004. People don't like to view that as an upset in hindsight, but practically nobody was picking the Pistons to beat Shaq, Kobe, Payton, Malone and a team that had won 3/4 of the previous titles.

Exactly! I don’t get why some would think that the raps winning this would be a shocker, especially with KD out. This isn’t last years cavs, where its lebron plus role players against a fully healthy warriors. If Kawhi continues to play MJ mode, it would be tough for the warriors.

[Son Goku 25]

Watch on YouTube

lol

[BVB24]

Raps in 6.

Read on Twitter

[killacalijatt]

Who else cant wait till Thursday. Sooo far away.

[killacalijatt]

Update-
Raptors are now the Vegas favorite in game 1 after line movement.
56% of Realgm thinks the Raptors will win.
There is no sign yet that Durant is going to play in this series.

The point is that just about no one actually picks their team based on underdog status. The Raptors are probably slight favorites now and I expect roughly zero people to change which side they're rooting for.

Even better for the dubs

[Blacksheep25]

I’ll be cheering for the Dubs in every game Durant doesn’t play. If he comes back, I’ll immediately be cheering for the Raps. Pure hater series as I hate the Durant warriors and find raptors fans insufferable. Ideal series would be warriors win first 3, Durant comes back, they lose, soreness sets in, and he sits the next game and warriors close it out. Kawhi leaves. Durant leaves with legacy hit. That’s about all good that come out of this thing for me. Just not a fan.

[Hindenburg]

[RaptorPride]

Watch on YouTube

[afox]

Update-
Raptors are now the Vegas favorite in game 1 after line movement.
56% of Realgm thinks the Raptors will win.
There is no sign yet that Durant is going to play in this series.

The point is that just about no one actually picks their team based on underdog status. The Raptors are probably slight favorites now and I expect roughly zero people to change which side they're rooting for.

If you think Toronto is somehow a better basketball team, you haven't been watching the last 5 years...And they're not favored, in fact, Tor is a huge underdog for the series...Truth is, Raptors will lose this series, and then lose Kawhi in the offseason...I love the optimism, but let's keep it real...lol

[pingpongrac]

Update-
Raptors are now the Vegas favorite in game 1 after line movement.
56% of Realgm thinks the Raptors will win.
There is no sign yet that Durant is going to play in this series.

The point is that just about no one actually picks their team based on underdog status. The Raptors are probably slight favorites now and I expect roughly zero people to change which side they're rooting for.

If you think Toronto is somehow a better basketball team, you haven't been watching the last 5 years...And they're not favored, in fact, Tor is a huge underdog for the series...Truth is, Raptors will lose this series, and then lose Kawhi in the offseason...I love the optimism, but let's keep it real...lol

Huge underdog is a bit of stretch. If KD plays every game, then they'd be big underdogs - just like all other 29 teams in the league. If KD is out for even 2 or 3 games, Toronto's chances increase astronomically as they'd have a decent chance to jump out to an early 2-0 lead at home.