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

[laika]

One thing in the Warriors favor is that Klay is playing for his next contract. Klay lost $30M by not making one of the three All-NBA teams. Nothing motivates a professional more than hearing that there are a few players better than you. I'm looking forward to watching how Klay plays this series.

Klay:

REGSN: 22.8pts/36, 46.7fg%, 57.1ts%
PLYFF: 17.4pts/36, 42.9fg%, 53.3ts%
WCQF: 17.3pts/36, 46.5fg%, 57.5ts%
WCSF: 16.6pts/36, 44.1fg%, 55.2ts%
WCF: 18.8pts/36, 37.9fg%, 47.0ts%

Last 3yrs:

REGSN: 22.5pts36, 47.4fg%, 58.6ts%
PLYFF: 17.3pts36, 43.4fg%, 54.4ts%

What exactly do people think Klay is anymore? And why does anyone think he'll do better against the best defensive team in basketball?

Klay is the most overrated player in the NBA.
But he seems to have Jedi mind skills that keep most fans from realizing this.

[laika]

Who does GS throw at Kawhi and Siakam defensively?

Curry guards Lowry.
Klay guards Siakam.
Iguodala guards Kawhi.
Looney and Green help with whoever.
Hopefully Cousins doesn't play at all.

[shi-woo]

People really overlooking the Raptors man. They have tons on experience (Gasol, Kawhii, Green, Ibaka, Lowry) way more size than GS,, and can win grindy games. Also you know their homecourt will be legit.

I think this series goes 7. If KD plays, they have no chance, if he doesn't though...

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[will]

Not gonna lie. Love to see a bit of old school back to the basket post game from Marc Gasoline and Surge.

[KrazyP]

The Raps are clear underdogs.

I would like to see the actual arguments supporting that assertion.

1) Look at the odds. It is like 70-30% according to betting companies.
2) Look at the players and advanced stats.
Steph+Dray combo has an impact of two superstars. It is very difficult to match this impact. The warriors have terrific 1 on 1 defenders such as Iggy and Klay. This will decrease Kawhi’s efficiency. The warriors have 3 of the top 4 players in this series. Curry is the best offensive player by a decent margin and Dray is the best defensive player by a decent margin at the same time. If Curry plays his usual game this is most likely a 4-2 wins for the Warriors. Note that KD may also return at some point. He is not a bad player either.

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.

[nikster]

People really overlooking the Raptors man. They have tons on experience (Gasol, Kawhii, Green, Ibaka, Lowry) way more size than GS,, and can win grindy games. Also you know their homecourt will be legit.

I think this series goes 7. If KD plays, they have no chance, if he doesn't though...

Sent from my D6708 using RealGM mobile app

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

[PizzaSteve]

One thing in the Warriors favor is that Klay is playing for his next contract. Klay lost $30M by not making one of the three All-NBA teams. Nothing motivates a professional more than hearing that there are a few players better than you. I'm looking forward to watching how Klay plays this series.

Klay:

REGSN: 22.8pts/36, 46.7fg%, 57.1ts%
PLYFF: 17.4pts/36, 42.9fg%, 53.3ts%
WCQF: 17.3pts/36, 46.5fg%, 57.5ts%
WCSF: 16.6pts/36, 44.1fg%, 55.2ts%
WCF: 18.8pts/36, 37.9fg%, 47.0ts%

Last 3yrs:

REGSN: 22.5pts36, 47.4fg%, 58.6ts%
PLYFF: 17.3pts36, 43.4fg%, 54.4ts%

What exactly do people think Klay is anymore? And why does anyone think he'll do better against the best defensive team in basketball?

Klay is the most overrated player in the NBA.
But he seems to have Jedi mind skills that keep most fans from realizing this.

Casual fans who look at stats and dont watch games underrate impact. Klays space and motion is a key part of the warriors all time great offense. 5 consecutive finals trips and all these takes that Klay and Curry arent so good makes me laugh. Klay doesnt care that playoff defenses sell out to stop our back court, so guys like Looney and Iggy feast on the boards and via Green led 3 on 2s. Look at the rb stats for portland. Curry and Green both got a triple double in G4, for gosh sake. One reason is defenders chasing Klay and the chaos he creates. When they rally team defenders panic. This is not on stat sheets, but coaches know.

[CS707]

I would like to see the actual arguments supporting that assertion.

1) Look at the odds. It is like 70-30% according to betting companies.
2) Look at the players and advanced stats.
Steph+Dray combo has an impact of two superstars. It is very difficult to match this impact. The warriors have terrific 1 on 1 defenders such as Iggy and Klay. This will decrease Kawhi’s efficiency. The warriors have 3 of the top 4 players in this series. Curry is the best offensive player by a decent margin and Dray is the best defensive player by a decent margin at the same time. If Curry plays his usual game this is most likely a 4-2 wins for the Warriors. Note that KD may also return at some point. He is not a bad player either.

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.

[shi-woo]

I also can help but think that experience AGAINST the Warriors is going to payoff big for the Raptors.

Kawhii and Green have knocked them out of the playoffs

Gasols Grizz were the first victims of the "always banged up opponents", and played them hard

Ibaka was on that OKC team that brought them 7

I really like the Raptors chances with homecourt

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[PizzaSteve]

People really overlooking the Raptors man. They have tons on experience (Gasol, Kawhii, Green, Ibaka, Lowry) way more size than GS,, and can win grindy games. Also you know their homecourt will be legit.

I think this series goes 7. If KD plays, they have no chance, if he doesn't though...

Sent from my D6708 using RealGM mobile app

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.

[XxIronChainzxX]

Warriors will have a minimum 3 of the best 4 offensive and defensive players and the better system. Besides having blind faith that Kawhi can do what James couldn't this will likely be a quick series . The Nba is decided on talent

But James did best this current GSW team. And when I say current I mean without KD. I don't see how we could win over a healthy KD + Curry, unless that locker wrong was a Lakers 2004 era trainwreck. But with KD out, there is some hope to make this a series.

[KrazyP]

One thing in the Warriors favor is that Klay is playing for his next contract. Klay lost $30M by not making one of the three All-NBA teams. Nothing motivates a professional more than hearing that there are a few players better than you. I'm looking forward to watching how Klay plays this series.

Klay:

REGSN: 22.8pts/36, 46.7fg%, 57.1ts%
PLYFF: 17.4pts/36, 42.9fg%, 53.3ts%
WCQF: 17.3pts/36, 46.5fg%, 57.5ts%
WCSF: 16.6pts/36, 44.1fg%, 55.2ts%
WCF: 18.8pts/36, 37.9fg%, 47.0ts%

Last 3yrs:

REGSN: 22.5pts36, 47.4fg%, 58.6ts%
PLYFF: 17.3pts36, 43.4fg%, 54.4ts%

What exactly do people think Klay is anymore? And why does anyone think he'll do better against the best defensive team in basketball?

Klay is the most overrated player in the NBA.
But he seems to have Jedi mind skills that keep most fans from realizing this.

And1. The fact that people think this guy should have been on one of the all NBA teams this year is ridiculous.

16.6 PER, .095 wS/48, 0.8VORP, -0.8 BPM, -0.58 RPM

When was the last time somebody with these kind of impact advanced stats make the all-star team? The fact that he made it this year ahead of several more deserving players is an NBA atrocity. Good player and good shooter but his ranking on the overall NBA totem poll is much higher than he derserves to be.

[simple_jack]

Patrick McCaw could be a factor in this series

[everdiso]

The Raps are clear underdogs.

I would like to see the actual arguments supporting that assertion.

1) Look at the odds. It is like 70-30% according to betting companies.
2) Look at the players and advanced stats.
Steph+Dray combo has an impact of two superstars. It is very difficult to match this impact. The warriors have terrific 1 on 1 defenders such as Iggy and Klay. This will decrease Kawhi’s efficiency. The warriors have 3 of the top 4 players in this series. Curry is the best offensive player by a decent margin and Dray is the best defensive player by a decent margin at the same time. If Curry plays his usual game this is most likely a 4-2 wins for the Warriors. Note that KD may also return at some point. He is not a bad player either.

I am looking at the players and the advanced stats.

Kawhi has a bigger impact than curry. Lowry and Dray are both elite impact players too. Siakam is a bigger impact player than klay. Gasol bigger impact than Looney. Green bigger impact than iggy.

By the advanced stats the raps have 5 impact starters while the warriors have 2, though Looney and iggy also have nice numbers in bench minutes, too.

[RyderMike]

There will be a 3PEAT Champion in the NBA.

Either the Golden State Warriors or Patrick McCaw

[tdotrep2]

How's GSW rim protection? Embiid and giannis really effected his shot at the rim and I think he could get rolling this series

[nikster]

People really overlooking the Raptors man. They have tons on experience (Gasol, Kawhii, Green, Ibaka, Lowry) way more size than GS,, and can win grindy games. Also you know their homecourt will be legit.

I think this series goes 7. If KD plays, they have no chance, if he doesn't though...

Sent from my D6708 using RealGM mobile app

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 than looney 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.

[SweetTouch]

Who does GS throw at Kawhi and Siakam defensively?

Pretty sure the warriors have a guy named draymond and this other guy named iggy onntheir team

[KrazyP]

Most important thing will be if Draymond injures anyone on the Raptors. If he doesn't then we have a shot. But I think there is a high likelihood that he intentionally hammers on Lowry's injured left hand the same way he did when Jonas came back from being injured by him. smashed straight at it with intent to injure again. they better wrap lowry's hand in metal.

As a Raps fan, this is the thing I'm most worried about. Draymond is the dirtiest player in the league today.....when he's outmatched, he has no qualms with going out there and kicking people in the balls, poking people in the eyes or intentionally breaking hands. He calls other people bitches but he's the biggest bitch there is.

This is why I wish the NBA should have an extra referee out there to watch players like this...the game moves fast and its hard to officiate.

[SweetTouch]

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

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