NBA 2019 NBA Finals: (E2) Toronto Raptors vs. (W1) Golden State Warriors

[le_sean]

Warriors are coming in rusty

Raptors won BOTH games against Warriors this year

Raptors have home court advantage and a better record

Don't think this is a cakewalk for GSW. Don't believe that.

Raptors won in GS by 20 with no Kawhi. The other game went to OT but Durant dropped 51 that game. No KD makes a huge difference.

Ibaka had big games both times they met. No Gasol then either.

 

[kanuck87]

TOR is a completely different animal compared to 4 years of LeBron and friends.

Better defense, better coaching, an actual bench, tenacity, toughness, grit, a supporting cast

And they'll have the best player on the court who's won a championship and is battle-tested.

 

[Maestro84]

TOR is playing with a chip on their shoulder too. They're hungry, playing for a country, burdened by the disrespect of everyone practically planning the parade for GSW.

Still though I have to give golden state the edge because they’re the dynasty here while we’re the first time finalsists. Although I don’t think it’ll be as one sided as everyone is thinking it to be, I’d be very surprised if the Warriors don’t win it all again

 

[grentthealien]

Toronto making the finals is like winning a championship to me. Life is hard as a small market team in the NBA so getting here is huge. There is no shame in losing to one of the greatest dynasties in the history of Basketball.

 

[Cloned]

Raptors won in GS by 20 with no Kawhi. The other game went to OT but Durant dropped 51 that game. No KD makes a huge difference.

Ibaka had big games both times they met. No Gasol then either.

It'll be a different series than Milwaukee.

Warriors have far better perimeter scoring (and scoring in general), but not the same type of length that the Bucks had. Siakam and Ibaka/Gasol should have more featured roles than they did vs. the Bucks.

 

[le_sean]

It'll be a different series than Milwaukee.

Warriors have far better perimeter scoring (and scoring in general), but not the same type of length that the Bucks had. Siakam and Ibaka/Gasol should have more featured roles than they did vs. the Bucks.

Very true. Raps have to dominate the boards and not give the Warriors any 2nd chance opportunities.

Who is Kawhi going to guard? Klay? Curry is going to have to play lights out. I’m not scared of Draymond attacking the rim vs. Ibaka and Gasol and he’s not going to have many big games shooting from 12 feet out. The Raps D will cause headaches.

 

[Cloned]

Very true. Raps have to dominate the boards and not give the Warriors any 2nd chance opportunities.

Who is Kawhi going to guard? Klay? Curry is going to have to play lights out. I’m not scared of Draymond attacking the rim vs. Ibaka and Gasol and he’s not going to have many big games shooting from 12 feet out. The Raps D will cause headaches.

My guess is Siakam will be on Draymond and Kawhi will be on Curry. Then some combo of Powell/Green on Klay.

 

[Suiteness]

K

And they'll have the best player on the court who's won a championship and is battle-tested.

Kawhi is not better than Steph.

 

[Reality Check]

Warriors in 5.

Milwaukee really seemed to crumble under the pressure of not being there before and Kawhi was able to cancel out Giannis as I thought. This will be a new stage for Toronto as well and outside Kawhi, I have zero faith in his supporting cast.

He will have to put on a one man show to pull this off.

 

[Turtleneck Plek]

You get the feeling that Kawhi just won't let this title get away from him. It's gonna be a great series in any case.

 

[kanuck87]

K


Kawhi is not better than Steph.

Yeah I don't see Curry shouldering the scoring load AND shutting down the other team's best player.

In any case, I bet we see Kawhi defending Curry in the Finals and we'll see then.

 

[Reality Check]

Chuck picks the Raptors.

Hardly a shock that possibly the biggest Golden State hater would pick against them for the 5th consecutive year.

Actually scratch that. Barkley(god love him) continued trashing Golden State even after upsetting Dallas in '07.​

 

[c9777666]

Raptors in 7

Kawhi really wants this title so much more than a team that has already won 3 titles. How much motivation and hunger is there for a team that’s already won over and over?

All dynasty ends at some point.

It happened to the Islanders, it happened to the Lakers, it happened to the Yankees (the last time a team went for 4 in 5)

 

[A1LeafNation]

Regular season doesn't matter.

GSW can make their shots in the playoffs.

 

[EpochLink]

Regular season doesn't matter.

GSW can make their shots in the playoffs.

Golden State were just on cruise control during the regular season.
They didn't care if they won or lost, just as long as they made the post season.
This is where they make their footnote, they've played their best ball the past 6 games (with no KD)

 

[J T Money]

GS in 7.

As much as I'd love to see Kahwi lead the Raptors to the holy land after getting traded there (when he didn't want to play for them) would be amazing...I just can't see it happening.

 

[yvrtojfk]

I went with GS in 6 but really hope I'm wrong.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Golden State in 4, all blowouts. This will be a complete waste of time.

 

[dahrougem2]

I really do hope the Raptors win, especially if KD and/or Cousins come back because let's face it: any time those punks lose, it's a good thing for the world. Even if it comes at the expense of two of my all-time favourites in Steph and Klay.

That said, I've got Golden State in 5. I just think they will be too much for the Raptors to handle. I think Danny Green will continue to struggle, I don't know if what VanVleet did in games 4-6 is sustainable, and I don't know if Gasol will be able to handle a small-ball Warriors lineup.

That, plus Curry/Thompson will blow the Raptors guards out of the building on a nightly basis I think.

 

[jasonleaffan]

It’s also kinda funny that the raps made the finals before the leafs did in the modern era. Toronto is the so-called capital of hockey yet they can’t even win a playoff series, while their bball team which isn’t even a quarter century old just made it to the final dance

Jeeeeezzzzz

Even if the raps win it all I can see you beating this same drum.

 

[darko]

Raptors in 7

Kawhi really wants this title so much more than a team that has already won 3 titles. How much motivation and hunger is there for a team that’s already won over and over?

All dynasty ends at some point.

It happened to the Islanders, it happened to the Lakers, it happened to the Yankees (the last time a team went for 4 in 5)

You know what's better than 3 titles? 4 titles. Questioning whether they are hungry or not is stupid. Didn't you question Tom Brady's hunger?

 

[dahrougem2]

Live by the 3, die by the 3.......

Well, if history is any indication, the Warriors have been living pretty comfortably by the 3.

I think that one of the biggest misconceptions about Golden State is that they're a "live by the 3, die by the 3" team. That's the Houston Rockets.

The Warriors are always looking for the most efficient shot. A lot of the time, that is a three point attempt because it's wide *** open. But they aren't going to be settling or outright looking for the three most of the time. Their ball movement is predicated on finding the best available shot in a span of 24 seconds. The Raptors are in tough.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

This isn't the same Raptors team. I think it'll be a good series.. we aren't getting swept and we've certainly got a fighting chance.

We defend well 1 through 5, we just need the bench to continue playing at a similar level to how they've been playing the last few games.

 

[sabresfan129103]

Would love to see Toronto win this. Don't know too much about basketball. Do they stand a chance against Golden State?

 

[KapG]

K


Kawhi is not better than Steph.

Lol