Dolfan in NYC Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 Starting this now, because the first bit of news came out today. The Warriors announced today that Kevin Durant will not start the series due to the severity of his calf strain. And like I said, I'd be shocked if he plays a minute before they lose a game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinit Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 So the Eastern Conference champs get homecourt advantage, correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChesterCopperpot Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 Yes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Fowler Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 Underrated issue: KD being out might free up the offense, but he's also an incredible defensive player they might really need to try and stop Leonard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John from Cincinnati Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 This isn't a false alarm? This is finally happening? Wild. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Man Known as Dan Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 5 hours ago, Brian Fowler said: Underrated issue: KD being out might free up the offense, but he's also an incredible defensive player they might really need to try and stop Leonard. It also frees up Leonard to defend Curry or Thompson. I don’t expect Toronto to win, but minus Durant it becomes a way we’re you can see it happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinit Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 Game 4 is on my birthday. A Raptor's sweep would be an amaaaaaazing birthday gift Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawful Metal Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 Golden State in 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_MJ_ Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 (edited) First NBA Finals game in Canada, I believe. Happy for Toronto fans and even our own Lawful Metal for getting a win this postseason with Giannis' exit. There's your gift. Hot takes on Giannis have begun. Hope the Raptors grab both of these Durantless games in Toronto. Their best shot. Edited May 26, 2019 by _MJ_ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Fowler Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 Quote Prior to 2019, only three players in NBA playoff history—Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, and Rolando Blackman—had averaged at least 30 points on at least 51 percent shooting from the field, 38 percent from 3, and 85 percent from the free throw line. Jordan played only three games; Miller and Blackman played four; Kawhi has played 18. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contentious C Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 The last several years have been a pretty awesome era for SFs - when your top 4 are LeBron, KD, Kawhi, and Paul George, maybe it's not unreasonable to call it the best ever - and this is the last Finals matchup permutation of the three best of them. Leonard and the Spurs taking the Heat to the woodshed was easily my favorite Finals for two teams I don't root for, and I wonder if this will be as good. I'm also reminded of the Warriors/Spurs series from a couple of years ago, where GS had their heads up their asses until Leonard's injury happened. I don't know if this Toronto team is better than that Spurs team, but I'm also not sure they're *worse*. Nurse is no Pop, but then again, who is? Of course, none of that matters if they don't knock down shots, so Lowry/Van Vleet/Green et al have to make them when they're open. And who was it that came up clutch in that one 2016 game against GS? Dahntay Jones or some such? That's no less ridiculous than Linsanity was. These guys aren't invincible. This won't be a sweep. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinit Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 2 hours ago, Contentious C said: That's no less ridiculous than Linsanity was. Guess who's on the Raptor's bench?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contentious C Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 15 minutes ago, Infinit said: Guess who's on the Raptor's bench?? Yeah, that's why I mentioned it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.K.o.S. Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 (edited) Fivethirtyeight.com gives the Raptors a 55% chance of beating the Warriors. Of course, their model is flawed and virtually no one really believes the Raptors are the favorites. But the line of thinking goes something like Raptors home court advantage + Raptors slightly better regular season record + Golden State's best player injured = Raptors win. Models can't really take into account the idea that the regular season doesn't matter so much. (Or, well, they can, but if you throw out the whole regular season then you might as well not even have a model.) Edited May 28, 2019 by S.K.o.S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolfan in NYC Posted May 28, 2019 Author Share Posted May 28, 2019 Durant has officially been ruled Out of game 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolfan in NYC Posted May 28, 2019 Author Share Posted May 28, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niners Fan in CT Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 Can't use regular season stats really. Raptors could have won 60+ games easily if Kawhi didn't sit so frequently but it worked out. Golden State could always win 65 games minimum if they really wanted to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinit Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 Raptors in 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_MJ_ Posted May 29, 2019 Share Posted May 29, 2019 (edited) Fuck it. Dinosaurs in 7*. *or 5 if you are a believer and not just a hoper like me Edited May 29, 2019 by _MJ_ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinit Posted May 29, 2019 Share Posted May 29, 2019 Raptors in 5! (I think I have all my bases covered ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.K.o.S. Posted May 29, 2019 Share Posted May 29, 2019 Round after round, I keep saying "Hey maybe I should buy a ticket to be there live" and then actually look at the prices and change my mind. If they ever have a chance to win the series in Toronto, maybe I'll do it! Sure it's ten thousand dollars a seat, but I might never have this chance again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChesterCopperpot Posted May 29, 2019 Share Posted May 29, 2019 Today's stat of the day. With Danny Green making the NBA Finals - it's now been 36 consecutive years where a team-mate of Shaquille O'Neal has played in the Finals. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted May 30, 2019 Share Posted May 30, 2019 I don't remember Elden Campbell on the 2004 Pistons... but I try to forget that year ever happened in basketball history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contentious C Posted May 30, 2019 Share Posted May 30, 2019 The funny thing is that said teammate has been on *the winning side* of the Finals in all but 2 instances. The 2 loss instances are, naturally, LeBron James. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_MJ_ Posted May 30, 2019 Share Posted May 30, 2019 (edited) No Durant the first two games. Home field advantage for an East Conference Finals team for the first time against the Warriors. JR Smith isn't on their team. The Dinosaurs can't really ask for better circumstances against the Warriors other than having a healthy OG Anunoby on their team. Edited May 30, 2019 by _MJ_ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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