_MJ_

Raptors were undefeated at Oracle this year. Plus, the Warriors took two games in Canada. I haven't looked it up, but this is the Finals with the most road wins? Maybe. The key to winning the NBA title next year? Get Patrick McCaw on your team. Three-peat NBA champ. With Klay and Durant injuries, the West might be wide open next year. NBA teams might be a bit more aggressive too after Kawhi win too. Interesting stuff.

Kawhi carried them to the finals, but it must be said: VanVleet was money this series and against the Bucks. It has to one of the most dramatic turnarounds a player has had in a short amount of time. Before his child was born during the Milwaukee series, he couldn't hit the side of a wall at the start of the playoffs. Klay was on his game 6 warpath. Tough to see him go down, and the Warriors injuries during this run finally caught them. I'm not surprised by the outcome of the series since I thought that Raptors had the deeper team with their defense keeping them in every game. Even with Durant out, it still wasn't easy. I thought the series was more entertaining than people were initially giving it credit for, but I think that has turned with the last two games. I wonder if Draymond would have been suspended for game 7 with that last timeout technical? Just kidding...

Durant injury subplot is going to be something. They definitely needed all his points (he can out shooting) while he was out there, yet the decision to play him wasn't a good one no matter who had the call. Offseason stuff going on another level.

People are already going in on Nick Nurse's timeout during Kawhi's last run. I'm not second guessing it because even in the moment I thought it was a strange timeout. However, Nurse has done some out of box things that have worked. Tough.

Wow. This game will be dissected forever. Every nerd dreams.

ESPN says Kevin Durant is playing. Drama at a 10. I cant believe I didn't bet Toronto before the series after all my posts and bolster about them. It better be loud as hell in Air Canada (superior name).

They better liquor up and cortisone shot Durant soon to get him back on that court. Draymond's plan A.

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.

Fuck it. Dinosaurs in 7*. *or 5 if you are a believer and not just a hoper like me

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.

That dunk... Good ending coming up.

I don't believe in most of the Raptors supporting cast to be consistent on the offensive end, but they have a better personnel of players to build a wall against Giannis than the Celtics, who had a decent game plan for him. Even while hobble, Kawhi is still a monster on the defensive end. Both teams seem to go through awful offensive droughts during the game, which made me squeamish about what the Warriors are going to do them. Van Vleet's threes really saved the day. I don't want to jinx it but I wish I had the balls to bet on the Raptors to make finals before the playoffs started. Don't blow it, Toronto.

These Blazers are pretty much teflon in Portland this year after the Thunder and Nuggets series. Good run. However, this version of their team has nothing for the current Warriors. Nothing. I don't even think that's a vulgar thing to say considering how good the Warriors have been, but I think they'll have to wait for the Warriors to be on the downside of their run to ever be seen as a valid threat to them. 5 straight finals for the Golden State. Not bad...

Damn. The writers lean so hard on Peter Dinklage to do most of the heavy lifting that episode. Somewhere in the second monologue sequence, I imagine the writers giving him a script titled, "Our thoughts on Game of Thrones" and turning a camera on.

My favorite response to Morey's tweet: Twitter has some usefulness.

It was such a frustrating game for Portland. You're not going get a lot of 17 point leads in games at Oracle especially when two your best players aren't playing their best. I actually don't think this Warriors team is invincible, or at least not as strong as some of the previous versions. However, it hasn't matter yet because every other team appears to have even bigger weaknesses than them. I do hope the Bucks or Raptors supporting cast step up in the next round because you can't get away with donut games from them against the Warriors. Anyway, the Warriors shotmaking is awe-inspiring to watch at times and whatever they did to revitalize Draymond Green they need to do every year. He's killing it on the defense end and kept making playing by going to the basket. The Blazers' defense in the 4th quarter look real bad. You can't do anything about some of those Steph shots, but Draymond getting a wide open pick-roll layup late in the 4th like it was high school game was tough to watch. The Blazers also wasted a good Seth Curry game. Thank goodness they're holding Durant out (dont want him injured and I assume he'll be back for the Finals) because these games, especially last night, have been surprisingly fun to watch even if the inevitable Warrior's run and win is always right around the corner.

Yes, but there was a noticeable change in snark and even some characters once the show changed showrunners. Personally I still watched and found things to like about the show but I don't blame others for saying the show snark/style changed and tone wasnt for them after the new showrunner took over.

This Jon Snow dude keeps screwing up and yet people are still down with him becoming the Kang. I buy that in 2019's climate. They should have given the last dragon armor or something to explain why it was easier kill the boat crew this week than last week.

Fucking love basketball

There seems to be a brewing tension between the analytic-heavy NBA writers/twitter and some NBA players, well mostly old NBA heads/players. It's interesting to see how folks are reacting to recent twitter posts from David West and Lebron on the subject. Something to look at if you're into deep NBA cuts.

It's a cold world.

Houston was a means to an end. I wanted to see the Warriors lose, but I wasn't hoping for a Rockets championship afterwards. I don't dig their foul hunting and I always get a kick out it biting them in their ass during late game situations; i.e. check out Chris Paul and Harden after Klay intercepted the inbound pass after Curry's three. I didn't think this version of their team would beat the Warriors at the start of the series, but I thought the KD injury, cracked open the door. I respect Morey's and the Rocker's owner hustle (taking a shot with Melo, grabbing Austin Rivers, etc.) and willingness to try to take the Warriors out during their current run (some teams are probably just waiting it out), but Chris Paul isn't getting better or younger. I'm interested in seeing their next roster gamble. If KD is out, I'd give the Raptors (unless Lowry and Gasol continue their inconsistent play) or the Bucks a shot. I wouldn't bet on the Blazers or the 76ers getting it done. I wouldn't completely count Denver out if they had homecourt, but their defense is too inconsistent imo. There are news hits that keep mentioning Cousins is trying to come back for the playoffs, but if he isn't a 100 percent, I wonder if rushing back would actually be helpful for the Warriors. That Ray Allen/Big Dog/Cassell Bucks team needs more love.

Agree or not, this shit made me laugh.

No excuses. Houston had their best shot here. Ouch Tough to watch. CP3 played his best game. Both teams were sloppy but Golden State hit so many shots in the 4th. Slowly backs out of thread for incoming Lawful posts.

Well, the Rockets might get two games without Durant in the lineup. Fair or not, people are not going to give them the benefit of doubt if they blow game 6. Time to pull up and get shit done. Chris Paul needs to summon something better than he's been so far. I don't mind Harden not shooting every possession if the offense is flowing, but the defense was the bigger issue.