2019 NBA Playoff Discussion

[JCSunsfan]

About these finals. I think the Warriors win because they have been a cohesive unit longer, but Toronto is much better than most people are giving them credit. These are clearly the two best teams in the league facing one another. I think Toronto would beat any other Western Conference team in a seven-game series. Let's compare Toronto to Houston for example.

Kahwi is better than Harden. I am not sure how close it is even. Kawhi is clutch and offensively dominant, but he does not disrupt his teammates' offense nearly as much as Harden does, and he plays better defense by a lot.

The supporting cast is better in almost every way than in Houston. It is deeper, especially because DAntoni uses his bench so sparingly, and more versatile.

Toronto is a much better team defensively. They might be the best defensive team in the league.

 

[Yuma]

About these finals. I think the Warriors win because they have been a cohesive unit longer, but Toronto is much better than most people are giving them credit. These are clearly the two best teams in the league facing one another. I think Toronto would beat any other Western Conference team in a seven-game series. Let's compare Toronto to Houston for example.

Kahwi is better than Harden. I am not sure how close it is even. Kawhi is clutch and offensively dominant, but he does not disrupt his teammates' offense nearly as much as Harden does, and he plays better defense by a lot.

The supporting cast is better in almost every way than in Houston. It is deeper, especially because DAntoni uses his bench so sparingly, and more versatile.

Toronto is a much better team defensively. They might be the best defensive team in the league.

I agree. This is almost a classic can Toronto slow GS down enough to win. GS is sneaky good defensively though. It should be a VERY good series. Both Nurse and Kerr have proven they can make adjustments. Could be potentially a classic series.

 

[leclerc]

I bet there will be some Draymond hard fouls on Leonard. It's going to be interesting to see how that plays out.

I frigging hate Draymond Green. If he starts stepping under him, hitting him in the nuts or poking fingers in his eyes I'm gonna throw something on the TV. It's okay, I've been meaning to replace it for a while now.

 

[Superbone]

I frigging hate Draymond Green. If he starts stepping under him, hitting him in the nuts or poking fingers in his eyes I'm gonna throw something on the TV. It's okay, I've been meaning to replace it for a while now.

Not a bad excuse for an upgrade.

 

[Yuma]

I frigging hate Draymond Green. If he starts stepping under him, hitting him in the nuts or poking fingers in his eyes I'm gonna throw something on the TV. It's okay, I've been meaning to replace it for a while now.

Elvis shot his TV!

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

The NBA needs to quit allowing ABC/ESPN to dictate scheduling in the playoffs. They have advertised the finals start date since the semifinals, I believe, and I know that if the Bucks vs Raptors went to 7 games it wouldn't have changed that the finals were set to start on Thursday May 30th. I can see a 3 day break before the finals but 4 days is too much.

Then game 2 is on Sunday and game 3 on Wednesday. So there will be a 2 full day layoff in between each game, it seems. Game 4 will break that up by being Friday June 7th and then game 5 on Monday June 10th, game 6 will be Thursday June 13th and game 7 on Sunday June 16th.

But they are traveling east coast to west. One travel day, one practice/test day. Makes sense to me.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

But they are traveling east coast to west. One travel day, one practice/test day. Makes sense to me.

Edit: yeah, it makes no sense between second games in cities.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

I frigging hate Draymond Green. If he starts stepping under him, hitting him in the nuts or poking fingers in his eyes I'm gonna throw something on the TV. It's okay, I've been meaning to replace it for a while now.

R-E-L-A-X.

 

[Russ Smith]

About these finals. I think the Warriors win because they have been a cohesive unit longer, but Toronto is much better than most people are giving them credit. These are clearly the two best teams in the league facing one another. I think Toronto would beat any other Western Conference team in a seven-game series. Let's compare Toronto to Houston for example.

Kahwi is better than Harden. I am not sure how close it is even. Kawhi is clutch and offensively dominant, but he does not disrupt his teammates' offense nearly as much as Harden does, and he plays better defense by a lot.

The supporting cast is better in almost every way than in Houston. It is deeper, especially because DAntoni uses his bench so sparingly, and more versatile.

Toronto is a much better team defensively. They might be the best defensive team in the league.

Yeah the real question on Toronto is other than Kawhi and Green they don't have much if any finals experience. They've been to the playoffs but they've never won. Lowry has a history of turtling but he played great in the last series so maybe he's finally gotten past that.

The biggest advantage the Warriors have is they've been there the past 5 years they've been through this and that counts. The comeback against OKC when they still had Durant, blowing the 3-1 lead to LeBron etc. All of that played a role in the Warriors beating Houston after Durant got hurt and sweeping Portland with 3 of them come back from double digit wins, 2 on the road.

I'm not saying Toronto will fold but that will be a significant test for them, how will they react to the pressure of the finals.

 

[elindholm]

Yeah the real question on Toronto is other than Kawhi and Green they don't have much if any finals experience. They've been to the playoffs but they've never won. Lowry has a history of turtling but he played great in the last series so maybe he's finally gotten past that.

The biggest advantage the Warriors have is they've been there the past 5 years they've been through this and that counts. The comeback against OKC when they still had Durant, blowing the 3-1 lead to LeBron etc. All of that played a role in the Warriors beating Houston after Durant got hurt and sweeping Portland with 3 of them come back from double digit wins, 2 on the road.

I'm not saying Toronto will fold but that will be a significant test for them, how will they react to the pressure of the finals.

I agree. I'd say that Toronto's best chance is to believe that they have no chance, and go for broke. If they try to think about how they can win the series, they're sunk.

 

[Finito]

That’s cute.

If they believe they can achieve

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Eh, this raptors team has a lot of playoff experience and a lot of veterans. The only one I worry about in terms of mindset is Lowry, but he may have gotten over a hump with last round.

Otherwise they’ve got green and Kawhi with finals experience. And Lowry, ibaka, gasol with pretty deep playoff experience. Someone siakam or van vleet might get the finals yips but I don’t see this being a big problem. Maybe I’m proven wrong.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Eh, this raptors team has a lot of playoff experience and a lot of veterans. The only one I worry about in terms of mindset is Lowry, but he may have gotten over a hump with last round.

Otherwise they’ve got green and Kawhi with finals experience. And Lowry, ibaka, gasol with pretty deep playoff experience. Someone siakam or van vleet might get the finals yips but I don’t see this being a big problem. Maybe I’m proven wrong.

even Ibaka has Finals experience back on OKC.

That said, I think it's a 5 game series and if the Raptors lose game 1, probably a sweep with or without KD.

 

[Russ Smith]

I agree. This is almost a classic can Toronto slow GS down enough to win. GS is sneaky good defensively though. It should be a VERY good series. Both Nurse and Kerr have proven they can make adjustments. Could be potentially a classic series.

What is odd is I consider Durant to be a VERY good defender, but for some reason since he got hurt the defense has been better. I think they are more focused because they know they don't have him?

 

[Russ Smith]

even Ibaka has Finals experience back on OKC.

That said, I think it's a 5 game series and if the Raptors lose game 1, probably a sweep with or without KD.

Forgot about Ibaka you're right he's been in the finals too.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

What is odd is I consider Durant to be a VERY good defender, but for some reason since he got hurt the defense has been better. I think they are more focused because they know they don't have him?

KD is a very good defender when he wants to. Unfortunately he doesn’t want to very often.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

The X-Factor in this series is Danny Green.

 

[Russ Smith]

The X-Factor in this series is Danny Green.

And Gasol. He has a history of killing the Warriors. if he's the current Gasol that mainly shoots set shot 3's, they can defend him with smaller guys like Bell and maybe even Jerebko in a pinch, if he's the kill you on the low block Gasol that tortured them with the Grizzlies, that could be a real problem.

 

[Cheesebeef]

And Gasol. He has a history of killing the Warriors. if he's the current Gasol that mainly shoots set shot 3's, they can defend him with smaller guys like Bell and maybe even Jerebko in a pinch, if he's the kill you on the low block Gasol that tortured them with the Grizzlies, that could be a real problem.

he's a long ways away from peak Grizzlies Gasol.

 

[leclerc]

Tell Joel Imbid that.

 

[Phrazbit]

IMO, the only x-factor in this series is the Warriors mentality. The talent disparity is massive, the Warriors are playing their best basketball in ages over the last couple weeks. They clearly have more fun and have more chemistry without Durant and Cousins. If both those guys come back and the result is the Warriors turn back into an iso team, Durant is a hobbled version of himself and Klay checks out because he isn't getting the ball and Green checks out because he loathes Durant... that is the only way they lose this thing, even then they probably don't lose but merely struggle.

If this was still the 2-3-2 format I would say Warriors in 5, but I think it's Warriors in 6 and the Warriors winning a couple games ugly.

I hope I'm wrong though.

 

[Western Font]

I’m cheering for the Raptors but would bet Warriors in 6, especially because they have something to prove during KD’s absence, of the narrative is correct.

But I also think this Raptors team could beat the Cavs team that upset the Warriors, so there’s a chance. In fact it would have been nice to see these Raptors try to overcome LeBron in the east.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Sorry I'm feeling Raptor's which means a sweep by the Warriors.

 

[Yuma]

The Raptors GM is a witch! The dude retooled on the fly and put together a wicked team. That said, Golden State will convince themselves they are the underdogs with their injuries to Durant and Cousins, and will play fast and loose. Toronto will be tighter, which will be just enough edge for GS to squeek by. Wild Card, Kawhi Leonrad's injury. How much longer can he grind it out before it snaps? If he goes down, game over.

 

[Mainstreet]

IMO, the only x-factor in this series is the Warriors mentality. The talent disparity is massive, the Warriors are playing their best basketball in ages over the last couple weeks. They clearly have more fun and have more chemistry without Durant and Cousins. If both those guys come back and the result is the Warriors turn back into an iso team, Durant is a hobbled version of himself and Klay checks out because he isn't getting the ball and Green checks out because he loathes Durant... that is the only way they lose this thing, even then they probably don't lose but merely struggle.

If this was still the 2-3-2 format I would say Warriors in 5, but I think it's Warriors in 6 and the Warriors winning a couple games ugly.

I hope I'm wrong though.

If the Raptors have a chance, Lowry and their bench (VanVleet) has to be the difference. Siakam has to produce on the big stage as well. Still Warriors in 5 games sounds about right.