Series Thread: NBA Finals: Toronto Raptors vs Golden State Warriors

[dtgold88]

Disappointing night for Cousins after such a good performance from him in game 2

And he made what could have been a huge FD lineup into just a small winner.

 

[bksballer89]

Honestly I don't think the Warriors cared about this game too much which is why they didn't push Klay to play.

They know if they win game 4 then it is a best of 3. Obviously they love their chances in a best of 3 assuming KD & Klay are available.

I'm sure Toronto would feel the same way even if the Warriors win tomorrow as they know 2 of the final 3 will be at home.

 

[raptorlife4]

Honestly I don't think the Warriors cared about this game too much which is why they didn't push Klay to play.

They know if they win game 4 then it is a best of 3. Obviously they love their chances in a best of 3 assuming KD & Klay are available.

I'm sure Toronto would feel the same way even if the Warriors win tomorrow as they know 2 of the final 3 will be at home.

If you don't care about a Finals game then you're not playing the game right. You never give a game away and underestimate the competition

 

[dtgold88]

Just go read all the stuff online. He wanted to play, thought he could go, the doctors said no, they were just extra careful for the reasons you mention. By Friday he will be good to go and close to 100%.

I'm hoping they know Durant would be back soon so they figured they could lose this one.

Or they knew all along he wasn't going and it was gamesmanship not to let Toronto know until last minute?

Not such a crazy notion.

 

[msgkings322]

That's the point....it was argued missing a guy who even when healthy only played 10 minutes should be compared to missing all stars who missed 5 and 6 games

OK, I like you and you're an M.O.T. so I'll give you this one response. You aren't drawing me into it LOL

All I said was injuries affected the Finals in 2015 and 2016, which is a simple, true statement. In 2015 the Cavs had major injuries, and the Warriors beat them pretty handily. Only the brilliance of LeBron James prevented a total wipeout, and he deserved FMVP in my book not Iggy.

In 2016 the Warriors had lesser injuries (Bogut out, Curry hobbled (and yes this is a thing, same as Kawhi supposedly now, or LeBron and his 'broken hand' last year...it's why Love was able to stop him at the end there) and a ballsack-on-the-head situation, and thus BARELY lost the series, by one possession, in 7 games.

Yes the Cavs had more issues in 2015 than the Ws in 2016, and thus the Cavs got smoked instead of losing barely.

That's it. All titles are valid no matter what happens to your opponent. But it's a simple fact, injuries mattered in both years.

The floor is yours for the last word. I ain't replying and I ain't changing this opinion, which is pretty common sense.

 

[trojanfan12]

Gonna be an uphill battle....but still doable.

Sorry....I'm all out of cliches and metaphors at this point.

backs against the wall?

Gotta circle the wagons.

 

[dtgold88]

Tough game tonight. Raptors played well and had contributions across the board. Warriors did not. It’s going to be tough to win when you let every starter from the opposing team go for 17+ each. Offensively I expected some drop off but o was really surprised how bad they were defensively.

Cousins and Draymond both had subpar games. That next man up philosophy didn’t come into play today. Warriors are going to have to win on the defensive end if they want a shot at winning the series, regardless of Klay or KD come back.

So badly want to point out in the 8 Finals game GS has played where they didn't have the clear talent advantage, Kerr has led them to a 3-5 record.

But I'll hold back.

all seriousness, still think as long as either Klay or Durant can go GS wins the series.

 

[bksballer89]

If you don't care about a Finals game then you're not playing the game right. You never give a game away and underestimate the competition

I do agree but from what Windhorst said (which also made sense) is this is the only time there would be 1 day rest between games and since Klay/KD are coming back from injuries, they didn't want to really play them until game 4 due to that.

 

[msgkings322]

I hear ya.....so many thought Kerr was all that and really it seems it might just be he has better players. Last night he didn't and he lost.

I wouldn't call them dumb, though. Homer?

Do you really think this or are you just messing with me? Do you really think coaching matters for one game when you are missing all your good players? Do you really not think coaching matters?

 

[tabascojet]

1:51

 

[msgkings322]

Or they knew all along he wasn't going and it was gamesmanship not to let Toronto know until last minute?

Not such a crazy notion.

Also possible

 

[trojanfan12]

If you don't care about a Finals game then you're not playing the game right. You never give a game away and underestimate the competition

It's not about underestimating the competition, it's about how to get him to his healthiest while still having a chance to win the series.

It's basically losing the battle to win the war. Had they played Klay and KD and then lost them both for the entire rest of the series, they're not winning the title.

Had the Warriors been down 2-0, Klay plays and they probably try KD too.

But, because they got the split in Toronto, they could afford to keep them both out 1 more game, allowing another couple of days of treatment and rest.

They already beat the Raptors in Toronto without KD, so they have reason to believe they can do it again. Especially if they have KD back too.

 

[dtgold88]

OK, I like you and you're an M.O.T. so I'll give you this one response. You aren't drawing me into it LOL

All I said was injuries affected the Finals in 2015 and 2016, which is a simple, true statement. In 2015 the Cavs had major injuries, and the Warriors beat them pretty handily. Only the brilliance of LeBron James prevented a total wipeout, and he deserved FMVP in my book not Iggy.

In 2016 the Warriors had lesser injuries (Bogut out, Curry hobbled (and yes this is a thing, same as Kawhi supposedly now, or LeBron and his 'broken hand' last year...it's why Love was able to stop him at the end there) and a ballsack-on-the-head situation, and thus BARELY lost the series, by one possession, in 7 games.

Yes the Cavs had more issues in 2015 than the Ws in 2016, and thus the Cavs got smoked instead of losing barely.

That's it. All titles are valid no matter what happens to your opponent. But it's a simple fact, injuries mattered in both years.

The floor is yours for the last word. I ain't replying and I ain't changing this opinion, which is pretty common sense.

Cannot really say I've ever disagreed with anything you just said. Though you also made references that implied the 2015 and 2016 injuries were comparable.

OK, maybe a couple disagreements. Not sure I'd call 2015 a wipeout or getting smoked winning 2 games and taking another to OT.

I never used Lebron's hand as an excuse if you've noticed. Ws just had far more talent. Curry being hobbled as the reason Love stopped him is absurd, though. The guy has missed long 3s before and damn near made that one. If the shot is a few inches closer to the middle and GS wins, then was Curry not hobbled?

 

[dtgold88]

Also possible

And to be fair....that's what they should do in that situation.

 

[raptorlife4]

 

[dtgold88]

Do you really think this or are you just messing with me? Do you really think coaching matters for one game when you are missing all your good players? Do you really not think coaching matters?

Mostly just messing with those who seem sure Kerr is among the best.......but as pointed out, GS has now played 8 Finals' games where they were not clearly the most talented team and they are 3-5.

 

[raptorlife4]

If the Raptors somehow find a way to win Friday the series is over in five.

 

[shopson67]

I think OG needed more by his team, but OK....though Looney played in 2 games.

Look at their season stats (which doesn't even show how much Looney had stepped up in the post season).

 

[CitySushi]

So badly want to point out in the 8 Finals game GS has played where they didn't have the clear talent advantage, Kerr has led them to a 3-5 record.

But I'll hold back.

all seriousness, still think as long as either Klay or Durant can go GS wins the series.

Feel free You’re reaching @Montalban levels of wanting to be right though. It’s a slippery slope.

 

[shopson67]

If you don't care about a Finals game then you're not playing the game right. You never give a game away and underestimate the competition

If anything, they were NOT underestimating the competition by assuming they needed Klay back at better than whatever percentage we would've been last night (and a risk for further injury) in order to win. So they took the likely loss and look forward to the next game. His absence defensively was pretty obvious last night.