The Raptors series have been great TV. The 76ers series was dramatic... and the game tonight looks great. Good basketball no matter who wins.
Jeeeezussss... The last three games were 'must see TV'. My heart rate is still high. Dang. Well done Raps. _________________ Finnegan was super bad-ass.
This is the NBA Finals match-up most of the experts/analysts predicted.
Once my 76ers lost, I didn't watch any games from the Conference Finals, but I heard they were quite thrilling. Here's to a thrilling Finals. In general, I'm indifferent towards these teams but I want Toronto to win. 1. It'd be cool to see someone win for a change, especially since they've never won. 2. It would be validating/reassuring for my Sixers, knowing we came so close to beating the team that went on to win it all.
Yeah, I think a lot of it is that I underrated the Bucks because I don't think they're "ready" and the Raptors taking it is long overdue.
Hey maybe you were right in that they weren't "ready". Because honestly I believe they had a better team overall. And while I missed most of the last 4 games (apart from some minutes in the fourth here and there), it did seem like they had a big lead even in the third a bunch of times? I guess Raptors stopped Giannis well + their bench didn't make as much of a difference as it should. Van Vleet suddenly becoming a godly three point shooter helped. But they need that in the finals, too.
I say Warriors in six. I will be rooting for Raptors I suppose.
This is my pick, assuming Durant returns (by Game 3 at home, after a 1-1 split and now more or less a must win?). Once they add Durant, they become the most talented (not necessarily "best") team of all time again. Don't forget to mention that they will likely have Cousins in a bench role (lol).
I would strongly consider still picking the Warriors (by a very slim margin) even if Durant doesn't return just because Steph + Klay are so unguardable from 3 and it's ultra rare (and hard to imagine) both of them slumping and not at least 1 of them going supernova for a few games or more during the series.
That all said, Toronto has the look of a classic Bulls team (second 3-peat) and I would not be surprised if they "shocked" the world (even though it shouldn't be a major shock in reality ... other side of the coin is that it would be closer to a shock if a healthy Durant played several games and Toronto still won the series). Either way, they are fully equipped and better (on paper) than any team GS has faced in the Finals. And Kawhi is rightfully causing comparisons to Jordan. His defense is highly reminiscent of 96-period Jordan and his offensive game is highly reminiscent of a combo of 2010/11-Kobe (year after their 2-peat and he played through knee difficulties) & Jordan at the end of his prime [roughly 1998] ... he is basically less agile, less fleet-of-foot, less decisive, less competitively maniacal about his moves and to his spots than the most efficient and athletic incarnations of those legends (hence comparing him to those later or slightly hobbled versions) but Kawhi's game is becoming increasingly similar (also difficult to know how much Kawhi's recurring injury is affecting how agile/athletic/fleet he looks right now). _________________ Best Classical Best Films Best Paintings
Warriors are hurt (Durant, Thompson, Looney, Igoudala), look tired, and I suspect there's some dysfunction in the locker room. Now is the time. End the dynasty.
That said, the Warriors are such a dangerous team. They could easily turn this.
On a related note - as much as Durant is a all-time talent (and he's legitimately hurt), does anyone else think he hampers team chemistry? I think I'd pause before backing up the Brink's truck and signing him as a free-agent. _________________ Finnegan was super bad-ass.
Oof, I just heard the news KD may miss all of next year, and will probably never be the same player again. I understand to an extent why he played in Game 5. You want to win the championship which seemed out of reach down 3-1, and you need your best player make a comeback. But something felt wrong about rushing him back, and now he's gonna pay for it for the rest of his career.
Worked late last night. Heard Toronto won, but didn't know about Thompson until this morning. Man, that's brutal. This video is a metaphor for this year's finals:
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