NBA Finals Poll: Raptors vs. Warriors

[NinjaJohnny]

Find it weird Raptors fans so worried about the narrative. You should be more concerned with winning. Things can flip pretty quickly and a 2-1 series lead can turn to 2-3 pretty fast. Golden State played very poorly defensively in Game 3. It will be better in Game 4. Raptors also shot out of this world. That should stabilize some. If GS finds a way in this game (and i think they will) you have a huge Game 5 and Toronto has more pressure and less experience in my opinion. You cannot bury a team like GS after 3 games. I picked Toronto here but I consider any lineup the Warriors use to be dangerous. Intangibles matter.

[Orangejello727]

Originally Posted by bulljh

First off, stop generalizing. Unless you’re reading something I’m not, I don’t see have the stuff you’re speaking of on here. For me, As a life long Warriors fan, I will still contest that if a healthy Raptors team were to play a healthy Warriors squad w/o KD, the Warriors would win.

I think the same way. If the Warriors were fully healthy, Toronto would still be up in this series and possibly win the Championship without a stacked team. Raptors are a far much more superior team this year than all other teams in the league.

[codered]

Originally Posted by tennelson55

A few things to address...
The warriors are down 2-1 and they haven’t lost an edge as of yet in games played as the warriors are home tonight.

I thought Demarcus and Durant would be healthy and play sometime during this series and I thought both would be good to play by game 5.
Since then klay is injured and boogie looks like Shaq turning 40 playing for the Celtics.

The raptors also have an injured Kawhi. He’s not right and hasn’t been. I had the raptors winning the east and should have hedged when he was hurt. I thought about it, but I didn’t go through with it.

How you can compare the 73 win warriors to this team and the current team is laughable. Want me to link the injury articles and videos of injured players?
As I said before the bench is non existent to what it once was. They let go Barnes and got KD. Barnes was good for 18 a game... That’s huge.
Then they decided to clean out more cap for cousins and he’s injured.

Let’s see
Steph - Steph
Klay - injured Klay/questionable to play
Barnes - Iggy
Draymond - Draymond
Younger Bogut - Cousins

Then the bench just falls out from underneath them. Quinn Cook played 27 mins, 22 for Bogut and Mckenny 18.
Compared to Iggy coming off the bench, younger livingnsfon, Speights.

It adds up.

They also just lost the tempo they have played at all year. Durant is an iso player; the warriors without Durant don’t do iso plays... Now they have to switch offenses and then taking out major players (klay) shows how much they have had to change within the past 2 weeks

I actually said this team minus KD was quite a bit worse than the 14-15 team let alone the 73 we team and was mocked (I actually made similar points that you made). I said 73 win team a little tongue in cheek. The point I’m making is most people were saying this would be a cake walk even if KD didn’t play. If you thought they needed KD I guess I have to take your word for it but I’m seeing a lot of backpedaling about how much the warriors need KD to beat this very good raptors team. So I assuming by you saying that you expected KD back you think they need KD to win this series? Would you be so confident in your bets knowing he may not play?

As for tempo and not having klay I’ll say this, all I heard on these boards is how much better the ball movement and tempo is without having to iso for KD. Apparently this was the reason that the warriors smoked Portland and one of the reasons they didn’t need KD to win. To now say this is some how a negative thing seems ridiculous as it was a strength of this team before the series started. The klay being hurt excuse is just what it is an excuse. You guys are acting like he hasn’t played yet. He played in a game 1 lose and left with 8 mins remaining game 2. He’s probably gonna play 30-35 mins tonight. No excuses for him if he plays a significant amount

[codered]

Originally Posted by pejc300

33% of you need to go to drug rehab ASAP

To which you responded

Originally Posted by bulljh

Just people picking with their hearts instead of their brains

I said raps in 6 because no KD and you needed KD to win to which you replied

Originally Posted by bulljh

At what point in these playoffs, did the Warriors show they needed KD?

Originally Posted by bulljh

First off, stop generalizing. Unless you’re reading something I’m not, I don’t see have the stuff you’re speaking of on here. For me, As a life long Warriors fan, I will still contest that if a healthy Raptors team were to play a healthy Warriors squad w/o KD, the Warriors would win.

I’m not generalizing

[codered]

Originally Posted by NinjaJohnny

Find it weird Raptors fans so worried about the narrative. You should be more concerned with winning. Things can flip pretty quickly and a 2-1 series lead can turn to 2-3 pretty fast. Golden State played very poorly defensively in Game 3. It will be better in Game 4. Raptors also shot out of this world. That should stabilize some. If GS finds a way in this game (and i think they will) you have a huge Game 5 and Toronto has more pressure and less experience in my opinion. You cannot bury a team like GS after 3 games. I picked Toronto here but I consider any lineup the Warriors use to be dangerous. Intangibles matter.

I think we are just a little upset that I’m our first trip to the finals we aren’t getting very much respect.

[bulljh]

Originally Posted by codered

To which you responded



I said raps in 6 because no KD and you needed KD to win to which you replied





I’m not generalizing

I still don’t think they need KD. The dude is broken. IF he comes back, I think he will hurt the team more than he would help them. The first comment was before Klay and Looney went down (so out of context). I don’t think people realize how much Looney going down has hurt this squad.

[bulljh]

Originally Posted by codered

I think we are just a little upset that I’m our first trip to the finals we aren’t getting very much respect.

Sorry guy, respect is earned. You haven’t earned anything yet.

[NoleinJax]

Originally Posted by WaiverWire

I'm enjoying this finals so far.

I think it will be cool if the Raptors win their first ever NBA title.

I think it will also be cool if the Warriors are able to overcome their injuries and manage to get a threepeat.

fivethirtyeight has the Raptors as 70%-30% favorites in the series currently. I think it all depends on if KD can come back healthy. If he doesn't come back by game 5 and isn't at least 85% when he comes back, then I think the Raptors win in 5 or 7.

I think the NBA wants the series to last at least 6 or 7 games, so I'll be curious to see how tonight's game is reffed. If the league wants to extend the series, easiest way to do it would be to call a bunch of early fouls on Kyle Lowry.

The NBA brass also want Toronto to win.

[darscards35kd]

Originally Posted by bulljh

I still don’t think they need KD. The dude is broken. IF he comes back, I think he will hurt the team more than he would help them. The first comment was before Klay and Looney went down (so out of context). I don’t think people realize how much Looney going down has hurt this squad.

You're probably the only person left in the entire Bay Area who still thinks this.

[Orangejello727]

Originally Posted by codered

To which you responded



I said raps in 6 because no KD and you needed KD to win to which you replied





I’m not generalizing

The mockery started way back on page 12 of the blazers vs warriors thread.

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showth...rriors&page=12

Not only were they saying the Warriors were better without durant, but Draymond was playing his best ball ever seen and how GS was unstoppable now matter what happen. How their bench was the best in the league and strong enough to take on anyone. Now suddenly they dont have a bench lol.

Forget all the dudes in that thread talking about how the bucks were going to walk over the raptors easily and meet them in the finals.

[NoleinJax]

Originally Posted by bulljh

I still don’t think they need KD. The dude is broken. IF he comes back, I think he will hurt the team more than he would help them. The first comment was before Klay and Looney went down (so out of context). I don’t think people realize how much Looney going down has hurt this squad.

Looney was playing some of the best ball I've seen him play before The Finals. It's possible he can still play, but that could be the Warriors just teasing their fans more.

[Orangejello727]

Originally Posted by NoleinJax

The NBA brass also want Toronto to win.

The same NBA brass that have done everything in their power to keep TOronto from every moving on to the next round in previous post seasons to control a Cinderella match for tv ratings?

It goes both ways.

[Orangejello727]

They're coming for you!!!

[pingbling23]

Looks like some of the raptors fans on here are more sensitive then us Lebron fans. And we’ve been dealing with constant trolling for a decade. I get it though. May be the first title and they don’t want it to have a tainted narrative even though they know it will. You gotta take the bad with the good. I would still rather win a title against a weakened opponent vs lose. Pumped for game 4 tonight, hope the raps take a 3-1 lead in front of the oracle crowd.

[NoleinJax]

Originally Posted by Orangejello727

The same NBA brass that have done everything in their power to keep TOronto from every moving on to the next round in previous post seasons to control a Cinderella match for tv ratings?

It goes both ways.

Yep that same NBA. Sorry Toronto dogged it previously, but it appears they needed a player like Kawhi and a coach like Nurse to get them over the hump. I'm not saying the NBA is doing anything nefarious to ensure Toronto wins. I'm just saying that they, as a global brand, would like for an international city like Toronto to win a Championship sooner than later.

[pingbling23]

Originally Posted by Orangejello727

The same NBA brass that have done everything in their power to keep TOronto from every moving on to the next round in previous post seasons to control a Cinderella match for tv ratings?

It goes both ways.

Nba brass must mean Lebron.

[bulljh]

Originally Posted by darscards35kd

You're probably the only person left in the entire Bay Area who still thinks this.

Maybe. IF he comes back, he won’t be at 100%...probably more like 60%. His mobility on D will be god awful. I’m not sure how that very realistic scenario alone will help.

[Orangejello727]

Originally Posted by pingbling23

Looks like some of the raptors fans on here are more sensitive then us Lebron fans. And we’ve been dealing with constant trolling for a decade. I get it though. May be the first title and they don’t want it to have a tainted narrative even though they know it will. You gotta take the bad with the good. I would still rather win a title against a weakened opponent vs lose. Pumped for game 4 tonight, hope the raps take a 3-1 lead in front of the oracle crowd.

Originally Posted by pingbling23

Nba brass must mean Lebron.

Edit: Im gonna do a Lowry and be the better man here!

[pingbling23]

Originally Posted by Orangejello727

Edit: Im gonna do a Lowry and be the better man here!

I read it, and you deleted it because it held no weight.

[Orangejello727]

Originally Posted by pingbling23

I read it, and you deleted it because it held no weight.

Nothing we debate or argue about on the topic holds any water towards how much a championship is worth to players and organizations. You are free to think whatever you like, you're entitled to it, like I am.

Go Raps Go!! Lets take Lebron out of the topic. This is Raps vs Warriors for the chip! The same chip they play for in every finals!!

[pingbling23]

Originally Posted by Orangejello727

Nothing we debate or argue about on the topic holds any water towards how much a championship is worth to players and organizations. You are free to think whatever you like, you're entitled to it, like I am.

Go Raps Go!! Lets take Lebron out of the topic. This is Raps vs Warriors for the chip! The same chip they play for in every finals!!

I can agree with that. Go Raps!!!

[drobfan8]

Originally Posted by NoleinJax

Yep that same NBA. Sorry Toronto dogged it previously, but it appears they needed a player like Kawhi and a coach like Nurse to get them over the hump. I'm not saying the NBA is doing anything nefarious to ensure Toronto wins. I'm just saying that they, as a global brand, would like for an international city like Toronto to win a Championship sooner than later.

I'm not sure I quite believe this. The commish has said for years that we need to appreciate the greatness of GS, he said this after he totally effed up and raised the cap so high they had room for KD

Usually when you see 2 quick fouls on a Superstar player the fix is in.

I think the refs have just been horrible, especially game 3, rather than them helping TOR.

A game 7 in Toronto would be some game if they can get it to that.

[tennelson55]

Originally Posted by codered

I actually said this team minus KD was quite a bit worse than the 14-15 team let alone the 73 we team and was mocked (I actually made similar points that you made). I said 73 win team a little tongue in cheek. The point I’m making is most people were saying this would be a cake walk even if KD didn’t play. If you thought they needed KD I guess I have to take your word for it but I’m seeing a lot of backpedaling about how much the warriors need KD to beat this very good raptors team. So I assuming by you saying that you expected KD back you think they need KD to win this series? Would you be so confident in your bets knowing he may not play?

As for tempo and not having klay I’ll say this, all I heard on these boards is how much better the ball movement and tempo is without having to iso for KD. Apparently this was the reason that the warriors smoked Portland and one of the reasons they didn’t need KD to win. To now say this is some how a negative thing seems ridiculous as it was a strength of this team before the series started. The klay being hurt excuse is just what it is an excuse. You guys are acting like he hasn’t played yet. He played in a game 1 lose and left with 8 mins remaining game 2. He’s probably gonna play 30-35 mins tonight. No excuses for him if he plays a significant amount

There are again multiple things that go into my assessment of how the warriors fair today...
Before the series they had klay at 100%.
Klay was injured in game 2 and then he went down
Klay didn’t play game 3 because of an injury

If klay isn’t injured and the series goes back to oracle; odds are that the dubs walk out ahead 2:1 in the series.

The warriors tempo is fast paced shooting, not many points in the paint.

When players are injured they don’t play the same.
I said this about Kawhi all last series, he didn’t look right nor does he look 100% now. The same applies to every warriors player. Players can be injured, play significant minutes yet not impact the game - look at cousins or Kawhi the game after he was injured

[jeg2315]

The NBA doesn't care who wins, but you better believe they care about making games close and exciting for TV ratings.

In the case of the Warriors and their firepower, that often means getting the short end of foul calls because we all know they can typically get back into it with shooting. So they don't "need" that whistle help to make things more exciting. Then you also get into reputation of Steph as a shooter and not a foul-seeker, and Draymond as a complainer.

That said, the NHL has been particularly worse in terms of reffing during their playoffs. But considering they are on the bottom rung of national sports, they are more brash with that for attention and catering to bigger audiences. NBA has to be more subtle.

[Siberian13]

Good luck raptors. Going up 3-1 would be crazy. Then get a chance to close things out at home.