2019 NBA Finals: Golden State Warriors vs. Toronto Raptors

Kawhi is out IMO . . .. . him coming back would be more surprising than PG13 resigning with OKC
well .. maybe not cause that one still has me shocked

Rocket River

 

They also outscored Rockets bench 33-17 in Game 6

I think the GSW bench suffers from what I call " we have a superstar" effect i.e. we have a superstar (in this case Durant) and so we dont have to do anything more than sit back and enjoy the show. When needed, they have shown that they can produce.

The difference between Cook and Lin (and VanVleet) is that GSW play a system that makes the sum better than their parts. Its kind of similar to the Spurs, where average players are very effective cos of the system they deploy. Raptors bench, like most other teams, still require someone to breakdown the defence and create for them, while GS rely more heavily on player and ball movement to get open looks.

As for 1v1 (considering both ends of the floor): Livingston>Van Vleet and Mckinnie > Powell imo. Its only Ibaka I would give an edge but he would still have his work cut out against any of Jones, Bell, Jerebko and Bogut. Overall, GSW are much deeper and we will probably see it in this series.

 

PG going superstar nova shocked me esp. on Offense, I had him at secondary star player for the rest of his career.

 

But he is going to realize like everyone else that you cant win playing with Westbrick!

 

Just a friendly reminder on this Memorial day....

This years NBA Finals is more than simply a basketball finals.

It means more than that.

Support America!

 

If Cousins comes back, i'm not sure that helps Golden State...Marc would gladly take Boogie 1 on 1 instead of running after Draymond or Looney imo. I can really see Gasol being able to limit Boogie and have a bigger impact in the series if Cousins plays, he's one of those old school guys who knows how to play against weak minded guys like Dwight and Boogie, he's going to grab and push here and there, flop a bit, get some technical fouls for his team...

 

One big difference that Cousins brings is that he can shoot 3s better than Green (forget about Looney) and a good passer. That could drag Gasol/Ibaka away from the rim making it easier GS to score in the paint and with Green gives GS another passing big man.

 

It would be a mistake if Cousins comes back and has a major role. I don't think they'll make that mistake. He'll take Bogut's minutes so long as they're winning.

 

That's true, but it would still somehow limit Golden State ball movement, which is by far their best weapon, if i'm the Raptors i want Cousins to take away shots to Curry and Klay as much as possible, if i have a player who can guard him in the paint and forc him to play on the perimeter.

 

Ah that Steve guy...such a likable fellow.

 

If Cousins comes back, Kerr will probably bring him off the bench (now with the handy, easy excuse of needing to regulate his minutes, to save Cousins' pride)--that way, Cousins isn't mucking up the flow of Curry/Green/Thompson. Instead, he can join Thompson in propping up reserve-heavy lineups instead of Thompson being the only major offensive threat.

 

Spoiler

 

If G.S. wins in 6 . . . .. . The world will slob KAwhi's nob but the reality would be he did not better than Harden . . .
IMO . . . .. Kawhi has not proven anything more than Harden has
He made the finals in the Leastern Conference
and
He won a finals with 3 hall of famers
(You cannot tell me that HArden/Duncan/Ginobili and Parker could not win a championship under Pop)

Harden 31.6 pts 2.2 stls 6.6 ast 6.9 rebs (11 gms)
Leonard 31.2 pts 1.6 stls 3.8 ast 8.8 rebs (18 gms)
For ***** and Giggles
Curry 27.3 pts 0.9 stls 5.6 ast 6.3 rebs (16 gms)

but 'the eye test' says Harden is BY FAR THE WORST OF THEM ALL

Rocket River

 

No need to put down Kawhi to elevate Harden.

Leonard won with the Spurs' big 3, sure, but they were an aging big 3 and Leonard was FMVP. It's not like he lucked into a title (a la Milicic with the Pistons).

Making the Finals in any conference is a tremendous feat. Especially since this year's East was far more competitive than in years past.

As for the the three players you listed...Harden is the only one among them that isn't currently still playing, so...

 

Slobbing knobs should be kept as a fetish and not flow into mainstream.

Pop surely would've found a way to incorporate Harden into 'his system' and not vice versa.

 

Iggy won finals MVP . . . . ..
Of the three players. . . .which one carried the most weight?
One is coming from the East - IF the Rockets and Toronto switched places
Would Kawhi and Curry still be playing?

Rocket River

 

GSW would be facing the Bucks in the finals