VS.

Beginning Thursday, May 30th, 2019 @ 9:00 p.m. EST, all games broadcast on in the USA preceded by

and

All games in Canada broadcast on and

Game 1: Thu, May 30: Warriors at Raptors, 9 p.m. ET (ABC, SN)
Game 2: Sun, June 2: Warriors at Raptors, 8 p.m. ET (ABC, TSN)
Game 3: Wed, June 5: Raptors at Warriors, 9 p.m. ET (ABC, SN)
Game 4: Fri, June 7: Raptors at Warriors, 9 p.m. ET (ABC, TSN)
*Game 5: Mon, June 10: Warriors at Raptors, 9 p.m. ET (ABC, SN)
*Game 6: Thu, June 13: Raptors at Warriors, 9 p.m. ET (ABC, TSN)
*Game 7: Sun, June 16: Warriors at Raptors, 8 p.m. ET (ABC, SN)

*if necessary

Raptors

luv4u said:

Raptors

Absolutely! Go Raptors! We beat GS this season, so we can do it again in the finals. Durant is not playing in game 1 and likely not game 2 either, so we need to jump on these games and win! We also have the home court advantage and we just beat the best team in basketball 4 games in a row, so anything can happen.

I would love to see Pascal Siakim win most improved player. He's been awesome this year. And, if I could also add, Kawhi should win MVP as well.

I am so conflicted.

On the one hand we have the Golden State Warriors. Hey, I respect talent. You have to beat the kings to be the king and if no one can beat them, don't hate on them for being great. But....

...they have Draymond Green. A very talented player who for some reason is also the dirtiest player in the NBA. I don't know what's more maddening to me - that he's dirty, or that he's talented enough to not need to be dirty to dominate.

Anyway, I hate dirty players. Anyone who's ever played a sport at any level hates dirty players with a passion. As much as I respect Steve Kerr, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and especially Klay Thompson, it's pretty dang hard for me to root for the Warriors.

On the other hand, the Raptors are stuck with this guy:







Which is true!








Also, I suspect Kawhi Leonard quit on his team mates in San Antonio. That's even worse than being a dirty player. Just ask anyone that played with Scottie Pippen.

But there's no doubt Leonard is playing at 100% effort 100% of the time now. So he's got that going for him, which is nice.

We have a team with a dirty player vs. a team with a former quitter and a goofy cheerleader. There's only one way to settle this:

I've gotta go with Empress and her Toronto Raptors.

GO RAPTORS! (And take Drake with you! )

RodeoSchro said:

I am so conflicted.

On the one hand we have the Golden State Warriors. Hey, I respect talent. You have to beat the kings to be the king and if no one can beat them, don't hate on them for being great. But....

...they have Draymond Green. A very talented player who for some reason is also the dirtiest player in the NBA. I don't know what's more maddening to me - that he's dirty, or that he's talented enough to not need to be dirty to dominate.

Anyway, I hate dirty players. Anyone who's ever played a sport at any level hates dirty players with a passion. As much as I respect Steve Kerr, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and especially Klay Thompson, it's pretty dang hard for me to root for the Warriors.

On the other hand, the Raptors are stuck with this guy:







Which is true!








Also, I suspect Kawhi Leonard quit on his team mates in San Antonio. That's even worse than being a dirty player. Just ask anyone that played with Scottie Pippen.

But there's no doubt Leonard is playing at 100% effort 100% of the time now. So he's got that going for him, which is nice.

We have a team with a dirty player vs. a team with a former quitter and a goofy cheerleader. There's only one way to settle this:

I've gotta go with Empress and her Toronto Raptors.

GO RAPTORS! (And take Drake with you! )

LOL - You kill me Rodeo.

The NBA needs a new champ. It's boring seeing the same team win or almost win each year. As far as Drake goes, we all need to stop focusing on him and keep the focus on the players. They are the ones who deserve the attention, not some half assed rapper.

Empress said:

RodeoSchro said:

I am so conflicted.

On the one hand we have the Golden State Warriors. Hey, I respect talent. You have to beat the kings to be the king and if no one can beat them, don't hate on them for being great. But....

...they have Draymond Green. A very talented player who for some reason is also the dirtiest player in the NBA. I don't know what's more maddening to me - that he's dirty, or that he's talented enough to not need to be dirty to dominate.

Anyway, I hate dirty players. Anyone who's ever played a sport at any level hates dirty players with a passion. As much as I respect Steve Kerr, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and especially Klay Thompson, it's pretty dang hard for me to root for the Warriors.

On the other hand, the Raptors are stuck with this guy:







Which is true!








Also, I suspect Kawhi Leonard quit on his team mates in San Antonio. That's even worse than being a dirty player. Just ask anyone that played with Scottie Pippen.

But there's no doubt Leonard is playing at 100% effort 100% of the time now. So he's got that going for him, which is nice.

We have a team with a dirty player vs. a team with a former quitter and a goofy cheerleader. There's only one way to settle this:

I've gotta go with Empress and her Toronto Raptors.

GO RAPTORS! (And take Drake with you! )

LOL - You kill me Rodeo.

The NBA needs a new champ. It's boring seeing the same team win or almost win each year. As far as Drake goes, we all need to stop focusing on him and keep the focus on the players. They are the ones who deserve the attention, not some half assed rapper.

I know, but I love that bottom picture so much that I post it every chance I get!

Go Raptors!

I'll be shocked if this goes six games....WArriors all the way, and I hope Draymond knocks Fake on his ass.

I like dynasties, because they give other teams something to shoot for. Remember, aside from Durant, GS built their team the right way. Steph was drafted 7th, Klay was drafted 11th, Draymond 35th. Not the Warriors fault other teams don't draft smart and develop their players (like my Knicks).

[Edited 5/28/19 15:29pm]

uPtoWnNY said:

I'll be shocked if this goes six games....WArriors all the way, and I hope Draymond knocks Fake on his ass.

I like dynasties, because they give other teams something to shoot for. Remember, aside from Durant, GS built their team the right way. Steph was drafted 7th, Klay was drafted 11th, Draymond 35th. Not the Warriors fault other teams don't draft smart and develop their players (like my Knicks).

[Edited 5/28/19 15:29pm]

There will be no winners if that happens.

Or, we are all winners if that happens.

I can't decide which is true.

RodeoSchro said:

uPtoWnNY said:

I'll be shocked if this goes six games....WArriors all the way, and I hope Draymond knocks Fake on his ass.

I like dynasties, because they give other teams something to shoot for. Remember, aside from Durant, GS built their team the right way. Steph was drafted 7th, Klay was drafted 11th, Draymond 35th. Not the Warriors fault other teams don't draft smart and develop their players (like my Knicks).

[Edited 5/28/19 15:29pm]

There will be no winners if that happens.

Or, we are all winners if that happens.

I can't decide which is true.

Charles Barkley;

“Throw the ball out of bounds and I knock the hell out of Drake”

Preach it Sir Charles!

uPtoWnNY said:

RodeoSchro said:

There will be no winners if that happens.

Or, we are all winners if that happens.

I can't decide which is true.

Charles Barkley;

“Throw the ball out of bounds and I knock the hell out of Drake”

Preach it Sir Charles!

RodeoSchro said:

Back in the day for me was the late 60s-early 70s....plenty of rough stuff back then (which I miss). Everyone complains about the Bad Boy Pistons - shit, the Celtics were the original Bad Boys. They always had hatchet men, going back to Tommy Heinsohn. Dave Cowens, Paul Silas, Greg Kite, M.L. Carr - the list goes on. And who can forget Kevin McHale clotheslining Kurt Rambis in the 84 Finals...refs didn't even call a foul on that shit!

My favorite enforcer was Portland's Maurice Lucas (RIP). He protected Walton the way Oak protected Ewing. I still remember Lucas squaring off against a much bigger Darryl Dawkins in the 77 Finals vs Philly.

728huey said:

RodeoSchro said:

I am so conflicted.

On the one hand we have the Golden State Warriors. Hey, I respect talent. You have to beat the kings to be the king and if no one can beat them, don't hate on them for being great. But....

...they have Draymond Green. A very talented player who for some reason is also the dirtiest player in the NBA. I don't know what's more maddening to me - that he's dirty, or that he's talented enough to not need to be dirty to dominate.

Anyway, I hate dirty players. Anyone who's ever played a sport at any level hates dirty players with a passion. As much as I respect Steve Kerr, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and especially Klay Thompson, it's pretty dang hard for me to root for the Warriors.

On the other hand, the Raptors are stuck with this guy:







Which is true!








Also, I suspect Kawhi Leonard quit on his team mates in San Antonio. That's even worse than being a dirty player. Just ask anyone that played with Scottie Pippen.

But there's no doubt Leonard is playing at 100% effort 100% of the time now. So he's got that going for him, which is nice.

We have a team with a dirty player vs. a team with a former quitter and a goofy cheerleader. There's only one way to settle this:

I've gotta go with Empress and her Toronto Raptors.

GO RAPTORS! (And take Drake with you! )

I'm not usually one to opine in my own NBA threads before the season is over, but Draymond Green isn't anywhere near as dirty as players used to be back in the day. I remember the Bad Boy Pistons teams, and Rick Mahorn and Bill Laimbeer were straight out thugs on the court. Dennis Rodman picked up a lot of their tendencies and brought them over to the Chicago Bulls. The Knicks had their own dirty players in John Starks and Anthony Mason back in the 90s, and the only player I remember being anywhere close to that dirty in the 2000s was Ron Artest. Granted he got some treatment for mental illness later on and changed his name to Metta World Peace to reflect his new outlook, Draymond Green might be the dirtiest player in the NBA today, but the NBA is so sensitive right now that it's hard for anyone to pull the kinds of stuff they used to.

Sure, it's all relative. But I do think Draymond Green's kicks to the nuts are right up there with Bruce Bowen's slipping-his-foot-under-yours-while-you're-in-the-air, or just about anything John Stockton did.

I thought the Bad Boys were rough, but not necessarily dirty. Bill Lambier was just a giant crybaby.

I agree with Huey. Although Draymond may be annoying as he tries to get in the heads of other players he isn't an enforcer the way Rick Mahorn, Barkley, Oakley, Lucas, etc. were.

I agree with Uptown Lucas may have been the best of all time. I do remember the fight with him

and Darryl Dawkins. That was my second NBA finals that i watched and pretty much how I became a Sixers fan. My first NBA Finals was the classic between the Celtics and Suns the year before.

uPtoWnNY said:

Back in the day for me was the late 60s-early 70s....plenty of rough stuff back then (which I miss). Everyone complains about the Bad Boy Pistons - shit, the Celtics were the original Bad Boys. They always had hatchet men, going back to Tommy Heinsohn. Dave Cowens, Paul Silas, Greg Kite, M.L. Carr - the list goes on. And who can forget Kevin McHale clotheslining Kurt Rambis in the 84 Finals...refs didn't even call a foul on that shit!

My favorite enforcer was Portland's Maurice Lucas (RIP). He protected Walton the way Oak protected Ewing. I still remember Lucas squaring off against a much bigger Darryl Dawkins in the 77 Finals vs Philly.

Man, I will never forget that Lucas v. Dawkins brouhaha. We all thought that if either landed a solid punch, the other would die.

Maurice Lucas was a BADASS.

RodeoSchro said:

Man, I will never forget that Lucas v. Dawkins brouhaha. We all thought that if either landed a solid punch, the other would die.

Maurice Lucas was a BADASS.

It nearly happened to Rudy Tomjanovich when Kermit Washington clocked him in Dec. 1977. That was some scary shit.

Wow, Lakers are a bigger mess than the Knicks, lol;

http://www.espn.com/nba/s...rown-jewel

Could Chris Paul be on the way out?

https://www.theringer.com...ade-rumors

[Edited 5/29/19 15:54pm]

uPtoWnNY said:

RodeoSchro said:

Man, I will never forget that Lucas v. Dawkins brouhaha. We all thought that if either landed a solid punch, the other would die.

Maurice Lucas was a BADASS.

It nearly happened to Rudy Tomjanovich when Kermit Washington clocked him in Dec. 1977. That was some scary shit.

Wow, Lakers are a bigger mess than the Knicks, lol;

http://www.espn.com/nba/s...rown-jewel

Could Chris Paul be on the way out?

https://www.theringer.com...ade-rumors

[Edited 5/29/19 15:54pm]

I was listening to that game on the radio. Worst moment of my childhood.

If someone will take most or all or CP3's contract, the Rockets would deal him. Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta does not mess around. He has seen with his own eyes that his healthy Rockets team could not beat a depleted Warriors team, so he isn't wasting any time or energy thinking that we can ever beat them with this team.

Everyone - including James Harden - is available, for the right price.

RodeoSchro said:

uPtoWnNY said:

It nearly happened to Rudy Tomjanovich when Kermit Washington clocked him in Dec. 1977. That was some scary shit.

Wow, Lakers are a bigger mess than the Knicks, lol;

http://www.espn.com/nba/s...rown-jewel

Could Chris Paul be on the way out?

https://www.theringer.com...ade-rumors

[Edited 5/29/19 15:54pm]

I was listening to that game on the radio. Worst moment of my childhood.

If someone will take most or all or CP3's contract, the Rockets would deal him. Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta does not mess around. He has seen with his own eyes that his healthy Rockets team could not beat a depleted Warriors team, so he isn't wasting any time or energy thinking that we can ever beat them with this team.

Everyone - including James Harden - is available, for the right price.

Houston's problem is style of play, which falls on the head coach. I'll say it until the cows come home - if you keep putting your faith in Pringles, you'll get your heart broken every time. Here's what a dude posted about Houston on another website, and it's 100% SPOT ON;

"Jacking up outside shots when Golden State is missing it's starting center, and its best paint defender is undersized Green, you would think that attacking the paint more would be ideal, or atleast getting closer to the hoop. When the opposing team doesn't have any elite rim protectors, and you have as many players who CAN penetrate and get shots closer in, that might be one avenue of bridging the gap. Kevon Looney and the sparingly used Jordan Bell certainly don't scream intimidation.

If Draymond Green is the "worry" in regards to attacking, getting him on switches like Golden State does so well would be ideal. It would pull him out of the paint and open it up even more. However, seldom did I or do I ever see teams forcing Draymond Green out this way, and when I do, I see players settling for outside shots still instead of attacking.

Other teams also don't play GS the right way in this regard, as Lillard was routinely settling instead of attacking (When he wasn't being forced to give up the ball), same with the supporting cast. In a three happy league with so many undersized centers, attacking the paint should be the #1 priority. Yet, you have Harden attempting close to 80 threes in both series (On ISOs on almost all attempts, and with so many contested ones and step backs), and not shooting a good percentage at that.

So one way to have a better chance at beating them is by attacking the paint more, and putting more pressure on the defense on other areas inside the three-point line. Defensively, stop with the constant switching (Yes, it's a switch everything league, which how many teams have gotten burned by the by GS?). More accountability in regards to fighting through screens and staying with your assignment.

And, sharing the ball and having a more balanced attack would certainly create far more problems for GS's defense. It's easy to play a team that ISO's constantly. So in Houstons case, that would have also benefited them."

Rodeo, even some of the players, including Chris Paul, bought up the style of play with D'Antoni. And there are reports Paul and Harden had words after Game 6 over The Beard's ball-hogging.

Rockets need a REAL coach....Pringles way of adjusting is having his players shoot more threes.

The NBA Finals

Game 1

Golden State Warriors 109 Toronto Raptors 118

This NBA Finals was already historic even before the first tipoff, as the Golden State Warriors were making their fifth consecutive appearance, which made them the first team to do so since the great Bill Russell-led Boston Celtics teams of the 1960's while the Toronto Raptors were making their first NBA Finals appeance ever. It was also the first time an NBA Finals game was played outside of the United States. Despite the history, the present day showed the Warriors who, despite being the prohibitive favorites to win their third consecutive NBA title, coming in with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder. They have had to play without Kevin Durant, who injured his calf in the Western Conference Semifinals and has not played since. They are probably the most vulnerable they have been in years, yet they want to prove to their doubters that they can win without Durant. Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors are making their first NBA Finals in franchise history, and they are carrying the weight of an entire nation on their shoulders.

The game began with both teams feeling each other out and battling a little bit of rust. But the Raptors would eventually jump out to the lead on a series of 3-pointers from Danny Green and Marc Gasol. Klay Thompson would hit a 3-pointer to give the Warriors a one point lead with a little over five minutes remaining in the second quarter, but the Raptors would go on run at the end of the quarter to take a 10 point lead into halftime.

But the Golden State Warriors have made huge comebacks during their entire playoff run, and they would make another run in this game, as they cut the Raptors' lead to four points with 55 seconds remaining in the third quarter. But they would not get any closer in this game, as the Raptors were powered by Pascal Siakam who scored 32 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out five assists. Kawhi Leonard overcame a subpar game from the field, finishing with 23 points, eight rebounds, and five assists despite shooting 5 for 14 from the floor. Marc Gasol scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds while Fred VanVleet had another effective game, scoring 15 points off the bench. Danny Green overcame a recent slump to add 11 points for Toronto.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 34 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Klay Thompson scored 21 points yet Draymond Green was held in check from the field, scoring just 10 points though still getting a triple double, adding 10 rebounds and 10 assists. But no other Warriors player reached double digits in scoring. However, DeMarcus Cousins did make his first appearance since game 2 of the first round of the playoffs, scoring three points in just eight minutes of action. In the meantime, Kevin Durant is still expected to miss game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Toronto leads series 1-0.

I'm predicting an upset.

Raptors will take the Warriors to the Wall (game 7) and win. I've never supported a team from the West in the NBA finals. Well wait, when the Lakers' play against Boston, I rooted for the Lakers'. So yeah I'm leaving land and country to support the Canadians GO RAPTORS !!

Raptors!!

What a night! The Raptors played an amazing game. Bring on game 2!!

Spicey P....................

Man, this is hard to do. And Empress, I want you to know right now - I still love you as much or more than any other Orger. That will never change!

But what IS going to change is my rooting interest. Sadly, I have to move from the Raptors camp to the Undecided camp.

As great as the Raptors played last night, their greatness just wasn't enough to overcome this douchebag:






What a putz.

See that armband he's wearing on his left arm? Do you want to know WHY he's wearing an oddly-placed armband there?

IT'S BECAUSE HE HAS STEPHEN CURRY AND KEVIN DURANT'S NUMBERS TATTOOED ON HIS ARM.






ZOMG what a faker.

His douchebaggery is so great that it offsets the actual athletic heroics of Leonard, Siakam and VanVleet.

Although I am now the Switzerland of Org Basketball Rooters, I hope that Steph Curry walks up to that douchebag, points at the armband, and says on TV for all to hear, "Hey, what you got under that armband? Show us, Drake. SHOW US".


.

[Edited 5/31/19 8:58am]

LOL - I know all about Drake's tats. I thought he conducted himself rather well last night. Ya gotta love the shirt he was wearing too. I heard he had some choice words for Draymond Green. Curry was laughing at both of them. Don't pay any attention to Drake Rodeo, just focus on the players! You will enjoy it a whole lot better and you won't feel any remorse rooting for them.

Empress said:

LOL - I know all about Drake's tats. I thought he conducted himself rather well last night. Ya gotta love the shirt he was wearing too. I heard he had some choice words for Draymond Green. Curry was laughing at both of them. Don't pay any attention to Drake Rodeo, just focus on the players! You will enjoy it a whole lot better and you won't feel any remorse rooting for them.

But I feel like I'm being pulled over to the Dark Side!

Associating with Drake Vader just can't end well for me.

Charles Barkley nailed it when he said today's NBA players are as dumb as rocks. Instead of taking advantage of mismatches and attacking the Warriors IN THE PAINT (like Toronto did), too many cats settle and jack up threes. Missed threes lead to long rebounds, which leads to fast break baskets for the opposition.

This would be a typical Knicks move;

https://www.ibtimes.com/n...ns-2796782

[Edited 5/31/19 15:27pm]

The NBA Finals

Game 2

Golden State Warriors 109 Toronto Raptors 104

The Toronto Raptors surprised many with their intense play on the Golden State Warriors in game 1, particularly on defense, and it put some doubt on the minds of many prognosticators on whether the Warriors could come back into this series. Meanwhile, the Warriors themselves were disappointed in their play in game 1, but they weren't feeling any additional pressure in their minds, as they have had experience coming back from a loss in past NBA Finals.

The game began pretty much like game 1, with both teams going back and forth, but the Raptors would go on a run and jump to a 12 point lead thanks to Fred VanVleet, who once again had an effective game off the bench. The Raptors would lead by 11 points with a little over two minutes remaining in the first half.

But Golden State would explode to a 29-3 run beginning at the end of the second quarter and extending into the third quarter, where they scored 18 unanswered points led by Klay Thompson, who led the Warriors with 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists, but he landed awkwardly on one of his jumpshots and apparently strained his hamstring and did not return to the game. Nevertheless, it appeared Golden State would cruise to victory.

But the Raptors weren't done. They clawed their way back into this game with some suffocating defense, leaving Golden State scoreless for nearly the entire final five and a half minutes of the game. But they couldn't quite catch up, partly from the Warriors own defense but also from missing some open shots. However, they did pull within two points when Danny Green hit a 3-pointer with 26.9 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. But with the Raptors focusing their defense on Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the Warriors were able to locate a wide open Andre Iguodala from behind the 3-point line, who made the huge shot with seven seconds left that secured the victory for Golden State. Stephen Curry scored 25 points for the Warriors while Draymond Green nearly had a triple double, scoing 17 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out nine assists. DeMarcus Cousins got the start in this game and had an effective game despite not having played much in these playoffs, scoring 11 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out nine assists.

Kawhi Leonard led the Raptors with 34 points and 14 rebounds while Fred VanVleet scored 17 points off the bench. However, Pascal Siakam was held to just 12 points in this game while Kyle Lowry scored 13 points before fouling out of the game in the fourth quarter.

Series tied at 1-1.

The Raptors played a terrible 3rd quarter and it bit them in the ass! They have to play at the highest level if they want to win against this team. Lots of work cut out for them.

Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant were not very nice to Drake after the game.

"Hey Aubrey, see you in Oakland" - Durant

"Bum ass" - Thompson

Back in Frisco. ohoh.