2018-19 NBA and Raptors thread

[hwy19man]

post is messed up.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by V

So as someone who knows nothing about the NBA, but has been interested in seeing some Finals action, do the Raptors even have a chance here? Are they going to get swept?

The game is so dependant on the long bomb these days that there is too much variance to predict exactly what happens. If guys like Gasol, Green, Siakam, Ibaka, Lowry, Van Vleet, and Powell make open shots on a consistent basis, the Raptors are as tough as anyone to beat. There is no shortage of talent and there should be plenty of open shots conceded. Kawhi and Lowry are really strong primary penetrators and Siakam, Powell, Van Vleet are also solid playmakers especially on that second wave.

What makes Golden State scary is that Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are basically the two best shooters in history and don't need to be open to sink a dagger three. Add Durant and you have another lethal option who you can defend perfectly on and still get scored on.They're pretty much an unguardable team when healthy and your best bet is to hope that the aformentioned variance causes them to miss their perimeter shots and does do the opposite to the Raptors.

Even though both teams are absolutely exceptional on a fundamental level - play off the ball, footwork, passing, paint scoring, this series will ultimately be decided on the perimeter. Either the Raptors make the wide open threes or the Warriors make the heartbreaking contested threes. And there is no telling what happens. Home court advantage for Toronto could very well be the deciding factor. But if Durant comes back soon enough and the series is still tied or close, you gotta give the edge to Golden State, they're an all-time juggernaut when fully healthy.

Personally I think Curry is the best player in the world and I am expecting to have my heart broken by his ridiculous shotmaking and playmaking. But I am optimistic and excited.

[edslunch]

These guys think the raptors have a statistical edge. I haven’t looked into the methodology or track record but I’ll take a positive prediction any time....

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com...a-predictions/

[bluejays]

Personally, I think Golden State takes it in 5. There are too many things that have to go right consistency-wise, for the Raps to win. Given that this team has shown resilience on the back of Kawhi, I'll give one win, and maybe two. I say it comes in game 2. With a team that can score from anywhere, and will probably frustrate the hell out of the shallow upper level talent the Raps have. I can see Lowry wanting to take it himself at times rather than distributing it causing things to go south. Regardless, just being at this stage is a great accomplishment.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

Raptors game (game 1) starts at 9pm EST? NBA is sure catering to the west coast on that start time

At least 7pm is tip at 7pm.
Not like NHL when its opening faceoff whenever.

[Flamenspiel]

Raptors in 7.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

At least 7pm is tip at 7pm.
Not like NHL when its opening faceoff whenever.

Is the NBA really like that anymore, though. Three years ago I loved that about the NBA, but I feel there's been tons of games I've turned on that are closer to the NHL start of 8-10mins after the start time.

[Magnum PEI]

Go warriors. We are the west.

Almost would be worth it for Alberta to separate, wouldn't have cellphone/media conglomerates dictate which teams I should root for and what sports I should watch.

[jayswin]

lol

[Scornfire]

Nobody's stopping you from cheering for Golden State, nobody cares

[Senator Clay Davis]

Could have least gone with "We the North (Cali)"

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

Go warriors. We are the west.

Almost would be worth it for Alberta to separate, wouldn't have cellphone/media conglomerates dictate which teams I should root for and what sports I should watch.

Luckily you're a human being with free will and can do whatever you want.

If you're weak enough that you watch and root for the teams you've been "dictated" to watch on TV instead of your own will and desires than you may have bigger problems.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

Go warriors. We are the west.

Almost would be worth it for Alberta to separate, wouldn't have cellphone/media conglomerates dictate which teams I should root for and what sports I should watch.

Why do you go from thread to thread hating on Canadian sport franchises?

[Johnny Makarov]

For all you NBA noobs, you are going to love Draymond Green! He is like Marchand but instead of licking you, he kicks you in the balls....

[Sainters7]

So basically there's two Green's this series to infuriate Raptors fans..

[Tsawwassen]

Commentators for the NBA Finals.
Play by play followed by colour and sideline reporter.


Sportsnet Matt Devlin and Leo Rautins for the odd numbered games

TSN Matt Devlin and Jack Armstrong for the even numbered games

RDS in french Alexandre Tourigny and Will Archambault

ABC Mike Breen with Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson. Doris Burke is the sideline reporter.

ESPN in Spanish Álvaro Martín and Carlos Morales

______________________________________


Sportsnet Radio Eric Smith and Paul Jones for the even numbered games

TSN Radio Paul Jones with Jack Armstrong and Sherman Hamilton for games 1,3, and 5

ESPN Radio Marc Kestecher and Hubie Brown

Warriors Radio Tim Roye with Jim Barnett and Tom Tolbert


http://media.sportsnet.ca/2019/05/sp...cast-schedule/
https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/pr...tate-warriors/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_NBA_Finals

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Is the NBA really like that anymore, though. Three years ago I loved that about the NBA, but I feel there's been tons of games I've turned on that are closer to the NHL start of 8-10mins after the start time.

In the playoffs yes. The last game, game 6, tipped at 6:30 sharp.

Like soccer they have to do this for world TV.

[Strange Brew]

Van Gundy is one of the best color guys in any sport IMO.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The Lakers turning into the even more ridiculous version of the Knicks is awesome suffice to say.

In his introductory news conference in March 2017, Pelinka declared, "I'm a little bit of a storyteller by nature."

During the session, Pelinka quoted scripture. He compared joining the Lakers to "When Harry Met Sally." He talked about camping in Montana with Kobe Bryant. He talked about seeing a picture of a boy in a Syrian refugee camp wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey. He called Kobe Bryant a "North Star" and said Bryant's impact on the team was like sugar dissolving in coffee: "Once it's there, it's there forever."

He once called point guard Lonzo Ball "transcendent" and mentioned him alongside Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. He compared the young Lakers' potential to Taylor Swift. After signing Caldwell-Pope, Pelinka again referenced the Bible. In a news conference after signing James, Pelinka put on glasses and started reading from Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist," noting that James had read it and that Bryant had also given him a copy.

Pelinka's penchant for "storytelling," multiple Lakers staffers told ESPN, is viewed as disingenuous -- at best.

One story shared around the organization unfolded in March 2018, when Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was addressing the team at the Lakers' practice facility as part of the franchise's "Genius Talks" series.

Standing beside Johnson, Pelinka told a story about his former client, Bryant.

"There was one time when Kobe, who I worked with for 18 years, was going back to play in Madison Square Garden, and he had just seen 'The Dark Knight,'" Pelinka said. "Obviously, you guys saw that movie, and he's like, 'Hey, hook me up with dinner with Heath Ledger, because he got so locked into that role. I want to know how he mentally went there.' So, he had dinner with Heath, and he talked about how he locks in for a role.

"And Kobe used some of that in his game against the Knicks."

"The Dark Knight" was released in July 2008, six months after Ledger died. A source with direct knowledge said no such arrangement was made and no dinner ever took place.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...ba-crown-jewel

[Scornfire]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The Lakers turning into the even more ridiculous version of the Knicks is awesome suffice to say.



http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...ba-crown-jewel

That's a hell of an article, yikes lol