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Tharmas
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Update: where we are now.
Milwaukee has a decided advantage over Boston (3 games to 1). No surprise there.
Toronto is having a harder time with Philadelphia (2-2) than I expected.
Houston and Golden State are having a barn-burner series, as I expected. They are currently 2-2, with neither team winning on the road. Golden State has the home advantage from here on out. Houston has more depth, and a superstar in Harden, but GS has Curry and Durant. Curry has been in a slump, but came out of it last night. Houston still won though.
Portland and Denver (2-2): I wasn’t expecting a whole lot, but this may be the most exciting match-up so far. My only complaint is that they’re both on the West Coast, so most of the games are too late for me to watch in their entirety.
Milwaukee has a decided advantage over Boston (3 games to 1). No surprise there.
Toronto is having a harder time with Philadelphia (2-2) than I expected.
Houston and Golden State are having a barn-burner series, as I expected. They are currently 2-2, with neither team winning on the road. Golden State has the home advantage from here on out. Houston has more depth, and a superstar in Harden, but GS has Curry and Durant. Curry has been in a slump, but came out of it last night. Houston still won though.
Portland and Denver (2-2): I wasn’t expecting a whole lot, but this may be the most exciting match-up so far. My only complaint is that they’re both on the West Coast, so most of the games are too late for me to watch in their entirety.
Jimmy Higgins
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Come on Houston. I know they'll disappoint, but someone please beat Golden State. It is bad enough there is a Patriots Dynasty... we don't need two of them...
Go Pats!
Go Pats!
Tharmas
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I had high hopes for Houston. So they had GS where they wanted them, game six at home with Kevin Durant out for two games at least. Looked like they came out expecting to win and not playing with any urgency, and they let Steph Curry go for 33 points in the second half.
So, let's go Portland! Ha!
In the East, I'm picking Milwaukee over Toronto, who had a hard time putting away Philadelphia in the semis. That last Leonard shot for Toronto was pretty good though.
[youtube]CROx4XvLJTk[/youtube]
And Raptors into the finals. The basketball fans on my Facebook feed are blowing up.
Then I read an article titled: Bucks, Raptors battling to be served as fodder for the Warriors.
Then I read an article titled: Bucks, Raptors battling to be served as fodder for the Warriors.
Tharmas
Veteran Member
Yeah, I'm still made at Houston for folding. I think the Raptors may be one star short of a championship.
Take on the game?
Tars Tarkus
Veteran Member
I'm torn. Should I pull for the Raptors or route against them because they beat my Bucks and because Drake is a Raptor fan?
Jimmy Higgins
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Take one for the team and cheer against the Warriors. There is nothing worse than a dynasty... when it isn't your team.
Yay, Raptors! They have never lost a game in the NBA finals during the entire history of the team.
Jimmy Higgins
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Toronto is pretty impressive, as the city hasn't seen a loss in a Final since 1993.
Tharmas
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I don’t have any cogent analysis that isn’t available elsewhere. The Raptors came out very aggressive and I think surprised the Warriors, who seemed a little lackadaisical and sloppy throughout (16 turnovers). When the Warriors tried to shut down Leonard, other Raptors stood out. I didn’t expect Gasol to show up the way he did, or VanVleet, and Siakam tore the place up – I wasn’t expecting that either. Offensively the statistics were pretty darn even, including 3 point shooting.
The Raptors defense stood out, generally staying equal to the Warriors statistically but excelling in some categories, like blocked shots (6 to 2). That's practically the difference in the final score right there.
I think game 2 will be more of a challenge for Toronto. Golden State will be more determined and awake, but if Toronto plays the way they did in game 1 they have a real shot. Can they remain hungry and avoid a letdown? Two wins before they head out west would be a real advantage in the series.
Of course the great unknown is the status of Durant and whether that changes.
I will add that the Raptors surprised me before - when they took out the Bucks.
blastula
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Well that was fun while it lasted. GS always seems to come up with great 3rd quarters when they need them. It must be their best quarter, if not the first.
Though Toronto is playing strong, I won't count them out yet.
Though Toronto is playing strong, I won't count them out yet.
Tharmas
Veteran Member
So it’s Toronto up two games to one. The Warriors were undermanned last night with both Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson out, but Curry still had a monster game (47 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals). It just wasn’t enough.
Toronto played with determination with the scoring divided between team members – but no letup. Now we’ll see if Curry can come back after only two day’s rest. Klay Thompson is expected to be back Friday. No word on KD yet.
I’m enjoying the series.
Toronto played with determination with the scoring divided between team members – but no letup. Now we’ll see if Curry can come back after only two day’s rest. Klay Thompson is expected to be back Friday. No word on KD yet.
I’m enjoying the series.
fromderinside
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US is fickle. Looks like they generally hate the west. Only CA, NV, and HI for Warriors while rest of US, including Texas-ah, favoring our friends from Toronto.