So say the Raptors win the next game and Durant isn’t playing. Does this increase the urgency with which the Warriors pursue Durant? Right now, it is assumed he is all but gone (I have no idea, but the opinion is pretty universal). Do the Warriors say screw the cap hit, we need him back? Or do they try to reload.
I think Durant and the Warriors are headed for a divorce. There’s no point in even trying to keep him as he clearly doesn’t want to be there with Green and would much rather play with Lebron and another superstar if the Lakers can deal.
The Metroplex is like that as well. Dallas is the main population center at 1.3 million, but hardly anyone notices that Ft Worth is rapidly closing in on 900,000 residents and being in the top 10 largest cities in the country. Then you have Arlington, Plano, Irving, and Garland, all with over a quarter million (Arlington has almost 400,000).
I don’t think the Warriors have saved anything. They had to know that without KD they were going to be tested by Leonard and a very solid Toronto defense. The Raptors are the most complete team the Warriors have faced since 2016 when they lost to Cleveland. They pose many of the same problems, and I’d actually submit that Leonard is better than Lebron at driving to the basket.
You mean Durant play with LeBron? I thought he made a point of saying no star would choose to play with LeBron. Or was that optics?
I know it’s almost a zero chance, but it would be great if Durant landed on Utah or Denver.
The thing is, I don’t think Golden State would be winning this series with KD. They would be doing better for sure, but no way they’d be winning. Maybe it would be tied, but the notion this is some sort of asterisk situation is nuts. The Raptors aren’t just squeaking out some lucky wins, they’re utterly kicking the shit out of the Warriors. Golden State is actually kind of lucky they weren’t swept.
Anyway… I am surprised how how much shit Steve Kerr is taking from GS fans online right now. “Durr durrr, he can’t adjust.” Jesus, it’s their fifth year in the Finals and they’ve already won three. They’re the most transformative team in modern basketball history, by which I mean no team has so change the way pro basketball is played. Yeah, things aren’t working in this series, but I don’t see the armchair geniuses proposing any better plans. I’ll take Steve Kerr if you don’t want him.
I know…to break it down.
-He has a hobbled Cousins (who doesn’t really play defense when he is 100% anyhow)
-is missing a player who was having a fabulous playoffs and is top 3 in the league.
-has no real depth outside of the core
-one of the splash brothers missed a game and may be less than 100%.
-is facing the best defense he has ever faced.
-has a team that has played ball into June for 5 straight years (so they are likely worn down)
And he made the finals from the west.
Just to be clear, I too think the Raptors could’ve won with a healthy Durant, but it certainly would be a different series. I also don’t subscribe to asterisks. Every team has injuries at this point in the season and you could argue the Warriors were lucky with injuries the previous 4 years. You face the team in front of you.
KD will play tonight. But will it be enough? I guess we’ll find out in a few hours.
Nurse better let OG Anunoby out there then…at least one possession. The guy lost quite a bit of weight apparently, so who knows if he’s a complete liability. I just think it would be a shame if OG didn’t get off the bench this series, especially in light of this development.
If the Raps lose they are in serious trouble. The Warriors will have the momentum and home court for G6, and likely win that - then it’s all on the line in Game Seven.
Well, without Durant, I suggest that even if they manage to win tonight, the series will end at Oracle.
Raptors had this and let the moment overtake them at the end, allowing GS to go on that killer 9-0 run. Disappointing.
I mean, I’m not really sure what you can do when Curry and Thompson can just shoot contested threes from anywhere and make half of them. That the Raptors had a shot to win at all was amazing.
Oh bother…
That the Raptors lost isn’t the problem, but how they lost this game may haunt them for years to come. Sorry, but with a 6-point lead with under 2 minutes, Kawhi Leonard is the man. Pushing Lowry toward the rim to throw it to Gasol at the top of the key? Having Gasol drive to the rim? A total cluster fuck of a 2-minute drill.
Give the Warriors credit though. Especially Cousins, who could have been the goat tonight, but overall, had a solid game. There had to be someone to step up big in the absence of Durant and the mediocre play of Klay and Curry. And Cousins played well.
Something that was reported in The Athletic two days ago:
"At the very least, Durant’s absence that began back on May 8 is causing a mixture of confusion and angst among several of his teammates that simply can’t be helpful to their overall cause. Sources say there was a very real hope that Durant would be able to play in Game 4, to push through in much the same way that Thompson, Cousins, Iguodala and Looney have done of late. When that didn’t happen, and when they saw their season compromised more than ever without him after they’d grown hopeful of his return after seeing him on the court, the irritation grew in large part because they simply didn’t understand why he wasn’t there.
Warriors officials aren’t running from the reality that there’s frustration among some players, but they’re also quick to point out that trainer Rick Celebrini – not Durant – is making this call. And until Celebrini gives Durant the go-ahead, his long and painful stretch of absences will extend into this pivotal Warriors summer where his free agency future remains unclear. What’s more, two sources insist that the Warriors have believed for quite some time that Game 5 was the earliest time in which he would likely return."
Think they understand now?
Part of this is basketball has an ongoing tradition where gutting it out through injuries in the playoffs is glorified and with some injuries that can be okay, with others it’s really nothing to celebrate beyond the effort and courage.
Oh my god, they’re saying it’s an Achilles injury for Durant. That’s absolutely terrible. It makes me feel even worse about the idiots who were cheering when he was down on the court.
Golden State is going to get pilloried for their decision to play him tonight and they’ll absolutely deserve it.
I avoided all spoilers and watched the game — wow!!!
A great Warriors win.
A humongous Raptors choke. Kawhi gives up the ball on that last play when he’s doubled? Weak move. A choke move. I thought the Raptors would win it on that last possession but no, Kawhi gives up the ball way too easily.
The Warriors showed their grit and determination tonight. Great game!
Besides a very good game from the Splash Brothers, Cousins and Loney contributed well. For game 6 we need Green and Iguodala to step up their games, and Livingston and Bogut too.
Winning game 6 is not a foregone conclusion for Golden State. This Raptors team is strong and deep.
No way. Playing KD was a great call and the way this ended up, the Warriors have something stronger to rally around and add to their fire.
Warriors motivation to win going forward aside, I do worry about KD’s future. An Achilles injury requires a very long rehab, and while it’s probably not as bad as an ACL, it’s an injury that will no doubt take some of his athleticism away from him as he approaches the twilight of his career. It will also no doubt impact how he’s viewed on the free agent market.