The decision to play was likely a mutual one. with the team physician, trainer, management, player, and his agent all signing on… if Durant didn’t want to play, he would not have played. There were multiple workouts, sport-specific and not, and I am sure he made basketball moves in workouts, and warm-ups and in the 11mins he played that all showed he was ready, and he played like the former Finals MVP until he was hurt.
Unfortunately, and in hindsight, his lack of conditioning likely contributed to what would otherwise be called a “freak injury” given that his foot appears to be moving laterally rather than in a linear path or a push-off. The GM was classy though:
Sorry, but that was a catastrophic choke job by the Raptors. To score just two points in the last three minutes of a game you have a six point lead in is simply not what a winning team does. They had the championship in their hand and couldn’t close the deal. The Warriors will win the series; they are at worst a ten to one favourite.
The final possession was an unmitigated disaster - I don’t know how you give the ball there to the worst clutch shooter in playoff history (Lowry in his career in late-and-close situations is 2 for 30, that’s not a typo) but the blame must largely go to Nick Nurse, whose inexplicable decision to call a timeout when his team was on a run and the other team was gasping for air was an incredible choke move.
They’re screwed, folks. Golden State will destroy them in Game 6, and will win a close one in Game 7, probably a fourth quarter comeback/Raptors choke. Take it to the bank.
As to the KD decision, Kevin Durant chose to play. He wasn’t out there at gunpoint and he played great until his leg blew up so he probably felt okay. If injuries were predictable they wouldn’t be injuries.
If I may be brutally capitalist, Golden State has no downside to playing him. He has given every indication he doesn’t want to play for them anymore. They gain nothing from playing it safe, and had everything to gain by taking a chance. Playing him might well have won them the game - he was spectacular while he was out there and they won by one point. They got the Raptors to choke and will now win the series and hoist the trophy. Sucks for Kevin Durant, to be sure, but if you’re Golden State you got out of him what you needed to collect another ring.
They choked, no question. But to say they’re screwed? Hell no.
Durant certainly won’t be back. He had 11 points in the 12 minutes he played. GS also made 20 three pointers last night, and we still only lost by one.
Have some faith. It’s going to be a long three days, but they will close it out on Thursday night.
I feel like that’s factually incorrect. I haven’t seen updated odds after last night, at least not yet, but with the Raptors still up 3-2 and no Durant, I would guess that Toronto remains a strong favorite to win the title. If you think the professional gamblers have it that wrong, there’s definitely some cash to be made betting on the Warriors.
I expect he gets the max either this summer or next one. Be it opt in this year and be healthy next free agency or opt out this year. Either way, a desperate team like the knicks talks themselves into the max. Count on it.
As far as the series go, I still feel the Raps are just better (I’m an impartial Spurs fan, was a fan before the Raptors existed). Now that they know for sure Durant won’t be back, you load up on the splash brothers and let the others beat you, and they have proven themselves unreliable thus far. Play solid D and the Raps win. Less pressure in Oakland.
In fairness to the Warriors, they essentially had no choice but to play Durant. With it being Game 5 and an elimination game, they would have faced an entire off-season of “what if Durant had played” questions if they had kept Durant benched. There was much less to lose by playing him than by not playing him…until his Achilles caved in.
I also feel like this is still very much in Toronto’s favor, and in some ways, it’s easier now because the Raptors know that they won’t have to prepare for Durant. It will be interesting to see how Cousins factors in this series going forward.
Nurse is probably really regretting that timeout. Cost the Raptors valuable momentum. They had Golden State beaten, were on a 14-5 run, and everything was going swimmingly. Should have kept it going until or unless there was a need for a timeout. Raptors went cold after that timeout.
The time out was smart. Talk about how you’re going to work the final 2-3 minutes - makes sense. It’s just the decision-making of a team that, except for Leonard, has never had the chance to finish off a finals.
Contrary to some, I don’t think this is necessarily the end for the Raptors. I think they’ll in some ways be a lot more mentally focused and sharper coming into game 6 than they were this game. Before game 5, they had to wonder about KD, how long he’d play, what kind of contributions he’d have. They don’t have to worry about that now. They do have to worry about Demarco Cousins, but while Cousins is a good player near the rim, he’s not the same kind of player that KD is. Even if they drop game 6, I won’t even write off the Raptors in game 7. I think they’ll figure it out in these next 2 games.
If Draymond Green gets a technical foul Game 6 then he’ll be suspended for Game 7. Part of me is hoping that happens, know what I mean? Leave it in the hands of the adults.
Well, the series ain’t over, but GS is really hard to beat 4 times. So when you blow one like that, not to mention a clencher, it could really kill momentum. They’ve got to be mentally tough, which has not been their strength in the past (looking at you, Kyle Lowry).
I will not bet big against my favourite team… but I’ve made a small bet. Most places will give you roughly 3-1 to 4-1, which is crazy; the Warriors are even money AT WORST. The Raptors are choking. Bet on the Warriors if you can get those odds, it’s an excellent bet.