**NBA FINALS THREAD - RAPTORS DEFY GRAVITY**

[storm2006]

As much as I despise Harden, if somehow he beats GS and wins the chip, the mantle should go to him. Same for Giannis and I guess to a lesser extent Kawhi. They're the 3 battling with KD.

This isn't really even a knock on harden but there's no reason to think he'll win a championship this year. The last scoring champ to win a title I think was Shaq in 2000. And he had Kobe to help carry him. When you have a redline season where you have to push it to the limit you're usually lucky to make it out the 2nd round, if that

This take will be viewed as spicy which is fine but despite being the 2X Repeating champs and making the last four Finals, I just feel like I won’t be impressed by a team taking down GSW this year.

They just look too touchable, attempting to do something that hasn’t been in the modern era (it hasn’t been done because it’s so difficult), y’all and the media are screaming dissension in the ranks, flip flopping on them being the best team ever vs Rockets in 6. IMO - all these narratives over the past few months have taken away the mystique of what it means to beat the Golden State Warriors.

 

[Maximus Meridius]

This take will be viewed as spicy which is fine but despite being the 2X Repeating champs and making the last four Finals, I just feel like I won’t be impressed by a team taking down GSW this year.

They just look too touchable, attempting to do something that hasn’t been in the modern era (it hasn’t been done because it’s so difficult), y’all and the media are screaming dissension in the ranks, flip flopping on them being the best team ever vs Rockets in 6. IMO - all these narratives over the past few months have taken away the mystique of what it means to beat the Golden State Warriors.

Talent wise they should beat the Rockets and go on and win the title but they do have some issues going on and on the the court their effort on defense has been terrible at times.

 

[storm2006]

A title doesn't make James Harden the individual any better or worse to me.

That is a fair take. I would just say that if we’re going to crown him best in the world, o would like to atleast see him win a ring and to be clear - I think this year is one of his best shots. He’s got a HOF PG, elite big man, sniper 6th man and no excuses.

 

[dacomeup]

That is a fair take. I would just say that if we’re going to crown him best in the world, o would like to atleast see him win a ring and to be clear - I think this year is one of his best shots. He’s got a HOF PG, elite big man, sniper 6th man and no excuses.

Yea, but we're not comparing career achievements. I personally don't need consider championships when ranking who are currently the best players in the league. We're not asking who has had the best career. Different convos, IMO.

 

[storm2006]

Talent wise they should beat the Rockets and go on and win the title but they do have some issues going on and on the the court their effort on defense has been terrible at times.

This is exactly what I’m getting at, these aren’t the same Warriors we’ve seen the past two or even four years. Worst part is that if they lose, KD will take the blame. Because of what y’all and the media are doing, if they lose he will have to win another championship with another franchise for him to be regarded as he should.

Who was the last player this decorated that was disrespected?

 

[shotsrangout]

This isn't really even a knock on harden but there's no reason to think he'll win a championship this year. The last scoring champ to win a title I think was Shaq in 2000. And he had Kobe to help carry him. When you have a redline season where you have to push it to the limit you're usually lucky to make it out the 2nd round, if that

warriors look vulnerable.. if anything this is the year to knock them out..

 

[second2nonee]

Warriors stuff is overblown. They're still a big favorite by a good margin (3:1).

Rockets in 6 tho

 

[Chopper]

Warriors in 5.

 

[storm2006]

Yea, but we're not comparing career achievements. I personally don't need consider championships when ranking who are currently the best players in the league. We're not asking who has had the best career. Different convos, IMO.

Once again, very valid. Whether it’s correct or not, I admittedly conflate the two and that might be in part because of the mainstream media. Personally, I think if you’re in the “best player in the world” conversations that you have GOAT potential and I associate that with winning at least one right.

Saying someone is the best player in the league when their colleagues put up similar, if not better, numbers and been a leader on multiple championship squads doesn’t feel right to me.

 

[moe200069]

A lot to take in here....

sad that clippers arent in the playoffs as the we wont be blessed with these joints at least two games per series. Seent them yesterday every single time they showed larry david...who got the IG account?

Yes, the thirst is real

 

[JD617]

KD so full of ****. He willingly plays into this. Him and Dray had a huge spat on national TV. The little jabs between him and Kerr. Current teammates telling reporters he's gone. Willing participant in fueling it all.

This. He can't say with a straight face that nothing was ever wrong with the locker room when it escalated to the point that the team stepped in and suspended Draymond. Can't blame that on the media creating something out of nothing.

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green's one-game suspension without pay was the culmination of hours of organizational conversations Tuesday in which senior leadership expressed concern over the fallout from a combustible Monday night in Los Angeles that pitted All-Star teammates, league sources told ESPN.

Witnesses to the locker-room scene in the aftermath of an on-the-court confrontation between Green and Kevin Durant at Staples Center called it one of the most volatile episodes of the Warriors' dynastic run.

The Warriors' hierarchy was unwilling to dismiss it as an ordinary NBA dust-up, and ultimately decided that Green's verbiage, especially toward Durant, rose to the level of significant discipline.

"We just felt like this rose to the level of acting the way that we did," Warriors general manager Bob Myers said at a news conference before Tuesday night's game in Oakland. "That's a decision that we have to make. I'm certainly involved in it, so is Steve [Kerr, the Warriors' coach]. ... This was something that required the action that we decided upon."

 

[Arthur Shelby]

 

[second2nonee]

Raps by 25

 

[antidope]

No Team curfew during the playoffs? I'm inclined not to believe this video.

Buc Em about to be furious though

 

[ballinsam23]

If Kendall was there, Benjamin could care less about a curfew

 

[addict4sneakers]

Man that grainy video isn’t proving anything.

 

[amitt5504]

Raps by 25

Ben Simons?

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

warriors look vulnerable.. if anything this is the year to knock them out..

Rockets aint it

 

[lawdog1]

What was that video shot with? Motorola flip phone?

 

[youngwolf]

Raps by 25

Feel even better about my bets now.

 

[bostoiah]

What was that video shot with? Motorola flip phone?

Dude took that video with a Razr

 

[youngwolf]

What was that video shot with? Motorola flip phone?

@freddy fig moved to Toronto.

 

[nflowshoe]

If I only planned on shooting 4 feet from the rim I would party all night too.

 

[MVP]

Harden not playing like a bum in the playoffs would do wonders for his rep around the league. Not doing himself any favors so far this postseason.

 

[nick.]

It's not like Simmons is out late before a noon start.