NBA Finals: Without KD, the Raptors will be NBA Champions
The Toronto Raptors present too big of a challenge for the Golden State Warriors without Kevin Durant in the NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is finally here and it will be a historic matchup between the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors.
The Raptors are a much better team than the Cleveland Cavaliers were the past couple of Finals and represent the ultimate test for the Dubs without Kevin Durant. Without KD being healthy for the NBA Finals – he will at least be out for Game 1 -the Warriors will likely lose against the Raptors.
The Raptors just beat the Bucks in four straight games.
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In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Milwaukee Bucks were even able to mute the impacts of Kyrie Irving.
The Bucks were a great team and the franchise had its best regular season record since the 1973-74 season. The Bucks point margin in the first 11 games in the playoffs was the third highest in NBA history – behind only the 2017 Warriors and 2001 Lakers.
However, this is not due to bad competition. The Bucks in the playoffs have faced the Raptors led by Kawhi Leonard, Celtics led by Kyrie Irving, and the Pistons led by Blake Griffin.
The Bucks were the perfectly constructed team. The Bucks have three elite drivers in Giannis, Eric Bledsoe, and George Hill. No player one-on-one can stop Giannis as he drives to the basket. This creates open opportunities for 3-point shooters. Around these drivers are great 3-point shooters that can hit open 3-pointers. The Bucks have three elite passers to orchestrate their offense in Malcolm Brogdon, George Hill, and Giannis.
However, the Raptors have been unstoppable in the 2019 playoffs and against the Bucks
Their ability to adjust to their opponents in the playoffs and to play so many of their bench players is unparalleled to almost any other NBA team in history.
The Raptors led by Kawhi Leonard are reminiscent of the 1990s Bulls.
The 1995-96 72-win Bulls had seven players that averaged over 20 minutes per game. MJ still had to average over 30 points per game in the playoffs for the 1995-96 Bulls to win a championship. However, the Bulls had many great defenders.
The Raptors have eight players averaging over 17 minutes per game in the playoffs. Their ability to go eight deep, or even 10 deep, in any game means no one player has to play sensationally well for the Raptors to win. During the regular season, the Raptors had seven players averaging over 10 points per game. Additionally, all of the Raptors players are great defenders and can defend the 3-point line.
The Raptors also have incredible depth advantage over the Warriors. The Warriors, without KD, only have five players averaging more than 10 points per game.
Leonard has been an unstoppable offensive force and is reminiscent of Michael Jordan in the 1990s. Few players draw comparisons to MJ.
There are not many players that have performed as well as Leonard has in the playoffs. MJ in his prime on the Raptors or Kobe Bryant in his prime on the Raptors probably could not have delivered better results for the Raptors this postseason. No disrespect to Kobe or MJ.
So far, this postseason Leonard has averaged 31.2 points per game on 51 percent shooting from the field. Kobe Bryant, in his 15 postseason appearances, never averaged at least 30 points per game on at least a 50 percent shooting for an entire postseason.
In MJ’s 13 playoff appearances, he only had three postseasons were he averaged at least 30 points per game with at least a 50 percent shooting from an entire postseason.
Leonard is also only 27 years old.
- MJ, at age 27, per 36 minutes, in the postseason averaged 27.6 PPG, .542 FG%, .385 3P%, .845 FT%. At age 28 he averaged 29.7 PPG, .499 FG%, .386 3P%, and .857 FT%.
- Leonard in the playoffs so far, per 36 minutes, is averaging 29.0 PPG, .388 3P%, .507 FG%, .875 FT%.
Like MJ, Leonard can score at will and play lockdown defense on any player on the defensive end of the court. In Game 6 against the Bucks, even when he was not scoring at the end of the fourth quarter, Leonard’s key rebounds brought the game to a close.
While James Harden scoring streak during the regular season was similar to what MJ accomplished in terms of his scoring prowess, the player that most resembles MJ is Leonard.
Kawhi does whatever it takes to win. In Game 5, he had a career-high in assists, and in Game 6 he had a career high in rebounds. Right now, Leonard is the best two-way player in the NBA. It is rare to see a player so dominant on both ends of the floor. This is similar to how MJ used to dominate.
It is amazing what Marc Gasol, Danny Green, and Leonard have done for the Raptors this postseason. They are a completely different team. The Raptors are going into the Finals battled tested.
The Warriors are not as deep as they used to be without KD. Before KD, they were one of the deepest teams in the NBA. However, had to shed some salary in order to pay Durant, leaving them with relatively thin depth.
The Raptors were the only team in the 2018-19 regular season to sweep the Dubs in their regular season series. Since Steve Kerr has been coaching the Warriors, only two teams have ever swept the Warriors in their regular season series. In their regular series, the Raptors had a better 3-point percentage and more fastbreak points than the Dubs. Also, Leonard averaged 37.0 points per game on nearly 58 percent shooting from the field against the Warriors in the regular season.
The Warriors without KD this season only had to beat the Rockets in one game and face the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors have hollowed out their bench from last season and have let go of JaVale McGee, David West, Zaza, and Nick Young. These were valuable pieces that the Warriors used in the playoffs.
As dysfunctional as the 76ers were this season, the 76ers are incredibly talented. Both the Bucks and 76ers were far better teams this season than the Trail Blazers. Moreover, Damian Lillard was injured in the Western Conference Finals and Jusuf Nurkic was not playing for the Blazers.
The Warriors with KD this season struggled to close out the Los Angeles Clippers and Rockets.
Stephen Curry has been amazing without KD. Without KD, Curry has averaged 35.8 points per game on 42 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Next. NBA Finals: Warriors-Raptors x-factors and a prediction. dark
However, the Warriors with KD present too high of a test for even Leonard and the Raptors. KD’s offensive dominance is unparalleled in the NBA. KD, before he was injured, averaged 34.2 points per game on 51 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range.
If KD does not return healthy for the NBA Finals, the Raptors will be NBA champions this year. The Raptors have been one of the most consistent franchises in the NBA and it is will be well deserved.