NBA Finals: Warriors-Raptors x-factors and a prediction

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NBA Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry Draymond Green (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

The Case for the Golden State Warriors

Golden State has been the team to beat in the NBA for the past five years and their level of dominance has reached even more astronomical heights in the past three seasons (since Kevin Durant joined).

While this has put a target on their backs, it has also meant that this Warriors team are more experienced than everyone else, not just in terms of finals experience, but experience playing under pressure and scrutiny as well as playing through adversity. And this squad has certainly had its fair share of drama and adversity, especially this year as there has been the constant talk about the team’s future past this season with the pending free agency of guys like KD and Klay Thompson.

But what we have seen from the Dubs (especially since Durant went down) is that they aren’t focusing on any of that right now. They’re in the midst of playing some of their best team basketball of the season, coming off an impressive sweep against the Portland Trail Blazers in the conference finals. They’re playing with more energy, focus, and purpose which should be a scary thought for their opponent.

It seems like every guy on the roster has been chipping in and contributing since KD went down and Steve Kerr has proven that he’s not afraid to go 10-11 guys deep. However, none of them have stepped their games up more than Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. In the blink of an eye, Steph turned back into unanimous MVP Steph from 2016 and has had, arguably, the best five-game stretch of his playoff career.

The same can be said for Draymond, who is playing like his 2016 self and has just come off a conference finals series in which he averaged over 16 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists while also being a totally game-changing presence on the defensive end.

Another thing the Warriors have going for them in the 2019 NBA Finals is Klay Thompson and the fact that may be extra motivated and energized, looking for something to prove in this series. This being due to the fact that Thompson missed out on the All-NBA teams which in turn, potentially cost him millions of dollars this offseason.

That, coupled with the fact that Klay is yet to properly “show out” in an NBA Finals, and you have all the makings of a big performance on the biggest of basketball stages!