The Bum's 2018 NBA Trends/Stats/Best Bets Thru The Playoffs !

[StarDust Bum]

Warriors' hopes hinge on Durant returning
June 8, 2019
By The Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) When Game 4 was over, while Toronto fans were waving Canadian flags in celebration inside an otherwise-stunned Oracle Arena, a glum-faced Kevin Durant was outside the Golden State locker room to greet equally glum teammates as they sauntered off the floor.

That's been his only visible role on game nights in the NBA Finals.

If that doesn't change Monday, this series is probably going to end.

With it, in that case, so would Golden State's reign as NBA champions. And then it's possible that Durant, a free-agent-in-waiting, has played for the Warriors for the last time.

Durant limped off the floor at Oracle Arena a month ago - Game 5 of the second round - with what the team called a mild calf strain. It's apparently the most severe ''mild'' calf strain in the history of injuries, because he hasn't played since and there's no way of knowing if that's going to change on Monday.

And the Warriors clearly need him if they're going to pull off a comeback against the Raptors in these NBA Finals.

''Nobody's going to feel sorry for us at all,'' Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. ''It's just a matter of can we get it done or not, and we're going to leave it all out there starting on Monday.''

That'll be the case, with Durant or not.

Here's reality: Any Durant is better than no Durant for the Warriors right now. His mere presence might throw the Raptors off just enough to create more chances for the rest of the Warriors. It's really the only card the Warriors have left to play at this point.

Toronto took full control of the series Friday night, winning 105-92 for a 3-1 finals lead. Durant wasn't on the bench for Game 4, and hasn't been since getting hurt. He'll be on the plane Saturday headed to Ontario, and his uniform will be packed inside the Warriors' equipment bags.

If it goes unworn again, the Warriors are in big trouble.

''There's been hope that he will come back the whole series,'' Warriors forward Draymond Green said. ''So that's not going to change now. Obviously we hope to have him, but we'll see what happens. We don't make that final call ... he don't really even make that final call. His body will tell him if he can get out there or not. And if he can, great. And if not, you still got to try to find a way.''

They've been trying, with limited success.

Even with Durant.

The Raptors are 5-1 against the Warriors this season, even going 2-0 in the regular season when Durant scored 51 in one game and 30 in another. The Warriors just looked tired on Friday night, weary against a Toronto team that has had every answer in this series. They haven't been able to muster the offense they need against Toronto.

With Durant, that story could be different.

But even if he plays on Monday, after not playing for a month, how good could he be anyway? Even someone as talented as Durant, who is in the conversation of ''best player in the world'' right now, can't fake rhythm. Throwing him into an elimination game in the NBA Finals, after not playing for a month, is an unbelievably daunting ask.

It might be what's required.

''We're hoping he can play Game 5 or 6,'' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. ''And everything in between I've decided I'm not sharing because it's just gone haywire. There's so much going on, and so it doesn't make sense to continue to talk about it. He's either going to play or he's not.''

The Warriors will practice on Sunday. With so much at stake, unless his calf muscle just won't allow it, Durant will probably try to do something that day. It's hard to believe that he doesn't want to play, and the fact that he hasn't been seen yet in this series just reiterates how not mild this ''mild'' strain was.

A shot at a third straight ring is slipping away. Maybe it was gone the second Durant got hurt. When the Warriors swept Portland in the Western Conference finals, there was silly talk about how the team might be better without Durant.

That talk is nonexistent now.

Any team is better - a lot better - with Durant. And if he finds a way back to the court, the Warriors might just get a lot better in a hurry.

Or else, this era could end Monday night.

''We've got to win one game,'' Green said. ''We win one, then we'll build on that.''

Without Durant, winning that one game on Monday might be too tough an ask, even for the Warriors.

[StarDust Bum]

Kawhi has Raptors on cusp of 1st title
June 8, 2019
By The Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) There was a moment, not long before the postseason started, when Toronto coach Nick Nurse learned all that he really needed to know about Kawhi Leonard and what makes the man of few words tick.

The conversation was about the 82-game regular season.

Leonard shrugged and described those games as ''just practice.''

''That's when I knew,'' Nurse said, ''that this guy has another gear that he was going to get to.''

Everyone knows that now - or at least, everyone should be reminded of that now. Leonard was the NBA Finals MVP in 2014 and looks very much like the soon-to-be NBA Finals MVP in 2019. He is at the top of his game and has shown that not only is he over the leg ailment that cost him basically all of last season but that he might just be better than ever.

They call Leonard ''the King of the North'' in Toronto now, and on Monday night that title might expand to cover the entire NBA as well. Leonard is on the cusp of a second championship and possibly ending a second era. The Raptors lead the Golden State Warriors 3-1 in the NBA Finals and Toronto plays host to a potentially championship-clinching Game 5 on Monday night.

''It's not over yet,'' Leonard said.

The way he's playing, it's hard to imagine this slipping away.

Leonard is averaging 30.8 points and 10.3 rebounds in the finals. For the entirety of the playoffs, the averages are 31.1 points and 9.1 rebounds. The elite club for shooters in the NBA is the one dubbed ''50-40-90'' - 50% from the field, 40% from 3-point range, 90% from the foul line. Leonard is at 49.8% shooting, 39% on 3s and 89% from the line in the postseason, with every team's plan geared to stop him.

''I don't think you're ever going to rattle Kawhi,'' conceded Golden State's Draymond Green.

There's no shame in that. The Warriors have some defenders of exceptional pedigree. Green is a former defensive player of the year. Klay Thompson was an all-defensive team player this year. Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut have earned their way onto that team in previous seasons.

Separately, together, it doesn't matter.

The Warriors haven't had an answer for Leonard.

''He's just been phenomenal,'' Nurse said. ''The energy that he brought on the defensive end translated to his offensive game. To me, talking about `where does he rank' and blah blah blah, he's like the best team player. He might not be the best player in the NBA - he's in the conversation of some sort of top five or top three or whatever you want to have - but he's the best team player.''

They're even noticing that outside of basketball.

Golf is about as individual a sport as there is. But the sixth-ranked golfer in the world Justin Thomas marveled after seeing Leonard in person during these playoffs.

''I'm a huge Kawhi fan,'' Thomas said. ''I think he's awesome to watch. I love his demeanor, his work ethic, how he goes about his own business and he's never blaming anybody. He never complains. He kind of just goes out, does his work and is always thanks his teammates. He's never putting anything on himself. It's pretty cool.''

Leonard's moment of entering the realm of NBA superstardom probably came in the 2014 finals when San Antonio faced Miami for the second consecutive year.

Leonard scored nine points in a Game 1 win, nine points again in a Game 2 loss. He was struggling, almost deferring too much to Spurs leaders like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. That's when San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich gave Leonard now-infamous advice: ''The hell with Tony, the hell with Timmy, the hell with Manu, you play the game. You are the man.''

The words resonated.

Leonard's point totals in finals games since that night: 29, 20, 22, 23, 34, 30, 36. The Spurs won the 2014 title to end LeBron James' time in Miami and the Heat ''Big Three'' era. The Raptors are a win away from ending Golden State's two-year run as NBA champs and potentially ushering in major roster changes for the Warriors this summer as well, with Kevin Durant among the team's free agents.

''We've got a lot of talent and we've got a lot of pride and these guys have been to the finals five straight years for a reason,'' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. ''They're unbelievably competitive. And they're together, and they're going to fight. They're going to fight the whole way. So we'll go try to get one win and, if we can do that, come back (home) and see what happens.''

Leonard has scored 684 points in this postseason, which is already the eighth-most by any player in any playoff run. If he scores 14 more on Monday, he passes No. 7 Kobe Bryant (2009) and No. 6 James (2012) on that list. If he scores 24, he then passes No. 5 Shaquille O'Neal (2000) as well.

Michael Jordan scored 759 in 1992. James scored 748 last year. Hakeem Olajuwon scored 725 in 1995. Allen Iverson scored 723 in 2001. Leonard is now in their club, their level of elite. And if a second finals MVP trophy comes, Leonard would join only James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as players to claim one of those with multiple franchises.

''It doesn't matter,'' Leonard said, ''until you get that fourth win.''

That's the one he'll aim to get on Monday.

[StarDust Bum]

Warriors' dynasty on the brink of collapse
June 8, 2019
By The Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Draymond Green has said it often: This run by the Golden State Warriors won't last forever.

And forever could be coming up fast.

From Day One the entire team was determined to enjoy the ride for as long as possible. Coach Steve Kerr preached as much at the start of training camp: Cherish this time because it all could change in a hurry once free agency arrives come summer.

The roster might look much different in a matter of months, perhaps a dynasty dismantled. Even if general manager Bob Myers does his best to keep the core together.

The two-time defending champions trail the Raptors 3-1 in the NBA Finals, with Game 5 on Monday night in Toronto. It will now take an improbable upset.

It's ''important to have that pride, to have the faith in what we're capable of,'' Green said.

If the Warriors stave off elimination at Scotiabank Arena, they return to Oracle Arena. Clearly, they don't want the past two defeats to be a lasting memory in Oakland after 47 seasons. The curtain is closing at Oracle, with the Warriors moving to the new Chase Center in San Francisco next season.

Golden State understands the stakes, with the season on the brink following startling back-to-back losses at home.

The Warriors have been in such a postseason predicament before. They rallied from down 3-1 to beat Oklahoma City in the 2016 Western Conference finals when Kevin Durant was still with the Thunder only to squander a 3-1 advantage in the finals to Cleveland, watching LeBron James and the Cavaliers celebrate a Game 7 victory at Oracle.

''We've been on the wrong side of history,'' Golden State guard Shaun Livingston said. ''We look to be on the right side of it now.''

Stephen Curry believes his Warriors have the mindset to make this happen.

''You don't succeed the way we have over the course of these years without that mentality,'' he said. ''So as the second half unfolds and things aren't going our way, we're still fighting and trying to get over the hump. But until the final buzzer sounds and somebody gets the four wins, we still have life and have an opportunity to win.''

The Raptors, for their part, realize there's still much to be done.

''It's not over yet, so I can't say that we're better,'' Kawhi Leonard said after a 36-point, 12-rebound performance in Friday night's 105-92 Game 4 win.

Kerr has seen many remarkable rallies and triumphs in his five years coaching the Warriors. And he is ready for another comeback, this time on basketball's biggest stage.

''You just try to win one game. That's what we did a few years ago against OKC. Win one game, and then you move forward,'' Kerr said. ''So that's our focus now. We'll fly to Toronto tomorrow and take a look at the film, see what we can do better and try to win a game. We have won a lot of games over the years, so we'll try to win another one.''

Throughout the highs and lows of this season, Kerr has emphasized how hard it is to be on top and stay there - game after game, year after year. Everybody wants what you have, and you get the opponent's best shot each time you take the floor.

Durant may depart as a free agent next month, while Klay Thompson is expected to re-sign once his contract expires. Both Thompson and Green have indicated their desires to stay with the Warriors for the long haul. DeMarcus Cousins joined Golden State for what was expected to be just one season.

For now, the Warriors must focus all their energy on fighting back. That three-peat is in jeopardy.

''I've been on the wrong side of 3-1 before,'' Green said. ''Why not make our own history?''

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Monday's six-pack

— Prayers to David Ortiz, who was wounded in a shooting in the Dominican Republic Sunday.

— Happy 80th birthday to Dick Vitale, who has more energy than most people half his age.

— Bruins 5, Blues 1— Winner-take-all Game 7 is Wednesday in Boston.

— Mariners 9, Angels 3— Edwin Encarnacion hit his 400th home run.

— Nationals 5, Padres 2— San Diego is 8-12 in its last 20 games.

— If the baseball playoffs started today:
NL: Phils-Cubs-Dodgers. Wild Card: Braves @ Brewers
AL: Bronx-Twins-Astros. Wild Card: Rangers @ Rays


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Armadillo: Monday's List of 13: Wrapping up a sports weekend…….

13) Big question for NBA commish Adam Silver this summer: Could Kawhi Leonard’s success this postseason lead to more regular season resting for NBA stars?

People pay a lot of money to go to games and obviously, they want to see the stars play; Leonard sat out 22 games this season. Same goes for TV ratings; people like to watch great players play.

12) Michigan G Charles Matthews tore his ACL as he prepared for the NBA Draft, is now out until at least January, and thats the risk of bolting school early. He still intends to leave Michigan; his agent still thinks he’ll be taken in the second round of the draft. We’ll see about that; the agent doesn’t get paid if Matthews goes back to Michigan.

11) Nationals 5, Padres 1— Game was tied in 8th inning, then Kendrick, Turner, Eaton, Rendon hit four consecutive bombs off of reliever Craig Stammen to settle things.

10) El Paso Chihuahuas’ pitcher Kyle McGrath threw seven perfect innings Sunday before giving up a hit in the 8th inning; it was only his 4th professional start, in his 184th minor league game. El Paso is the AAA farm club of the San Diego Padres.

9) Brewers 5, Pirates 2— Closer Josh Hader pitched on back/back days for only third time this year; by way of comparison, San Diego’s Kirby Yates has pitched on back/back days seven times this season.

8) Twins 13, Tigers 2— Jake Odorizzi (9-2) is the first Twins’ pitcher to win nine straight decisions since Johan Santana during his 2006 Cy Young season.

7) Baseball stuff:
— Mets put 2B Robinson Cano back on the IL.
— White Sox put P Dylan Covey (shoulder) on the IL.
— Bronx put P Domingo German (hip flexor) on 10-Day IL.

6) Rockies-Mets pitching matchup Sunday was Hoffman-Syndergaard, both of whom were 1st round draft picks of the Toronto Blue Jays, Hoffman in ’14, Syndergaard in ’10.

5) Bronx OF Brett Gardner threw a batting helmet in the dugout the other night; it bounced back, hit him in the lip and cut him— he needed six stitches.

4) Kevin Durant practiced with the Warriors Sunday, who haven’t announced yet if he will play Monday night in Toronto- they officially listed him as questionable.

3) Rory McIlroy shot a 61 Sunday and won the Canadian Open by seven shots.

McIlroy is the last golfer to win a major the week after he won another tournament; he won the Bridgestone and then the PGA in 2014.

2) Graeme McDowell drained a 30-foot putt on the last hole Sunday to qualify for the British Open, which is being played in McDowell’s hometown this summer.

1) University of Alabama is returning a $21.5M gift from its largest donor and taking his name off the law school after he called for Alabama to be boycotted over the state’s new abortion law.

[StarDust Bum]

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Dunkel

Monday, June 10

Golden State @ Toronto

Game 529-530
June 10, 2019 @

Dunkel Rating:
Golden State
126.467
Toronto
132.621
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Toronto
by 6
219
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Toronto
by 3
212
Dunkel Pick:
Toronto
(-3); Over




NBA
Long Sheet

Monday, June 10

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GOLDEN STATE (70 - 32) at TORONTO (73 - 31) - 6/10/2019, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GOLDEN STATE is 43-57 ATS (-19.7 Units) in all games this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 53-70 ATS (-24.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
GOLDEN STATE is 35-52 ATS (-22.2 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 20-31 ATS (-14.1 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 36-46 ATS (-14.6 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.
TORONTO is 218-270 ATS (-79.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 6-3 against the spread versus GOLDEN STATE over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 5-5 straight up against GOLDEN STATE over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Monday, June 10

Golden State’s three starters other than Curry/Thompson shot combined 7-18 from floor last game; with Durant likely out here, Warriors need more than that, or else. Raptors can win their first NBA title with a home win here; Ibaka scored 20 off bench in Game 4 win, when Toronto outscored Warriors 63-46 in second half to assume a 3-1 series lead. Raptors are 5-1 vs Golden State this year, going 3-0 in Oakland; Raptors covered six of last eight series games. Durant practiced Sunday, isn’t expected to be much help, if any, here. VanVleet chipped a tooth and got 7 stitches after Game 4. Over is 7-3 in last ten series games.




NBA

Monday, June 10

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Trend Report
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Golden State Warriors
Golden State is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Golden State is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
Golden State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Golden State's last 8 games on the road
Golden State is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
Golden State is 17-7 SU in its last 24 games when playing Toronto
Golden State is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Golden State's last 12 games when playing Toronto
Golden State is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Golden State is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 6 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Toronto Raptors
Toronto is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games
Toronto is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Toronto is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Golden State
Toronto is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Golden State
Toronto is 7-17 SU in its last 24 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Toronto's last 12 games when playing Golden State
Toronto is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing at home against Golden State

[StarDust Bum]

Finals Game 5 - Warriors at Raptors
Tony Mejia

NBA Finals – Game 5

Golden State at Toronto (-1.5/214.5), ABC, 9:07 p.m. ET

Dec. 12 – Raptors (-2) 118 vs. Warriors 109 (Over 212.5)
Nov. 29 – Warriors (+2) 109 at Raptors 104 (Under 213.5)
Nov. 29 – Raptors (+3) 123 at Warriors 109 (Over 210.5)
Nov. 29 – Raptors (+5) 105 at Warriors 92 (Under 215)

Kevin Durant practiced with his Golden State teammates on Sunday. Reporters who saw him exit Scotiabank Arena didn’t see him limping as he exited the premises. Although listed as ‘questionable,’ if would be stunning if the reigning two-time Finals MVP didn’t wear a Warriors uniform at least one last time in order to try and prevent his team from coming up short of their season-long goal of a threepeat.

The foolish ones among you who thought the Warriors were a better team without him have now been quieted. Golden State is down 3-1 in the NBA Finals, having dropped both home games of its fifth straight championship series despite being favored with Durant ruled out. Toronto won each of the contests in Oakland convincingly and now stands one win away from its first title since entering the league in 1995.

Durant may as well throw on a cape in addition to his Nikes and uniform tonight. He’ll be asked to play savior even if he ends up being more decoy than focal point as the Warriors look to become the second team in league history to battle back from a 3-1 deficit and win a ring.

Ironically, Golden State was the lone victim, losing to Cleveland back in 2016 in order to help facilitate Durant’s defection from Oklahoma City, a move still skewered by many as one that helped ruin the competitive balance in the NBA. The Warriors haven’t finished with the league’s top record, but did take down LeBron James’ Cavaliers in both Finals, doing so rather easily in order to exact revenge. They had one brush with their mortality in last year’s Western Conference finals, but took advantage of Chris Paul’s absence due to an injured hamstring in order to win consecutive games and erase a 3-2 deficit against Houston.

Entering last year’s Game 6, the series price on the Warriors against the Rockets saw them as a -130 favorite at the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook. Even down, they were expected to win due to Paul’s demise. Prior to Game 4 on Saturday night, Golden State was demoted to even money to win the title and the Raptors became the first team other than the defending champs to be made the favorite to win the title (-120). As things stand now, you can get a return of +400 or a little higher throughout the strip and offshore if you invest in the Warriors making history. Toronto is currently in the -500/-550 range to win one more time and crown itself a winner.

Kawhi Leonard is looking like a shoo-in for Finals MVP so long as the Raptors hold on, averaging 30.8 points and 10.3 rebounds in leading the way for a Raptors squad that has seen veterans Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, Danny Green and Serge Ibaka excel. Pascal Siakam was the hero of Game 1 and has changed games with his length and energy on defense in addition to his ability to create shots when Leonard is being doubled. Fred VanVleet has been the ultimate x-factor, playing tremendous defense on Stephen Curry while burying buckets from beyond the arc, helping stretch the floor by being a threat to shoot it whenever the ball comes his way.

Toronto head coach Nick Nurse, a veteran tactician sitting in the head seat in the NBA for the first time, has proven every bit the worthy opponent for Steve Kerr, excelling through both his game planning and lineup adjustments. He’s certainly had fewer injury concerns to deal with, but has to be given credit for pressing the right buttons and not dragging his team down with bad decisions due to a lack of experience. If anything, he’s been an asset. Starting VanVleet over Danny Green at the start of the second half in Oakland helped contribute to a pair of wins since it allowed him to effectively play box-and-one, taking advantage of the lack of scoring punch out there for the Warriors.

Klay Thompson returned from a Game 3 absence due to a hamstring injury and shot the ball well, finishing with a team-high 28 points, but he couldn’t prevent Golden State from its lowest-scoring output of the postseason in a 105-92 Saturday night loss. It hadn’t been held under the century mark since a March 23 home loss to Dallas and was outscored 37-21 coming out of the break. After turning around Game 2 with an 18-0 run to open the third quarter, it was a startling contrast to see the Warriors squander a four-point halftime edge by being thoroughly dominated in what’s supposed to be their quarter to gain separation in.

NBA expert Kevin Rogers says that Golden State can’t count on experience to bail them out of this hole since it isn’t accustomed to having to dig out of those due to its dominance throughout its run.

The Warriors are in very unfamiliar territory by sitting one game away from elimination in the Steve Kerr era. Discounting the Game 7’s against Cleveland in the 2016 NBA Finals and against Houston in the 2018 Western Finals in which both teams were facing elimination, Golden State has been on the verge of getting knocked out twice in the last five postseasons,” Rogers said. “Both times came in the conference finals with the Warriors blasting the Rockets at home last season and stunning Oklahoma City in 2016. The victory over the Thunder was the only road win in this stretch when staring elimination in the face as the Warriors outscored OKC, 33-18 in the fourth quarter to force a Game 7 back at home, which they eventually won.”

Durant was on the losing side of that collapse with the Thunder but has since emerged as arguably the NBA’s top player. Leonard got healthy this season and has come for the throne vacated by LeBron James, but Durant’s back-to-back Finals MVP awards and his body of work before being injured in the third quarter of Game 5 of May’s conference semifinals against the Rockets had him on the top perch. It now remains to be seen exactly what he can bring to the table.

Siakam and Leonard will likely draw the majority of assignments against him, which means he’ll be thrown back in the mix against a pair of agile, willing defenders who won’t make it easy for him to find a rhythm. His presence alone should be able to get Curry and Thompson cleaner looks and give Draymond Green another option to work with to facilitate offense through, but the rust factor and his likely lack of stamina are challenges that must be dealt with. He’s one of the most special players ever, but it’s hard to imagine Durant will be able to pick right up where he left off, which means his likely return will see him offer up whatever he can for as long as he can, even if it’s as a decoy to get teammates more room to work with.

Kerr has the unenviable task of working with three frontcourt players who wouldn’t be playing if this were still the regular season and now has no room for error. DeMarcus Cousins’ unexpected brilliance in Game 2 helped contribute to Golden State’s lone series win, but he’s been a liability since, picked on defensively and blitzed often on the offensive end, leading to countless turnovers. Kevon Looney is playing through a collarbone fracture that was expected to sideline him the rest of the way, but he returned to lend a hand on Friday night and finished with 10 points and six boards in 20 minutes. Andre Iguodala is currently being held together by Elmer’s glue and paper clips, but played 38 minutes in the Game 4 loss, so Durant returning should lighten his load.

Oddsmakers reacted to Durant’s likely return by downgrading the Raptors from three-point home favorites to laying just 1.5 points entering game-day betting. Considering how little Shaun Livingston and Alfonzo McKinnie gave the Warriors in trying to help fill Durant’s shoes of late, it’s hard to argue that they won’t be better here. What remains to be seen is whether there’s enough chemistry, on the road no less, to overcome weeks of inactivity. With another key figure who is operating at less than a 100 percent giving it a go, Golden State is all-in with a weak hand entering the flop. The Warriors will need for it to be friendly and then will likely need to go runner-runner on the turn and river in order to win three straight and not see their dynasty die off with a defeat that would then be scrutinized to no end entering free agency.

In attempting to win it all in its first Finals appearance, Toronto will need to show off its killer instinct. It must take advantage of Durant getting back in the flow early to keep the visiting Warriors from gaining confidence and getting juiced up. The Raptors must ride their raucous crowd to make communication difficult for a team that won’t be able to rely on carrying a positive rhythm into a road atmosphere simply because they haven’t all played together in over a month.

“Since suffering through an 0-4 ATS run in the final two games of the Philadelphia series and the first two contests against Milwaukee, the Raptors have rolled off a 7-1 SU/ATS mark over their last eight,” Rogers said. “Toronto has wrapped up each of its previous three series at Scotiabank Arena, while holding its three opponents to 96, 90, and 94 points.”

The Warriors haven’t been held under 100 points in consecutive games since Nov. 18-21, having suffered blowout losses against the Spurs and Thunder. They’ll need Curry to bounce back from a Game 4 disappearing act in which he followed up a 47-point effort by finishing just 2-for-9 from 3-point range, shooting 9-for-22 from the field. An extra day of treatment should serve guys like Thompson, Iguodala and Cousins well. Green has averaged nearly 41 minutes per game in the series and is contributing 13.5 points, 9 rebounds and 8.8 assists but must be better and more efficient, so having one more rest day should prove invaluable for him too.

From this point forward, the NBA Finals will be played with two days of rest in between every remaining game. That’s to Golden State’s advantage, but it must get the series back to Oakland for a Game 6, which would then place pressure on them to avoid being eliminated in the final contest ever played at Oracle Arena. As things stand now, Friday night’s loss would be the last result there. The Warriors have put themselves in position where they can add to their legacy by doing something special or leave themselves open to criticism for the rest of time, especially with the group likely to disband in some capacity.

Oddsmakers sent out an opening total of 212 for Game 5 but the number was nudged up to 214 at most betting shops after the status of Durant was upgraded to ‘questionable’ on Sunday afternoon.

“You can handicap this total a variety of ways but the possible addition of KD back in the lineup for Golden State has to be the starting point for Monday,” said NBA totals expert Chris David.

“Durant hasn’t played in over a month and if he’s practicing, then you have to believe he’s going to give it a go on Monday. In five road games through the first two rounds of the playoffs, Durant averaged 40.2 PPG against the Clippers and Rockets. Golden State did lose two of those five games, both at Houston, while the ‘over’ went 4-1,” David said. “However, the Warriors averaged 122.4 PPG and even if Durant gives you less than half or a third of his average, that’s a big boost to a Golden State offense that’s been running on empty in this series. If KD plays and gets close to 30 minutes, I see no reason why the Warriors wouldn’t eclipse their Team Total of 105 ½.”

The total results for this series sit at 2-2 and the ‘under’ (215) in Game 4 last Friday was never in doubt with Golden State held to its playoff low. David touched on Golden State’s ability to rebound after poor shooting nights.

“Including Friday’s production, the Warriors have been held under 100 points nine times this season. In the following contests, Golden State has gone 6-2 and the offense has averaged 118.1 PPG,” said David. “Sticking with trends, we’ve only seen the Warriors drop three straight games once this season and that occurred in the second month of the season when they lost four consecutive contests. The offense averaged 95.5 PPG during that losing skid.”

The Warriors must also overcome the excitement currently permeating throughout Toronto, which is on the cusp of its first championship in one of North America’s major leagues since MLB’s Blue Jays won the World Series in 1993. Jurassic Park, the area outside the arena, is going to be overflowing with fans looking to celebrate, while the atmosphere inside the arena promises to be intense. Golden State would love nothing more than to shut superfan Drake up again like they managed to on June 2, but the Raptors are 9-3 on their home floor in these playoffs, eliminating all three of their Eastern Conference conquests in the building to advance to this point. Their regular-season home record was tied for third-best in the NBA (32-9).

“In 12 playoff games at Scotiabank Arena, Toronto has held seven opponents under 100 points, which is an incredible feat in the offensive age of the NBA. If you’re leaning to the Raptors to close the series out on Monday, it’s hard not to lean to the ‘under’ in the game especially if you look at the production from the Warriors in finals losses. Going back to the 2015 installment, Golden State been held to 98.7 PPG in 10 setbacks of the NBA Finals,” David said. “As good as Golden State has been over the last five postseasons, sometimes the matchup doesn’t suit you and credit has to be given to the other squad. That’s certainly been the case against Toronto and when you factor in the injuries, the flaws and depth issues for the Warriors have become more exposed. Despite only having one superstar, the Raptors team defense has been a nightmare for everybody in the postseason.”

If the Warriors are able to pull out a Game 5 upset, they would try to stave off elimination again on Thursday night. A potential Game 7 would take place on Sunday, making for an interesting Father’s Day.

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Durant's return looms large heading into potential clincher
Shaun Powell

* Tonight on ABC: Game 5, Warriors vs. Raptors (9 ET)

TORONTO -- Let us dismiss the tasty-yet-faulty comparison folks will try to make regarding Game 5 and Kevin Durant and the fate of the Golden State Warriors in these NBA Finals:

In 1970, New York Knicks center Willis Reed famously limped out of the tunnel at Madison Square Garden for Game 7 of The Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. He only hit two jumpers and was done, too gimpy to go any further. The Warriors, starved for points against a toothy Toronto Raptors defense, will require plenty more than that from Durant before he’s done.

Back then, it was winner-take-all, New York vs. L.A. Durant and the Warriors are trailing 3-1 and face elimination at Scotiabank Arena. They’re staring down a far deeper and darker tunnel.

This is the stark reality for a would-be savior and his recuperating calf and the desperate two-time defending champions. Durant was upgraded to questionable for Monday, which means it's likely he’ll at least be on the floor. Whether he stays long enough to break a sweat or plays well enough to make the Raptors perspire is the real issue.

Perhaps never before has an injury to a superstar of this magnitude been this mysterious -- and perhaps costly -- in the history of The Finals. Remember, with Reed, the Knicks won the series. Maybe there's more in common with Magic Johnson pulling a hamstring in 1989 during Game 1. In that instance, Magic was finished for the series and so were the Lakers (as they were swept by the Detroit Pistons).

Durant is trying to return and in the process squelch the innuendo swirling about his recovery and also trigger a historic comeback. Can he pull this off after not playing since May 8, and practicing for the first time only Sunday?

It was a practice, but only in the tamest sense. Durant joined his teammates and took part after the media was hustled off the court, leaving no outside witnesses or sneaky TMZ footage. The Warriors, this time of year, only conduct light drills. And it was over within an hour.

To recap: Durant is supposed to step into an intense basketball game after missing a month, and battle a Toronto defense led by Kawhi Leonard, and thwart a championship bid by a team and city bracing for a maddening celebration around midnight, and … rescue the Warriors? OK, then.

“I think it’s pretty easy to realize we obviously miss him out there and he’s propelled us to two championships in two years,” said Warriors guard Klay Thompson. “So it would be pretty storybook if he could come back and help us do the same.”

If it sounds like the Warriors are so stretched for answers and solutions that they’re banking on Durant being close to normal after a lengthy layoff, well … maybe they are. When you’re facing elimination, there’s really no other choice. And the Warriors haven’t been able to solve the Raptors without him.

Yet Durant has set himself a high bar. Before his injury, which occurred in the Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets, he was on a nearly galactic level. He averaged 34 points, five rebounds and five assists in 11 games and was a finalist for everyone’s “best player in the playoffs" honors with the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo. Since then Leonard, the postseason leader in points, and rebounds, and minutes, has yanked that praise for himself. The Raptors, as a result, are heavy favorites to lift the trophy.

Durant may not be fully healthy, leaving what he can possibly do an open question: Will he be more of a decoy than a legitimate offensive threat? And on defense, how can the Warriors cover for him, since the Raptors will surely try to exploit the situation by running Durant through screens?

Without Durant, the scoring burden had to be carried by Thompson and Stephen Curry. While both have handled that fairly well, the Warriors have had little margin for error. Whenever Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala or DeMarcus Cousins failed to lend support for Thompson and Curry, the results have been disastrous.

Coach Steve Kerr feels Durant’s presence will be enough to cause a ripple effect that influences what both teams do when he’s on the floor.

“The game plan changes if Kevin is out there, or if he’s not,” Kerr said. “So you adapt accordingly. It changes matchups, it changes rotations, all that stuff.”

It’ll be a surprise if Durant’s return causes issues within the Warriors and the system that was tweaked in his absence. Although they’ve been without him for nine games, he did play three seasons with them, which means there shouldn’t be any adjustment problems. Quite the contrary, says Curry.

“We’ll be able to adjust in transition pretty smoothly,” he said. “He’s been in plenty of Finals and has played well. No matter what the percentage he’s at, I’m sure he’ll be impactful and effective.”

It’s always tricky to play doctor and determine how much time Durant should’ve missed, although that never deters anyone from doing so. Taking it a step further, while none of his teammates or coaches publicly questioned the depths of Durant’s injury, dealing with the daily dose of “is he or isn’t he?” became tiring to some.

They all suspect that if Durant could’ve played, he would. What possible motive would encourage him to stay out longer than necessary? To show everyone how much the Warriors need him? That seems a stretch for someone who craves a championship. Possibly not his pending free agency either; if anything Durant would get bonus points for playing through pain and would have all summer to recover in the event of re-injuring the calf, which is not considered career-threatening.

Injured players have no obligation to speak to the media, and Durant hasn’t, with his silence only feeding speculation.

“I feel for Kevin,” Thompson said. “I know what type of competitor he is and we obviously miss him dearly. But whether it’s tomorrow or Game 6, we just have to do everything in our power to help him get back. He will be very welcome, I’ll say that much. Kevin’s (injury) is serious and I know how badly he wants to be out there. He’s one of the best competitors I’ve been around.”

The stretchy shooting range, the high release of a shot that’s nearly impossible to block or discourage, the energy and determination and ability to make plays in tense moments -- those are the elements Durant brings and the Warriors have missed in The Finals. They’ll take whatever he can give, whatever that might be.

“I would like to think he would make a difference,” Warriors reserve Shaun Livingston said. “Again, it’s just any time a player of that caliber comes back or goes out of the lineup, it’s going to be felt certain ways. We’ll see what happens.”

And if Durant is unable to play extended minutes or sputters around the floor, making mistakes and dogged by rust and fatigue and inefficiency? Then it’ll fall on his teammates, a group that couldn’t beat the Raptors in two games at Oracle Arena yet somehow must thrive in a Canadian madhouse that awaits Monday.

“You’re going to see a resilient Warriors team,” Thompson said. “We’ve had our backs against the wall with this same group. Obviously, it’s a little more daunting being down 3-1 but usually when our backs are against the wall, we respond the best.”

Question is, will Durant have their back? Or will he and that wall crumble under pressure from these hungry Raptors and the long odds?

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ESPN's Mark Jackson 'sees game like very few others'
June 10, 2019
By The Associated Press

Mark Jackson has always had a different way viewing sports. He didn't just listen and watch, he observed the action.

The three-dimensional approach has served him well.

''I listened as a fan, I watched as a wannabe coach and wannabe player. I would listen to the games in a weird way as a kid, and that's in every sport,'' Jackson said. ''Each time I learned, especially as an announcer, what to do and what not to do.''

Even some of Jackson's favorite sayings - including ''Mama, there goes that man'' and ''Hand down, man down'' - came from his youth and playing pickup games.

After his 17-year playing career in the NBA, Jackson spent three seasons coaching the Golden State Warriors and has had two stints with ESPN as an analyst.

This is Jackson's 11th finals working alongside Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, which is the most on television for any sport by a black game analyst. He is three behind Joe Morgan for most on TV and radio. Morgan called 14 World Series, with 11 on radio and three on television.

Game 5 is Monday night in Toronto with the Raptors one win away from knocking off Golden State and winning their first NBA title.

''As a kid, I dreamt of playing in the NBA, I dreamt of coaching in the NBA, and I dreamt of announcing in the NBA, and I've fulfilled each and every one of those roles, and I'm extremely blessed,'' Jackson said.

His name has been linked with coaching openings the past few seasons and he said he does look forward to possibly leading a franchise again one day. Jackson was fired just before Golden State started its championship run but said he has had no problems broadcasting the Warriors' five straight trips to the finals and three NBA titles without sounding bitter or jaded.

Van Gundy has said one of the things he has always admired about Warriors coach Steve Kerr is that he has been quick to share credit for Golden State's success with Jackson, who took the franchise to two straight playoff appearances before being fired.

''I have tremendous faith and trust that things happen for a reason. If I didn't I would have lost my mind a long time ago,'' Jackson said. ''I take pride in watching and knowing that our paths (his and Golden State's) crossed.''

The chemistry between Jackson, Van Gundy and Breen is evident.

The banter and comradery between them go back to their longtime friendship when all three were with the Knicks. Jackson was the 18th overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft, Van Gundy was hired as an assistant two years later before becoming the head coach in 1996 and Breen started as the Knicks' radio voice in 1991 before moving to television in 1998.

Because of their familiarity, the disagreements at times could sound heated. But as the 54-year old Brooklyn native is quick to point out, the same thing he would say at dinner he would say courtside.

''I think because Mark took me under his wing early on, taught me a lot about the NBA, this deep friendship developed, that we can be honest with each other, we can disagree without being disagreeable,'' Van Gundy said. ''We're real fortunate that we can talk honestly and not feel inhibited that we may be hurting each other's feelings.''

Breen said he was confident that Jackson would be successful in anything he decided to do once his playing career ended.

''He sees the game like very few others,'' Breen said. ''When he was a player, he had great court awareness. When he came back from coaching it gave him a different perspective and the ability to show what was going on with 10 players on the court.''

ESPN senior coordinating producer Tim Corrigan said that the traits that made Jackson successful as a player have carried over to the sideline.

''He sees, hears and recognizes things before they happen. He has an incredible belief in self and the unique ability to see things,'' Corrigan said.

Barring any major surprises, Jackson will be back with ESPN next season, which he is just fine with him.

Said Jackson: ''I'm cherishing being able to call another finals with friends like Jeff and Mike.''

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Raptors fever runs hot across Canada during NBA Finals
June 10, 2019
By The Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) It was just past midnight Monday morning, and Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri decided it was time to go see the people.

So he headed outside - to the line of fans waiting to get into Jurassic Park, a group of die-hards who had been in line for hours and hours and hours already. And this was with Game 5 of the NBA Finals still 21 hours from tipping off.

They were ready for this moment.

All of Canada, it seems, is ready as well.

''Best fans in the world,'' Ujiri said as his new best friends cheered.

It is Raptors Fever, and it is running hot all across Canada as the country's lone NBA team is one victory away from its first championship. From Halifax on the east coast to Vancouver out west and all places in between, the excitement is beyond palpable. Hockey season is still going on, but in Canada, more people are watching the NBA than the NHL right now - and the viewership numbers on Monday night are expected to set another record.

The Raptors lead the series over the Golden State Warriors 3-1, with the clincher possible Monday.

''3 down, 1 to go,'' Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on Twitter. ''Bring it home, Raptors.''

Here's a far-from-complete list of places where ''Let's Go Raptors'' chants have broken out in the last couple of days:

At a Blue Jays baseball game in Toronto, the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, on an Air Canada flight heading into Toronto, and among spectators at the PGA's Canadian Open in nearby Hamilton, Ontario. After Rory McIlroy won that tournament, he drew cheers as he waved and wore a red Raptors jersey bearing Kyle Lowry's name and number 7.

''Raptors in five!'' McIlroy yelled.

The craze is crossing cultures, too. Before the National Ballet of Canada performed in Toronto Friday, the same night as Game 4 of the finals, the Raptors logo and ''We the North'' slogan were projected on the theatre curtain while the crowd took their seats. Performers in that show even taped a ''Let's Go Raptors'' message and sent it to the team as the finals were getting started.

After the Raptors won Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead, two of the fans who had been cheering in Jurassic Park - the place where Raptors fans gather near the arena in downtown Toronto to watch games on big screens - immediately started the line for Monday's Game 5.

Angie Taylor, 33, and Tyler Seaton, 31, were more than prepared. They told The Canadian Press they had a tent, a portable grill, and some groceries to get them through Game 5.

''I understand where they're coming from,'' Lowry said. ''We want them to be excited. We want them to be happy. We want them to be energetic. But we still got work to do.''

One more Raptors victory over Golden State would give Toronto its first major sports championship since baseball's Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and 1993. That second Blue Jays victory came a few months after the Montreal Canadiens lifted the 1993 Stanley Cup. No Canadian-based team has won a championship in baseball, basketball or hockey in the years since, although Toronto FC of Major League Soccer did win the MLS Cup at home in December 2017.

Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard said the team is very aware of the countrywide support.

''I think we have been embracing it this whole time,'' Leonard said. ''Just enjoying the support and the energy that they're bringing to the team.''

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Game 5 Best Bet
June 10, 2019
By BetOnline.ag

TORONTO RAPTORS LOOK TO CAPTURE NBA TITLE WITH GAME 5 WIN

The Golden State Warriors faced a ‘must win’ situation at home in Game 4. It couldn’t have gone any worse for them. After a 14 point loss in Game 3, the Warriors lost their ‘must win’ Game 4 by 13 points. They did show some statistical improvement from Game 3 but that was no real consolation. In Game 3, the Warriors shot 39.6% from the field which saw a marginal gain in Game 4 to 44.9%.

Defensively, they showed more improvement from a statistical standpoint. In Game 3, Toronto ripped the nets to the tune of a 52.4% shooting effort. Golden State held the Raptors to a much more reasonable 41.9% from the field but the end result was nearly the same. A strong effort on the boards for Golden State (held a 54-47 rebound edge) was undone by 17 turnovers.

Game 4 was a ‘must win’ spot for Golden State as they simply couldn’t afford to head back to Toronto down 3-1. It’s a well known fact among sports fans that no team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 series deficit. It’s a less well known fact that teams down 3-1 haven’t fared much better. In all sports, teams down 3-1 come back to win the series just 8.2% of the time.

NBA teams down 3-1 have come back to win the series only 11 times in 233 spots for a less encouraging 4.5%. Teams facing the 3-1 situation on the road have managed the comeback only 3 times in 165 spots for a downright discouraging 1.8%. In the NBA Finals, only one team has managed to reverse a 3-1 deficit and come back for the win.

The dire circumstances in which the Warriors find themselves is evident in the NBA series odds at BetOnline.ag where the Raptors are now a -530 favorite to claim the championship.

Klay Thompson has returned for Golden State but offensive superstar Kevin Durant remains ‘questionable’ with his calf injury. Toronto guard Fred VanVleet left Game 4 with what is being described as a ‘facial injury’ and is listed as ‘questionable’ as well. The really bad news for Golden State is that Kawhi Leonard is expected to play.

Should the Raptors complete their NBA Championship run it would be a massive upset if Leonard didn’t win his second Finals MVP Award (his first came in 2014 with the San Antonio Spurs). Leonard has been downright monstrous throughout the playoffs averaging 31.1 points per game, 9.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists. After a relatively quiet start to the NBA Finals with 23 points in Game 1 Leonard has put up 34, 30 and 36 while adding 14, 7 and 12 rebounds in those games.

There was always an expectation that at some point Golden State would ‘flip the switch’ and take over the NBA playoffs. That hasn’t happened. Instead, it was Toronto that has ‘flipped the switch’. Following the 0-2 series start against Milwaukee, the Raptors have now won 7 of their last 8 both straight up and against the spread. In the process, they’ve added to Golden State’s miserable 2018-2019 performance against the spread.

The Warriors are 70-32 SU heading into Game 5 but just 43-57-2 against the spread. That 43% ATS percentage has cost bettors -19.7 units year to date which is the worst in the NBA and a full unit under the second worst pointspread team, the New York Knicks. Obviously, much of this is due to the Warriors’ status as a ‘public’ team that is constantly overvalued relative to the betting line but that doesn’t negate that huge per unit loss this season.

BetOnline.ag has the Raptors installed as a -1.5 point home favorite in Game 5 with the total set at 214. Once again, you have to conclude that the Warriors are overpriced in this spot. Consider that they were +2 underdogs in the first two games of the series at Toronto and since then the Raptors have dominated play.

If Durant is announced as playing before gametime it could attract money toward Golden State and give Raptors backers an even better line. Just can’t make a case for the Warriors at this point so we’ll look to close out the NBA season by cashing another ticket on Toronto.

Best Bet: Toronto Raptors -1.5

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Warriors, Raptors prepare for Game 5
June 9, 2019
By The Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) The word of the day Sunday that best summed up the NBA Finals was ''yet.''

As in, Golden State isn't ready to give up its throne - yet.

Kawhi Leonard hasn't bought any property in Toronto - yet.

The Raptors don't see any reason to start celebrating - yet.

And Kevin Durant's Game 5 status hadn't been decided - yet.

The NBA could have a new champion as early as Monday night, when the Toronto Raptors look to finish off the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the title series. The Raptors lead 3-1, and returned home buoyed by two double-digit wins at Oracle Arena that put the two-time defending champions on the brink of elimination.

''We haven't done anything,'' Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said. ''We've still got to get one more win. It's the first to four. You've got champions coming in here and they're going to play their butts off and play extremely hard.''

They might have Durant, too.

Out for more than a month now with a calf strain, Durant was on the floor for practice on Sunday. The Warriors are hoping he will be able to play on Monday night.

''It's just a matter of, `Can you win one basketball game right now? Can you go play an amazing 48 minutes, quiet this crowd that's going to be probably unbelievable, and slow down a team that's been playing amazing, especially these last two games, and just win one basketball game?''' Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. ''If we focus on that mission, our history kind of speaks for itself in terms of being able to get that done.''

The Raptors are showing no signs of exhaling. Raptors coach Nick Nurse was amused to learn that there were ''Let's Go Raptors'' chants on some flights landing in Toronto on Sunday, as well as at the PGA Tour's Canadian Open. He hasn't paid much attention to the news in recent days, but when a Raptors watch party was held in his condo building someone put a photo in the elevator - just to make sure he saw.

''There's still a lot of work to do,'' Nurse said.

Leonard feels precisely the same way.

With the free-agency rumor mill for this summer already churning, Leonard was asked to confirm reports that he recently bought property in Toronto.

''It didn't happen yet, no,'' Leonard said.

Something else that hasn't happened is the win the Raptors need to end this series and win their first title.

''We're focused,'' Leonard said. ''We know that it doesn't mean anything until someone has four wins.''

If the Warriors win, Game 6 is Thursday night at Oracle Arena - which would be their home floor for the final time. Warriors guard Klay Thompson said he thinks Oracle deserves one more game.

Otherwise, Oracle's run is over.

So, too, would be Golden State's run as champions.

''You wish to have no end in sight, but everything that's great always comes to an end,'' Thompson said. ''So whether that's (Monday) or four years from now, you never know. That's the beauty of life.''

Here's some of what to know going into Game 5:

FIRST IN FIRST

Nurse is on the cusp of becoming the ninth man to win a title in his first NBA head-coaching season. The others: Edward Gottlieb (1947 Philadelphia Warriors in the first season of what was then called the BAA), Buddy Jeannette (1948 Baltimore Bullets), John Kundla (1949 Minneapolis Lakers), George Senesky (1956 Philadelphia Warriors), Paul Westhead (1980 Los Angeles Lakers), Pat Riley (1982 Lakers), Kerr (2015 Warriors) and Tyronn Lue (2016 Cleveland Cavaliers).

DRAFT IRRELEVANCE

The Raptors don't have a single player on their roster who was taken in the first 14 spots - the lottery portion - of an NBA draft. The Warriors have seven: Thompson, Curry, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, DeMarcus Cousins, Durant and Andrew Bogut.

ON THE MARGIN

The Raptors have beaten the Warriors by double figures three times this season. No other team did it more than once. The only teams to enjoy three wins over the Warriors by 10 or more points in the same season during the Kerr era are these Raptors, Utah (last season) and Cleveland (all in the 2016 NBA Finals).

BACK TO WALL

Facing elimination isn't something the Warriors have done often, but they've fared more than OK when put in that spot over the last six years. Golden State is 6-2 in its last eight win-or-else games. They were 2-0 in such games last season, 3-1 in 2016 and 1-1 in 2014.

TITLES AT HOME

There haven't been many chances in the last 52 years for Toronto fans to enjoy a major sports title at home. The Maple Leafs' last Stanley Cup was won on home ice in 1967, and the Blue Jays' most recent World Series clincher was at home in 1993. In sports not considered part of the U.S. big four, the CFL's Argonauts won the Grey Cup at home in 2012 and the National Lacrosse League's Toronto Rock have won multiple titles at home - most recently in 2011.

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VanVleet, Raptors aren't smiling yet
June 9, 2019
By The Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) Fred VanVleet had a face that only a country of hockey fans could love.

A bandage covering stitches under his right eye. Swelling near the side of his nose. Fresh dental work to repair a damaged tooth.

His day off in the NBA Finals consisted of a trip to the hospital and then the dentist, necessary stops after he was hit in the face and bloodied late in Game 4, when he had to leave the court with part of his tooth somewhere still on it.

The play hurt, but the Toronto Raptors have a team of guys who would take the pain.

''Yeah, we got some tough guys,'' VanVleet said.

And they've overcome tough situations.

The Raptors were down and almost out in the Eastern Conference finals, in danger of falling into a hole from which no NBA team has ever recovered. But they pulled out Game 3 of that series against Milwaukee to kick off a powerful postseason run, and the only thing that might slow them down is stopping to collect the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Toronto can do that Monday by beating the Golden State Warriors at home in Game 5.

''It's going to be a battle, it's going to be hard, but at the same time if we stay together and do everything we're supposed to do, we have a chance. We have a good chance to put ourselves in a position to win,'' Raptors forward Pascal Siakam said.

The first trip to the NBA Finals in franchise history appeared it might have to wait at least another year when the Raptors fell behind in the second overtime of Game 3 of the conference finals. Kawhi Leonard's leg seemed to be hurting, Kyle Lowry had already fouled out and a victory would have given Milwaukee a 3-0 lead that has been insurmountable in the NBA.

The Raptors recovered to win and have barely looked back, winning seven of eight games against the Bucks and Warriors, the No. 1 seeds in each conference. Coach Nick Nurse had seen the possibilities from his team even before the comeback started, first with how the Raptors played so well in Game 1 of the conference finals after needing seven grueling games against Philadelphia in the previous round, and then by the way they shrugged off a blowout loss in Game 2.

''So that's probably a moment of where I thought the team had something inside them to keep on going,'' Nurse said.

What Toronto didn't have at that point was a reliable offense beyond Leonard.

Veterans Lowry, Danny Green and Marc Gasol had struggled to make shots. The bench was contributing only sporadically.

That isn't happening anymore. The Raptors made 17 3-pointers in their Game 3 victory at Golden State and have hit 10 or more in 10 straight games. VanVleet from the perimeter and Serge Ibaka on the interior have come off the bench to provide big boosts.

''Most teams, they're expecting their bench to be better than ours,'' Green said, ''and when they come in outplaying their bench or giving us a huge plus against their starters, it's due for a win when you've got guys performing like that off the bench.''

VanVleet will be back out there trying to keep doing it Monday - this time wearing a mouthpiece - after having to leave Game 4 when he was inadvertently hit in the face by Shaun Livingston while running back on defense. He had a CT scan to make sure there were no broken bones in his face and said he has no concussion symptoms.

He wouldn't show off his dental work Sunday, but that made him just like his Raptors teammates who walked off the floor without hints of satisfaction on their faces after Game 4. They are too focused on keeping their run going, though they'll be smiling plenty if they can get one more win.

''Now is the time to lock in even more,'' VanVleet said. ''We've been doing it, we've proven that we can do it. It's not time to change anything that we've done, it's just time to do it a little bit better, a little harder and a little smarter.''

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Finals Game 5 - Warriors at Raptors
June 10, 2019
By Tony Mejia

NBA Finals – Game 5
Golden State at Toronto (-1.5/214.5), ABC, 9:07 p.m. ET

May 30 – Raptors (-2) 118 vs. Warriors 109 (Over 212.5)
June 2 – Warriors (+2) 109 at Raptors 104 (Under 213.5)
June 5 – Raptors (+3) 123 at Warriors 109 (Over 210.5)
June 7 – Raptors (+5) 105 at Warriors 92 (Under 215)

Kevin Durant practiced with his Golden State teammates on Sunday. Reporters who saw him exit Scotiabank Arena didn’t see him limping as he exited the premises. Although listed as ‘questionable,’ if would be stunning if the reigning two-time Finals MVP didn’t wear a Warriors uniform at least one last time in order to try and prevent his team from coming up short of their season-long goal of a threepeat.

The foolish ones among you who thought the Warriors were a better team without him have now been quieted. Golden State is down 3-1 in the NBA Finals, having dropped both home games of its fifth straight championship series despite being favored with Durant ruled out. Toronto won each of the contests in Oakland convincingly and now stands one win away from its first title since entering the league in 1995.

Durant may as well throw on a cape in addition to his Nikes and uniform tonight. He’ll be asked to play savior even if he ends up being more decoy than focal point as the Warriors look to become the second team in league history to battle back from a 3-1 deficit and win a ring.

Ironically, Golden State was the lone victim, losing to Cleveland back in 2016 in order to help facilitate Durant’s defection from Oklahoma City, a move still skewered by many as one that helped ruin the competitive balance in the NBA. The Warriors haven’t finished with the league’s top record, but did take down LeBron James’ Cavaliers in both Finals, doing so rather easily in order to exact revenge. They had one brush with their mortality in last year’s Western Conference finals, but took advantage of Chris Paul’s absence due to an injured hamstring in order to win consecutive games and erase a 3-2 deficit against Houston.

Entering last year’s Game 6, the series price on the Warriors against the Rockets saw them as a -130 favorite at the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook. Even down, they were expected to win due to Paul’s demise. Prior to Game 4 on Saturday night, Golden State was demoted to even money to win the title and the Raptors became the first team other than the defending champs to be made the favorite to win the title (-120). As things stand now, you can get a return of +400 or a little higher throughout the strip and offshore if you invest in the Warriors making history. Toronto is currently in the -500/-550 range to win one more time and crown itself a winner.

Kawhi Leonard is looking like a shoo-in for Finals MVP so long as the Raptors hold on, averaging 30.8 points and 10.3 rebounds in leading the way for a Raptors squad that has seen veterans Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, Danny Green and Serge Ibaka excel. Pascal Siakam was the hero of Game 1 and has changed games with his length and energy on defense in addition to his ability to create shots when Leonard is being doubled. Fred VanVleet has been the ultimate x-factor, playing tremendous defense on Stephen Curry while burying buckets from beyond the arc, helping stretch the floor by being a threat to shoot it whenever the ball comes his way.

Toronto head coach Nick Nurse, a veteran tactician sitting in the head seat in the NBA for the first time, has proven every bit the worthy opponent for Steve Kerr, excelling through both his game planning and lineup adjustments. He’s certainly had fewer injury concerns to deal with, but has to be given credit for pressing the right buttons and not dragging his team down with bad decisions due to a lack of experience. If anything, he’s been an asset. Starting VanVleet over Danny Green at the start of the second half in Oakland helped contribute to a pair of wins since it allowed him to effectively play box-and-one, taking advantage of the lack of scoring punch out there for the Warriors.

Klay Thompson returned from a Game 3 absence due to a hamstring injury and shot the ball well, finishing with a team-high 28 points, but he couldn’t prevent Golden State from its lowest-scoring output of the postseason in a 105-92 Saturday night loss. It hadn’t been held under the century mark since a March 23 home loss to Dallas and was outscored 37-21 coming out of the break. After turning around Game 2 with an 18-0 run to open the third quarter, it was a startling contrast to see the Warriors squander a four-point halftime edge by being thoroughly dominated in what’s supposed to be their quarter to gain separation in.

VegasInsider.com NBA expert Kevin Rogers says that Golden State can’t count on experience to bail them out of this hole since it isn’t accustomed to having to dig out of those due to its dominance throughout its run.

The Warriors are in very unfamiliar territory by sitting one game away from elimination in the Steve Kerr era. Discounting the Game 7’s against Cleveland in the 2016 NBA Finals and against Houston in the 2018 Western Finals in which both teams were facing elimination, Golden State has been on the verge of getting knocked out twice in the last five postseasons,” Rogers said. “Both times came in the conference finals with the Warriors blasting the Rockets at home last season and stunning Oklahoma City in 2016. The victory over the Thunder was the only road win in this stretch when staring elimination in the face as the Warriors outscored OKC, 33-18 in the fourth quarter to force a Game 7 back at home, which they eventually won.”

Durant was on the losing side of that collapse with the Thunder but has since emerged as arguably the NBA’s top player. The Warriors are 8-1 in NBA Finals games he's participated in. Leonard got healthy this season and has come for the throne vacated by LeBron James, but Durant’s back-to-back Finals MVP awards and his body of work before being injured in the third quarter of Game 5 of May’s conference semifinals against the Rockets had him on the top perch. It now remains to be seen exactly what he can bring to the table.

Siakam and Leonard will likely draw the majority of assignments against him, which means he’ll be thrown back in the mix against a pair of agile, willing defenders who won’t make it easy for him to find a rhythm. His presence alone should be able to get Curry and Thompson cleaner looks and give Draymond Green another option to work with to facilitate offense through, but the rust factor and his likely lack of stamina are challenges that must be dealt with. He’s one of the most special players ever, but it’s hard to imagine Durant will be able to pick right up where he left off, which means his likely return will see him offer up whatever he can for as long as he can, even if it’s as a decoy to get teammates more room to work with.

Kerr has the unenviable task of working with three frontcourt players who wouldn’t be playing if this were still the regular season and now has no room for error. DeMarcus Cousins’ unexpected brilliance in Game 2 helped contribute to Golden State’s lone series win, but he’s been a liability since, picked on defensively and blitzed often on the offensive end, leading to countless turnovers. Kevon Looney is playing through a collarbone fracture that was expected to sideline him the rest of the way, but he returned to lend a hand on Friday night and finished with 10 points and six boards in 20 minutes. Andre Iguodala is currently being held together by Elmer’s glue and paper clips, but played 38 minutes in the Game 4 loss, so Durant returning should lighten his load.

Oddsmakers reacted to Durant’s likely return by downgrading the Raptors from three-point home favorites to laying just 1.5 points entering game-day betting. Considering how little Shaun Livingston and Alfonzo McKinnie gave the Warriors in trying to help fill Durant’s shoes of late, it’s hard to argue that they won’t be better here. What remains to be seen is whether there’s enough chemistry, on the road no less, to overcome weeks of inactivity. With another key figure who is operating at less than a 100 percent giving it a go, Golden State is all-in with a weak hand entering the flop. The Warriors will need for it to be friendly and then will likely need to go runner-runner on the turn and river in order to win three straight and not see their dynasty die off with a defeat that would then be scrutinized to no end entering free agency.

In attempting to win it all in its first Finals appearance, Toronto will need to show off its killer instinct. It must take advantage of Durant getting back in the flow early to keep the visiting Warriors from gaining confidence and getting juiced up. The Raptors must ride their raucous crowd to make communication difficult for a team that won’t be able to rely on carrying a positive rhythm into a road atmosphere simply because they haven’t all played together in over a month.

“Since suffering through an 0-4 ATS run in the final two games of the Philadelphia series and the first two contests against Milwaukee, the Raptors have rolled off a 7-1 SU/ATS mark over their last eight,” Rogers said. “Toronto has wrapped up each of its previous three series at Scotiabank Arena, while holding its three opponents to 96, 90, and 94 points.”

The Warriors haven’t been held under 100 points in consecutive games since Nov. 18-21, having suffered blowout losses against the Spurs and Thunder. They’ll need Curry to bounce back from a Game 4 disappearing act in which he followed up a 47-point effort by finishing just 2-for-9 from 3-point range, shooting 9-for-22 from the field. An extra day of treatment should serve guys like Thompson, Iguodala and Cousins well. Green has averaged nearly 41 minutes per game in the series and is contributing 13.5 points, 9 rebounds and 8.8 assists but must be better and more efficient, so having one more rest day should prove invaluable for him too.

From this point forward, the NBA Finals will be played with two days of rest in between every remaining game. That’s to Golden State’s advantage, but it must get the series back to Oakland for a Game 6, which would then place pressure on them to avoid being eliminated in the final contest ever played at Oracle Arena. As things stand now, Friday night’s loss would be the last result there if they fail on Monday. The Warriors have put themselves in position where they can add to their legacy by doing something special or leave themselves open to criticism for the rest of time, especially with the group likely to disband in some capacity.

Oddsmakers sent out an opening total of 212 for Game 5 but the number was nudged up to 214 at most betting shops after the status of Durant was upgraded to ‘questionable’ on Sunday afternoon.

“You can handicap this total a variety of ways but the possible addition of KD back in the lineup for Golden State has to be the starting point for Monday,” said VegasInsider.com NBA totals expert Chris David.

“Durant hasn’t played in over a month and if he’s practicing, then you have to believe he’s going to give it a go on Monday. In five road games through the first two rounds of the playoffs, Durant averaged 40.2 PPG against the Clippers and Rockets. Golden State did lose two of those five games, both at Houston, while the ‘over’ went 4-1,” David said. “However, the Warriors averaged 122.4 PPG and even if Durant gives you less than half or a third of his average, that’s a big boost to a Golden State offense that’s been running on empty in this series. If KD plays and gets close to 30 minutes, I see no reason why the Warriors wouldn’t eclipse their Team Total of 105 ½.”

The total results for this series sit at 2-2 and the ‘under’ (215) in Game 4 last Friday was never in doubt with Golden State held to its playoff low. David touched on Golden State’s ability to rebound after poor shooting nights.

“Including Friday’s production, the Warriors have been held under 100 points nine times this season. In the following contests, Golden State has gone 6-2 and the offense has averaged 118.1 PPG,” said David. “Sticking with trends, we’ve only seen the Warriors drop three straight games once this season and that occurred in the second month of the season when they lost four consecutive contests. The offense averaged 95.5 PPG during that losing skid.”

The Warriors must also overcome the excitement currently permeating throughout Toronto, which is on the cusp of its first championship in one of North America’s major leagues since MLB’s Blue Jays won the World Series in 1993. Jurassic Park, the area outside the arena, is going to be overflowing with fans looking to celebrate, while the atmosphere inside the arena promises to be intense. Golden State would love nothing more than to shut superfan Drake up again like they managed to on June 2, but the Raptors are 9-3 on their home floor in these playoffs, eliminating all three of their Eastern Conference conquests in the building to advance to this point. Their regular-season home record was tied for third-best in the NBA (32-9).

“In 12 playoff games at Scotiabank Arena, Toronto has held seven opponents under 100 points, which is an incredible feat in the offensive age of the NBA. If you’re leaning to the Raptors to close the series out on Monday, it’s hard not to lean to the ‘under’ in the game especially if you look at the production from the Warriors in finals losses. Going back to the 2015 installment, Golden State been held to 98.7 PPG in 10 setbacks of the NBA Finals,” David said. “As good as Golden State has been over the last five postseasons, sometimes the matchup doesn’t suit you and credit has to be given to the other squad. That’s certainly been the case against Toronto and when you factor in the injuries, the flaws and depth issues for the Warriors have become more exposed. Despite only having one superstar, the Raptors team defense has been a nightmare for everybody in the postseason.”

If the Warriors are able to pull out a Game 5 upset, they would try to stave off elimination again on Thursday night. A potential Game 7 would take place on Sunday, making for an interesting Father’s Day.

[StarDust Bum]

Durant may play in NBA Finals Game 5
June 10, 2019
By The Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) The Toronto Raptors can win their first championship and end Golden State's quest for three in a row with one more victory.

The Raptors can do it Monday night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, when Kevin Durant could play for the first time in the series .

Warriors coach Steve Kerr says Durant went through their full morning shootaround and said his ability to play would be determined before the game. Durant, the two-time NBA Finals MVP, has been sidelined more than a month with a strained calf.

Golden State sure could use him after Toronto won both games at Oracle Arena to take a 3-1 lead. That deficit has been overcome only once in the NBA Finals, when Cleveland did it against the Warriors in 2016.

On potentially the biggest night ever for Canadian basketball, the NBA announced there would be no singer for the Canadian national anthem, instead inviting all fans in the arena and across the nation to join in the singing of it.