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I finally made it through an entire game w/out falling asleep. Some thoughts:

--It was kinda sad to see Durant go down like that. Guy risked untold millions of dollars and that didn't look good.

--Classless move by the Toronto fans for cheering when they saw Durant limping.

--Classy move by Lowry and others who gestured for them to stop cheering.

--Hard fought game and both teams were exhausted. There were times when some of these guys--see Klay Thompson--even make it back to the bench.

--Nurse is getting a lot of grief for the TO. I would understand that criticism, but his team was completely gassed, especially Kawhi. It's unfortunate, but he needed a break.

--Kawhi was absolutely magnificent in the clutch. He is staking a claim to take LeBron's place as best player in the league.

--The last shot. GS did a good job of doubling quickly on Kawhi and he was forced to give it up. The mistake came by the guy he passed to. He should have held it for a couple of seconds and got it back to Kawhi. Instead, he threw it immediately to Lowery in the corner and that was not a good look. I don't think Lowery chocked. In fact, he was very good down the stretch. The ball should have went back to Kawhi.

--Anyways, great game and I'm looking forward to Thursday night.

I think the final 3 minutes was an overall chokejob by the Raptors. Up 6 with 3 to play at home and an NBA title on the line, that's a team choke. Lots of threes, nothing at the rim for free throws and a backcourt violation (though I missed ~50 seconds from 1:30 to 0:40). As for the final possession, that was messy. Lowry's shot isn't a choke as you say, since he wasn't the primary and the ball came to him in a panic, but that's going to haunt him and maybe the franchise.

I get the nobility and sacrifice of playing with an injured wheel in that spot, but if he truly tore his Achilles as a result of coming back too soon, that could "ruin" his career from here on out. That's an almost impossible injury to come back 100% in the NBA. Sure, he'll be back but he may never be his old self. That's a big price to pay for one Finals game (and I don't think they needed him - Thompson was back and they were doing well when Boogie, Curry and Thompson were on the floor).

There's still two games left, but I think it's over. Warriors in 7. No way they lose in Oracle and the Raptors will be on tilt in game 7 (like the Warriors and Indians were in 2016). Once the avalanche starts, you can't stop it. They don't have the firepower and experience to play toe-to-toe with an empowered Warriors team.

Good post. Good hoops talk and I respect your opinions. I'm just going to debate a couple of your points for debate's sake.

I don't know if Toronto choked or not. GS is a champion. They had something to do w/those missed shots. Sometimes, it just comes down to excellent teams battling it out and one makes more plays than the other. I don't think either team really "choked."

You could be right about GS coming back and winning in 7 and you make good points about why they will. One thing to consider, Toronto has Kawhi. That dude has ice in his veins and he is a former Finals MVP. He won't back down from GS. I also think he does wonders for Toronto's psyche. Did you notice how they reacted after winning Game 4. No celebrating. Hell, no smiles. They just walked off the floor like it was another day at the office.

It's an entertaining series w/a lot of sub-plots and plot twists. Looking forward to seeing it unfold.

I think your take is a bit premature.

You don't want the Warriors to win so you are mentally preparing yourself for it just in case.

You may be right that it turns out this way but still alot of ball left and alot of things pointing in Raptors favor.

Yeah, I may be projecting my Warriors bias onto the situation, but that seemed like the chance for the Raptors to win the series. You miss those, they tend to not come around again.

I'm also worried about Leonard's health and stamina. He sat out a lot in the regular season and he can't do that now.

As for the choking comment Vers, I don't mean to throw it out to blast Toronto, I think there are grades. That wasn't a grade A choke, maybe that was grade C. They had a lead and let it slip away against a great and experienced team, so it's not a Scott Norwood wide-right situation, but they had an opportunity and didn't take advantage of it.

The last play was great defense. The shot looked like a horrible brick but replays showed that Draymond got a hand on it.

I think that TO was huge. GS were on their heels and had no answer. They were gassed as well, and the lineup on the floor at the time were horribly mismatched. A drive to the basket would have put them up 3 scores. That TO allowed GS to gather themselves and gameplan.

For long stretches, GS played as well as GS can play, and they still barely squeaked one out. Vanvleet was coming off a hard blow the face and had an awful .game. This isn't over

I think the key for Toronto is to keep doing what they have been doing, hustle, run and play them physically. GS just can't deal with physicality. They get flustered and start making mistakes and committing dumb fouls. For them to have a chance they have to get a better showing from VanVleet, he was really bad. A few days of rest and hopefully it will help him. GS keeps going away from running the offense through Boogie even though thats the best plan. They have noone that can stop him one on one, he can be used to facilitate or be option 1. Gasol and Ibaka would be in foul trouble in the first half trying.

I agree, Toronto had just gone on a 12-0 run or something like that to take the lead, GS is not new to this, they stayed with it and retook the lead...

Any time you get outscored 9-2 in the final 3 1/2 minutes to lose by 1, it has to be on the choke scale somewhere but the way it played out..... not sure I would put it high on the scale.

It will be interesting to see how GSW responds to the KD injury, they seemed to have a lot more energy than in previous games, which they maintained after he left... but if they have a couple days to think about it, it will be interesting to see if they come out with that same energy in game 6...

No offense, but as a guy who played and coached, I must say that I am not a fan of the "choke" label. It's a hard freaking game and it doesn't mean you choked just because you don't succeed.

Golden State won the game. Toronto did not choke. The damn media assigns so many labels to teams and players because of ratings and the fans understandably listen to them. I'm not getting on you guys because it is just what you have been conditioned to believe from the media. But, that was no choke job.

I love Kawhi's game and have been saying it for years.

Too much credit is given for offensive stats and marketability, 'look at me' type stuff. I can understand the first one (somebody has to score) but defense and generally being prepared for the other team rarely gets enough credit in this league.

I look at the Warriors as a small favorite in game 6 and (if necessary), the Raptors as a small favorite in game 7. Raptors being up 3-2, they'll probably win in the end.

j/c:

And? I am sure they felt she was the best candidate for the job. If she was/is, then get her signed.

As a guy who also played and coached, sometimes you choke... ie, you don't make the plays you normally would make when the pressure is on.. that's choking.


We are all zombies, conditioned by the media, not enlightened, like you.. go it.


When you get outscored 9-2 in the final 3 minutes, go 1-6 from the field with a turnover when you desperately need the points, miss open shots... You shoot 45% the whole game and 16% with the game on the line... you choked... sorry you don't like that term, it's just a simple way to say that in crunch time, you didn't make the plays you made the rest of the game...

See, I never say somebody choked if they missed ONE SHOT at the buzzer.. anybody can miss one shot at any point.. nobody makes 100%... but when it's over a period of multiple minutes and multiple plays by multiple players... and NOTHING goes the way it went the rest of the game.. call it what you want.

Too bad the Raptors lost.. It was still a great game. I worked and am working on any and all of the remaining games, so I gotta record them to watch 'em. They are too good to not watch.

I didn't say that as an insult towards you or anyone else. Can you say the same about your comment to me?

Whatever...I know people choke. We've all choked at one point in time. Some learn to overcome it. I just didn't see them as choking. I saw them come back from a deficit and take the lead. They weren't "choking" then. I simply think they got outplayed down the stretch and GS made some tough shots and Toronto missed a couple. I think the Warrior defense was huge at the end, especially in that last possession.

I'm okay if you disagree. I wasn't trying to make this a contest or one of the nasty conversations that occur in the Political forum or the supposedly Pure Football forum.

I believe, at this point, we are both essentially saying the same thing about how the game ended and this has devolved into a very minor dispute over the nuances of the meaning and application of the word "choked"... so I'm good if we call it a draw and leave it right here.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kevin...chilles-tendon/

Kevin Durant injury update: Warriors star undergoes surgery for ruptured Achilles tendon
The Golden State Warriors star forward will have a long road to recovery


Kevin Durant looked absolutely sensational in his return in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, but it was short-lived.

After being forced to leave the game with what the Warriors called an Achilles injury, Durant himself announced on Wednesday that he underwent "successful" surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. Durant took to his Instagram account to break the news and seemed to be in good spirits despite a lengthy road to recovery ahead.

The star forward said "Basketball is my biggest love and I wanted to be out there that night because that's what I do. I wanted to help my teammates on our quest for the three peat." The Warriors released a statement Wednesday night, saying Durant underwent surgery in New York.

Following Game 5, Durant left Scotiabank Arena on crutches after suffering the Achilles injury. In addition, Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reported that the Warriors feared that Durant tore his Achilles tendon, and that claim was obviously founded considering that Durant quickly had surgery.

Early in the second quarter of Game 5, Durant attempted to plant while being guarded by Serge Ibaka and he appeared to re-injure his right leg. Durant had to be helped to the locker room by teammates Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala.

Prior to suffering the injury, Durant ended up scoring 11 points on 3-of-5 from the field and recorded a block for Golden State. Durant also connected on all three of his attempts from beyond the arc in the opening 12 minutes. Ironically, his only miss during the opening frame was an airball, but that may be par for the course considering Durant hadn't played in over a month.

Durant was expected to opt out of his current contract with the Warriors following the season and become an unrestricted free agent, but it's unclear if this significant injury will alter his plans at all. The New York Knicks have been labeled as a potential landing spot if he opts out and Marc Berman of the New York Post reports that the Knicks still plan to offer Durant a max contract even with a severe injury.

Yikes! That's going to be a tough one to recover from, given his age and size. Hate to see that happen to anyone.

Yeah, that's just an awful injury.

Wow, LeBron might be able to get another ring now, if he comes back to the East.

He's a Laker for the next 3 years, under a 4 year, $153 million contract that won't be easy to trade. (especially since he is coming off of injuries, and is getting older. (He'll be 35 this season)

I'd love to see the Warriors go down in the last game at Oracle.

Too much drama.

The refs are trying to extend this to game 7.

It sure is. Go Raptors!

Well.............Green got all ball and was called for the foul. LOL

The theatrics of Klay Thompson being carried off the court only to come running back out to shoot the free throw was hysterically predictable.

I could be wrong, but I think Klay was hurt and that he was informed that he could not reenter the game if he did not shoot the free throws. I don't think theatrics had even a single bit to do w/it.

Intense 4th. It's gonna be a rough morning, I've got to get up at 5:30, lol.

Yes, those are the rules. Again, the whole thing was predicable. He played the hero in the moment.

It was theatrics. He acted like he was mortally wounded.

It was equivalent to flopping in soccer.

I don't think it was theatrics. I think he is hurt. You could tell it immediately.

Klay is out for the game. "Theatrics."

He had no problem jogging back to make the free throws.

The fix is in. For the Raptors to win.

No offense, Eve............but, I don't think you understand leg injuries. I blew my knee out and ran/walked on it. Durant walked after rupturing his achilles the other night. That doesn't mean you aren't hurt.

He was not faking it. It was not "theatrics." You two are making yourselves look bad.

I agree that he landed weird. But he had no problem running back out onto the court to make the FTs.

I feel there is a fix.

j/c:

Man, Lowry is having a helluva game.

Raptors are rushing their shots. They need to stop that.