2022 NBA Finals Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics

 

                                             Credit: Getty Images/TSN

Tonight, the 2022 NBA Finals tip-off in San Francisco with the Golden State Warriors hosting the Boston Celtics. The Warriors come in having taken out the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the Western Conference Finals while the Celtics snuck past the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning the series in seven games. 

The Warriors come into this series as the seasoned NBA Finals veterans having won three NBA championships in 2015, 2017, and 2018 while also reaching the NBA Finals in 2016 and 2019. As for the Celtics, while their franchise historically is tied with the Los Angeles Lakers with most NBA titles (17), this current Celtics group is new to this big of a stage. 

Stephen Curry (25.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, & 6.3 assists) is the leader of this Warriors team, playing some of the best basketball of his entire career. While Kevin Durant is no longer on the team, the Warriors have picked up right where they left off before he even joined them in the first place. They're looking like the Warriors team that won in 2015 with Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Jordan Poole, and Andrew Wiggins forming a solid core around Curry. 

As for the Celtics, Jayson Tatum (26.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, & 4.4 assists) leads the charge along with Jaylen Brown (23.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, & 3.5 assists). The two of them form a really dynamic wing duo that is very difficult to stop. They too have a solid cast around them in Dennis Schröder, Marcus Smart, and Al Horford. 

As for what's going to determine this series, I think a lot of this comes down to whether or not the Warriors play a clean, efficient series or not and whether or not the Celtics will be able to force them into playing sloppy basketball. The Warriors are the more experienced team. If they play their best basketball, they're going to win this series. However, they sometimes have lulls or moments where they are sloppy and not playing their best. If the Celtics can take advantage of those moments and play a clean, efficient series on their end, this series could get interesting. 

For the Warriors, Curry is going to need to come up big and have an NBA Finals MVP-level performance. They cannot expect to win this series if he isn't playing at his best. He really is the engine that makes this Warriors team go. As for the Celtics, they need Brown and Tatum to be on their game. If those two guys are balling out, the Celtics have a chance. 

Prediction: I got the Warriors winning this series in six games. They have championship experience and know what it takes to win an NBA championship. I think the Celtics will do enough to take a couple games of the series, but when it's all said and done, the Warriors will be the ones lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Stephen Curry will also take home his first NBA Finals MVP award. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Should the Golden State Warriors be favored to win the West?

 

                                             (Credit: Jeff Chiu/Associated Press) 

At the moment, the Golden State Warriors are up 3-1 on the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA playoffs. It's the only Western Conference series that's clearly going in favor of one team. The top-seeded Suns are being pushed to the brink by the eight-seeded Pelicans tied 2-2 in their series; the two-seeded Grizzlies are up 3-2 on the seven-seeded Timberwolves after winning 111-109 tonight; and the five-seeded Jazz will look to force a game seven on Thursday against the Mavericks. 

The Warriors are on cruise control right now and assuming they advance, they'll face either a Grizzlies team that got pushed to the brink of elimination or an up and coming Timberwolves team that doesn't seem ready to reach the conference finals. And then who knows who'd be waiting for them in the conference finals if they get there. Even if it's the Suns and Devin Booker is back, the Warriors have more championship experience. And that's really the whole point here. The Warriors are the only team in the entire Western Conference playoffs who have proven championship DNA. Everyone else for one reason or another can be called into question. 

This isn't to say the Warriors are perfect or that they don't have their flaws. They do. There's a reason they didn't get the top seed in the West. But when looking around the rest of the conference, it's hard to not look at the Warriors and think they should be favored to come out on top. Stephen Curry is back, Klay Thompson is back, Draymond Green is healthy, and Jordan Poole is a rising star. They have their core championship unit intact and appear to be heating up at the right time. 

As of this moment, I believe the path to an NBA title out West goes through Golden State. Their overall body of work speaks for itself and nobody else in the conference appears ready to grab the bull by the horns and take control. It'll be interesting to see if Golden State goes on to win the West rather unopposed or if some worthy challenger out of all these other struggling teams will emerge. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: The Golden State Warriors should tank this season

After losing on Monday night to the Utah Jazz on their home floor by a final score of 122-108, the Golden State Warriors have fallen to 2-9 on the season. Stephen Curry is out 3+ months with a fractured hand, Klay Thompson is out for likely the season as he recovers from a torn ACL, and as a whole, this Warriors team looks nothing like they have in past seasons. Their starting lineup against the Jazz was D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Poole, Draymond Green, Glenn Robinson III, and Willie Cauley-Stein. Talk about a different looking lineup!

What makes this extra painful for the Warriors is the fact that they just moved into the Chase Center, their new arena in San Francisco. When you move into a new arena, you're beginning a new era and no team wants to begin a new era like this. Ideally, they would be playing competitive basketball and once again putting themselves in the mix to get a high seed in the Western Conference.

But alas, that is not the case. The Warriors are struggling and instead are on pace for the worst record in the Western Conference and possibly the NBA! It's crazy how much they've fallen from last year! The only silver lining in all of this is that with Thompson likely out for the year anyways, the Warriors were not going to win the NBA championship this year. This was going to be a rebuilding season, so if you're going to rebuild for a year, why not take it to the max and go full tank mode?

The Warriors' core trio of Curry, Thompson, and Green is getting older and they won't be around forever. Getting a really talented rookie to add to the mix just might be what this team needs more than anything else, hence the need to tank. If they can somehow land a top three or even top five pick in next year's draft, the Warriors may bounce right back and once again be a contender within a year or two.

As much as the Warriors' front office doesn't want to swallow this pill, the best thing they can do is just ignore this year and be willing to lose as many games as possible. The higher the draft pick they get for next year, the better.

                                           (Credit: Jeff Chiu/Associated Press)

One major decision the Warriors have to make is what to do with D'Angelo Russell, who has shown some promise as is evident by his 52 point explosion against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He could be a nice piece for them to hang onto or he might be better used as a trade chip to help them rebuild. It's not obvious what the Warriors should do with him, so they better use these next couple of months to closely evaluate him. If there's one thing Warriors fans should watch for this season, it's what their team does with Russell. 

Given that they're already tanking the season without even trying to, the Warriors might as well embrace the current and flow with it. Fighting it and trying to salvage this season in the long run is the wrong thing to do. Their sights need to be set on next season and beyond. If they can have this perspective, things should work out alright for them. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Everyone is sleeping on the Golden State Warriors

Due to the departure of Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson's torn ACL, many assume the 2020 Western Conference champion will be someone other than the Golden State Warriors, who have won the last five Western Conference titles. While there are a lot of good teams in the Western Conference that could certainly dethrone them, it has been surprising how many people, including myself, seem to have forgotten just how much of a strangle hold the Warriors have had. 

I don't want to undermine the significance of losing Durant and the injury to Thompson. Durant was huge to the Warriors' championship runs and Thompson, the second Splash Brother, is a killer back court mate for Stephen Curry. The road just got harder for the Warriors, but that doesn't mean it's impossible for them to conquer. Below are three reasons why the Warriors can still get back to the NBA Finals in 2020. 

#1. Stephen Curry: If there is one player who has had to sacrifice their ego to make this Warriors team work, it's Stephen Curry. Before Durant came aboard, the Warriors were Curry's team and he did a masterful job of running them. Now, once again, the Warriors belong to Curry and you can bet that he is excited. Plus, Curry knows how much he and his team are being overlooked. Look for a very motivated and focused Curry this season. That should scare everyone in the NBA. 

#2. Experience: When you have been to five straight NBA Finals, one thing you definitely have is experience. The Warriors have been through a lot as a team and have always found a way to come out of the West anyways. They know how to dig deep and go to the well better than any team in the NBA. The rest of the Western Conference is much more unproven and until someone comes along and proves that they can beat them, the Dubs deserve the respect that five straight NBA Finals appearances gets you. 

#3. Klay Thompson isn't out for the year: While the Warriors will start the season without Klay, he's not done for the season. He should be back after the All-Star break and help the Warriors make a championship run come playoff time. So long as they have the Splash Brothers as well as Draymond Green, the Warriors should be feeling pretty good. On top of that, they have an amazing head coach in Steve Kerr who can be trusted to make the right adjustments. 

The bottom line: The Warriors have made five straight NBA Finals appearances for a reason and still have a ton of talent and experience. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Steve Kerr have been through the fire before and know what it takes to go all the way. I understand the Western Conference has a lot of interesting new flavors, but that shouldn't make us forget who has been winning the West over these last several years. 

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Saturday Slam: Draymond Green is the modern version of Dennis Rodman

                                         (Credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez-The Associated Press) 

Earlier today, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors have agreed on a four-year, $100M contract extension, giving him a five-year $118M contract in full. Green could have been an unrestricted free agent next summer, but instead has decided to re-up with the Warriors while taking a potential pay cut in the process. Had he hit unrestricted free agency next year, he could have been looking at a $235M contract, which is just mind boggling.

Rather than doing a standard "Here's why he's worth or not worth this contract" type of article, I wanted to explain why Green is the modern version of Dennis Rodman. While known more for his antics and colorful hairstyles, Rodman was an absolute beast on the court. He won five NBA championships, was named Defensive Player of the Year twice, made two All-Star appearances, was named to seven NBA All-Defensive First Teams, and led the NBA in rebounding seven years in a row from 1992-1998. He was the epitome of tenacity, hustle, and determination.

                                          (Credit: Bill Smith/Chicago Bulls) 

While he doesn't have his hair dyed in different colors every night with tons of tattoos and body piercings, there's actually a lot that Green has in common with Rodman. Through his first seven seasons in the NBA, Green has three NBA championships, three All-Star appearances, three NBA All-Defensive First Team honors, and one NBA Defensive Player of the Year honor. When you consider the pace he's on, Green could walk out with a Hall of Fame resume very similar or perhaps even better than Rodman's.

In addition to the accolades, Green plays a pretty similar style as "The Worm." They both pride themselves on their energy, passion, and ability to get in the heads of their opponents. They like to annoy opposing teams and are generally only liked by fans of their team. On top of that, both are undersized post players (6'7", 220-230 pounds) who pride themselves on shutting down bigger players due to their hustle, determination, and grit. One final commonality they share is they were early second round draft choices. Rodman went #27 overall in the second round to the Detroit Pistons in the 1986 NBA Draft while Green went #35 overall in the second round to the Golden State Warriors in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Both are players who overachieved and accomplished far more than anyone thought they would. The odds of lasting in the NBA beyond three years as a second round pick are slim while the odds of having a Hall of Fame career as a second round pick are even lower. If you're a second round pick, you're not even guaranteed to make the team. To go from that to Hall of Fame level is nothing short of amazing.

While there are a ton of similarities between these two players, there are some key differences. First, Rodman was a much better rebounder than Green. For his career, Rodman averaged 13.1 rebounds per game while averaging as much as 18.7 rebounds per game in a single season (1991-92). Green in contrast has averaged 6.9 rebounds per game for his career, averaging as much as 9.5 rebounds per game in a single season (2015-16).

Another key difference between the two players is Green is much better at blocking shots and disrupting passing lanes. For his career, Green has averaged 1.4 steals per game and 1.1 blocks per game. He averaged a league best 2.0 steals per game in the 2016-17 season while averaging 1.4 blocks per game in both the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. Rodman in contrast averaged 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks per game for his career, never averaging more than .9 steals or blocks per game in any season.

One final key difference is Green is a much better scorer. Green has averaged 9.1 points per game for his career, averaging a career-high 14.0 points per game in the 2015-16 season. Between the 2014-15 and 2017-18 season, Green had double-digit scoring averages (11.7 points per game). To go along with that scoring, Green has developed a reliable 3-point shot, shooting 32.3% from beyond the arc for his career. Rodman in contrast had just one season scoring in double figures per game (11.6 points per game in the 1987-88 season). His career scoring average is a modest 7.3 points per game and he never developed a reliable 3-point shot, shooting 23.1% from beyond the arc on 0.4 attempts per game for his career.

In terms of who would you rather have on your team, you really can't go wrong with either player. Green gives you a more well-rounded attack with his scoring, shot blocking, steals, and solid rebounding while Rodman gives you a ridiculous rebounding attack backed up by adequate scoring, and solid all-around defense. In some ways, both players are products of their own eras. Green plays in an era where players are expected to be more well-rounded while Rodman played in an era that allowed players to carve out more of a niche. Rodman found his niche with rebounding and thrived as a result. Had Green played in Rodman's era, he probably would have been much more of a specialist while had Rodman played in today's era, he would have probably been a more well-rounded player.

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Saturday Slam: The Golden State Warriors have to win Game 2 in Toronto

                                          (Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports) 

On Thursday, the Toronto Raptors dominated the Golden State Warriors 118-109 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Pascal Siakam went off for 32 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks while Kawhi Leonard finished with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. As well as Stephen Curry played (34 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists), he didn't get the help he needed and now his team finds themselves in a must win situation in Game 2, which tips off Sunday night in Toronto at 8:00 PM EST on ABC.

Going into this series, I said the Raptors had to defend Jurassic Park like their lives depended on it and so far they are doing just that. Granted it's only been one game, but their performance in Game 1 was very impressive. Especially when you consider the fact that they came in as two point favorites. If they are able to take a 2-0 series lead and defend Jurassic Park once again, they'll be in the driver's seat to win this series.

I hate to call games "must win" this early on in a series, but this game really does feel like one the Warriors have to get. If they go down 0-2, I don't see them winning four straight games to win the series, which means that a Game 7 is the best case scenario that they can hope for. In Game 7, you always have to pick the home team. Even if the road team is as good as the Warriors.

If the Warriors want to avoid an 0-2 hole, they first need to take much better care of the ball. In Game 1, they turned the ball over 16 times, allowing the Raptors to get out in transition. If they are as sloppy with the ball in Game 2 as they were in Game 1, they will not come out victorious.

Secondly, Stephen Curry needs to get more help. Draymond Green (10 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists) and Klay Thompson (21 points and 5 rebounds) played well, but they were the only players that helped out. Andre Iguodala was quiet, Kevon Looney didn't do much, and DeMarcus Cousins was a big dud. Someone else on this Warriors team needs to step up to give Curry, Green, and Thompson the help they need.

Third, the Warriors have to do a much better job on Siakam, who ate them for lunch in Game 1. The Warriors didn't seem to know how good Siakam was, but now they can consider themselves warned. If he has a big outing in Game 2, I don't see how the Warriors win. Especially since Leonard can be expected to be more productive.

The bottom line here is the Warriors have to win Game 2 on Sunday. They cannot go down 0-2 and expect to win this series even if Kevin Durant does return for Game 3 and beyond. The Raptors are too good.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Three things the Golden State Warriors need to do to defeat the Toronto Raptors

The NBA Finals begins on Thursday and in order to preview the event, I want to quickly address what the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors each need to do to win the series. I'll be keeping it simple by listing three keys to the series for each team. Up first is the Warriors and yes, I'm going old school with the logo because I love old school NBA logos!

#1. Clamp down on Kawhi Leonard: If the Golden State Warriors want to win this series, the first thing they need to do is make sure they put the clamps on Kawhi Leonard, who has been having an amazing run in these playoffs averaging 31.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game on 50.7% shooting from the field, 38.8% shooting from 3-point range, and 87.5% shooting from the foul line. If he goes wild, the Warriors will be leaving the door open for the Raptors to win.

#2. Get a split in Toronto: Everyone seems to think the Warriors are going to cruise to a third straight NBA championship, but that's no guarantee considering the fact that the Raptors have home court advantage. If the Warriors are unable to win one of the first two games in Toronto, I don't see them winning. Especially since they haven't been invincible at home in the playoffs.

#3. Play Warriors basketball: The third key to the Warriors winning this series is to play the same style of basketball they've been playing ever since Kevin Durant went out. That style, predicated on ball movement, defense, and frenetic shooting, is incredibly tough to stop given their unique personnel. When you got Stephen Curry nailing threes while also creating scoring opportunities for Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala, it's game over. When the Warriors get stagnant, don't move the ball, and get sloppy, that's when they become mortal.

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Saturday Slam: DeMarcus Cousins' Warriors debut should scare the rest of the NBA

                                            (Credit: Mark J. Terril/Associated Press)

On Friday, DeMarcus Cousins made his Golden State Warriors debut in Los Angeles against the Clippers, finishing with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in just 15 minutes of action. The Warriors won the game 112-94, keeping themselves half a game up on the Denver Nuggets, who they dominated earlier this week in Denver (Click here to read more about that).

Even though it is just one game, seeing a relatively good DeMarcus Cousins in a Warriors uniform has to scare the rest of the NBA and justify all the initial panic that ensued upon his signing. While some people, including myself, urged caution about the move given the severity of Cousins' Achilles injury, I think it's safe to say that if he can even play like this going forward, it's going to be almost impossible to stop the Warriors.

As if it wasn't enough to have Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant, the Warriors now add a talented big man to the fold that can protect the rim, crash the boards, and give them a legitimate inside presence on offense. With a smaller front court, the blueprint to beating the Warriors was to go inside and take advantage of their lack of size. With Cousins now healthy, that's no longer a viable option.

What will be interesting to see is how opposing teams adjust to this new look Warriors team and what moves are made before the trade deadline. Even if such moves do occur, it's hard seeing any move that can effectively counter it. DeMarcus Cousins takes the Warriors from being scary good to being like really really scary good.

The last point I want to make is that teams complaining about this move have only themselves to blame. No one wanted Cousins, which is why the Warriors so easily scooped him up for just $5.3M. If the Nuggets, Trail Blazers, or Rockets really wanted to make sure the Warriors didn't add a guy like Cousins, they should have signed him for an ever bigger contract. No one likes the rich getting richer, but when you leave them with a pot of gold to take for free, who can really blame them for taking it?

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Saturday Slam: The Golden State Warriors built a dynasty the right way

                                          (Credit: The Associated Press)

On Friday, the Golden State Warriors completed their four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers to win their third NBA championship in four years. Kevin Durant (28.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 7.5 assists) was NBA Finals MVP for a second consecutive year and the Warriors officially etched themselves into NBA history as a true dynasty. As phenomenal as LeBron James was in the NBA Finals (34.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 10.0 assists), the Warriors were the better team and it showed over the course of the series.

A lot of people like to taint the Warriors' championships by saying they are too stacked and that it's unfair they are this good. Such remarks are very shortsighted. A person who makes these remarks is only thinking of the addition of Kevin Durant, forgetting that this team won a championship and reached the NBA Finals twice before he got there. In order to attract a star of Kevin Durant's magnitude, you need to put a winning formula in place and to the Warriors' credit, they did just that, building through the draft, making smart trades, and bringing in quality free agents.

Starting with the draft, the Warriors' scouting department and front office has knocked it out of the park, drafting Stephen Curry with the 7th overall pick in 2009, Klay Thompson with the 11th overall pick in 2011, and Draymond Green with the 35th overall pick in 2012. Those three guys are the foundation of this team. They were together long before Kevin Durant got to Golden State.

If there is one moment that we can look back on that definitively marks the beginning of this new Warriors era, it would be the trade that sent Monta Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks for Andrew Bogut. Monta Ellis doesn't get enough credit for how good he was and what he did for the Warriors' organization, but at the same time he wasn't a guy who you could build a championship team around. By moving Ellis for a big man that could anchor a championship caliber defense, the Warriors' front office showed they cared more about winning championships than getting on highlight reels. That trade is what officially put the Warriors on the trajectory that they are currently on.

Before the Warriors landed Kevin Durant in free agency, they landed another quality free agent in Andre Iguodala in the summer of 2013. Iguodala had been traded to the Denver Nuggets in the previous season from the Philadelphia 76ers and decided he didn't want to stay in Denver, opting to sign with the Warriors instead. Little did the Warriors know, but Iguodala would go on to be NBA Finals MVP in 2015, playing an integral role in their first of three championships in four seasons.

To cap everything off, the Warriors landed Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016, officially establishing themselves as an NBA juggernaut. The move sparked some controversy as the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead to the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals while the Thunder had also blown a 3-1 lead to the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. To make the optics look even worse, the Warriors were coming off of a 73-9 season, the best regular season record in NBA history. It just looked like the rich getting richer while also acknowledging that they didn't have enough to beat LeBron James.

While it's certainly understandable for NBA fans to be upset at how this all unfolded, one certainly cannot blame the Warriors for making the moves that they did. If you have the cap space to add Kevin Durant to a roster that already consists of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala, you should do it. It's a no brainer decision.

Regardless of how you feel about the Warriors, one thing cannot be denied: They built their team the right way. They drafted and scouted well, made good trades, added quality free agents, and put themselves in a position to attract Kevin Durant. They took no short cuts and are being handsomely rewarded as a result.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: The Houston Rockets have some life

                                          (Getty Images)

On Tuesday night, the Houston Rockets stole a game in Golden State by the final score of 95-92, tying up the Western Conference Finals at 2-2. James Harden finished with 30 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals while Chris Paul finished with 27 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists on 5/9 shooting from 3-point range. As a result, the Rockets have won back home court advantage. If they hold serve at home in games five and seven, they'll win the series.

After getting down 12-0 to start the game, it looked like the Rockets had little chance of winning. Kevin Durant (27 points) and Stephen Curry (28 points) both had the Warriors in a nice rhythm early on while James Harden and Chris Paul had a tough time getting the Rockets going. James Harden really showed signs of nerves when he passed up a wide open 3-pointer, electing instead to dish it off to P.J.Tucker in the corner. As a result of their early struggles, the Rockets found themselves down 28-19 after the first quarter.

To their credit, the Rockets didn't give up.  James Harden woke up in the second quarter along with Chris Paul, outscoring the Warriors 34-18, giving themselves a 53-46 lead at halftime. The highlight of the first half was definitely the facial dunk that James Harden had over Draymond Green. It was almost like passing up that three in the first quarter caused James Harden to wake up. From then on, he was wide awake and in full attack mode.



The second half went similar to the first. The Warriors outscored the Rockets 34-17 in the third quarter, taking an 80-70 lead into the fourth quarter. It once again looked like the Warriors were going to pull away, but the Rockets found the strength and will to battle back for a second time, pulling out a 95-92 win thanks to some clutch baskets from Chris Paul, Trevor Ariza, and James Harden to go along with some stellar defense and rebounding.

P.J. Tucker was the x-factor in this game, finishing with 16 rebounds despite only scoring 4 points. Without his aggression on the glass and tenacity, the Rockets would not have pulled out this win. This game was as much about the Rockets' gritty defense as it was their clutch offense. To hold the Warriors to 92 points on their home floor is really impressive. The Rockets deserve a ton of credit for the way they defended tonight.

While a lot of people are still picking the Warriors to win this series, the Rockets have found new life after stealing this game in Oakland. They have home court advantage back on their side and will come home to a hungry and rabid fan base in game five. They got the game they needed to win and now it's a matter of them protecting their home court. If they bring the same determination and grit at home as they did tonight, I don't see the Warriors winning another game in Houston.

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Skyhook Sunday: The Toronto Raptors need a bad boy

Once again, the Toronto Raptors fell victim to the late game of heroics of LeBron James, watching him bank in a game winner to give the Cleveland Cavaliers a 3-0 lead in the series.



While LeBron James continues to show why he's the best player in the NBA, the Raptors continue to show that they are lacking a key ingredient necessary for them to win a championship. While losing at the hands of one of the games' greatest players isn't reason to hit the reset button, the Raptors clearly have work to do in the offseason to get themselves over the hump next year.

While some may say that DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry isn't enough of a one-two punch, I don't think talent is where the Raptors are lacking. They have plenty of talent. The issue lies in them not having an irritant. Somebody who can play dirty and get under the skin of LeBron James a bit.

Nobody on this team is willing to muck things up or even so much as attempt to get inside the head of LeBron James. The Raptors are like a boy band without a bad boy. They need a bad boy. Somebody to give them an edge.

When you look back on some of the most recent teams to win NBA championships, almost all of them had a guy who qualified as a bad boy/irritant. The Golden State Warriors have Draymond Green, the Cavaliers have JR Smith, the Dallas Mavericks had DeShawn Stevenson, the Chicago Bulls had Dennis Rodman, etc. Even more recently, the Indiana Pacers were able to make things competitive against LeBron James thanks to the presence of Lance Stephenson, who isn't afraid to go off the rails and get in LeBron James' grill.

                                         (Screenshot from YouTube) 

As presently constructed, the Raptors are too afraid to even so much as lay a hand on LeBron James. They don't stand up to him. They let him walk all over them and then when he hits a game winning shot, they act all stunned and surprised, expecting us to feel sorry for them. This attitude needs to change. The Raptors need someone on their team to get angry and not tolerate getting beat like this. They need somebody to start a fight, throw a punch, do something to create some competitive tension.

I'm not advocating the Raptors clothesline LeBron James or anything like that. But what I am advocating for is somebody to stand up to him and make it clear that they aren't going to back down. They need somebody to try to wrestle a ball away from him, blow in his ear, or do anything that might upset him. Winning in sports is as much about the mental side as it is the physical side and right now, the Raptors have nobody that gives them any sort of mental edge over the Cavaliers.

If the Raptors can't draft a bad boy, they need to either pick one up in free agency or via trade. They have to do it. They can keep their core together, but they need to trade a bench player or two for someone who gives them the type of toughness that I'm describing. If they go out and make such an acquisition, I think they'll be poised to make a serious run at a title. If they don't, they'll continue to be a soft team that lacks a spine.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: How concerned should the Golden State Warriors be about their injuries?

At 54-20, the Golden State Warriors currently sit 6.5 games back of the top seeded Houston Rockets in the Western Conference standings. While still having a really good regular season, the Warriors are not a slam dunk to come out of the Western Conference for a fourth consecutive season. There are two main reasons for this. The first being that the Rockets are really good. The second being that they are dealing with a lot of injuries. I recently wrote about the Rockets and why they are dangerous, so I will address the latter in this article, focusing on the Warriors’ injury woes.

At the moment, the Warriors’ injury report reads as follows: Stephen Curry is out 3+ weeks due to a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee; Klay Thompson has missed seven games due to a sprained right thumb and is likely out through the rest of the week at least; Draymond Green has missed three games due to a pelvic contusion and is listed as day-to-day; and Kevin Durant has missed six straight games due to a rib fracture, though he is hopeful to return on Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

While it is certainly possible that the Warriors heal up in time for the playoffs and overcome these injuries, what has to concern them is the sheer number of games that they’ve played over the past few seasons. The hardest part about reaching four straight NBA Finals is overcoming the sheer volume of games that is required to do so. Playing over 100 NBA games in one season takes a tremendous toll on the bodies of these players. To try to do that four times in a row is insane. The Warriors are starting to show signs of breaking down and it seems to be due to all the games that they have played.

The most troublesome injury is definitely Curry’s MCL sprain. He’s out for at least 3 weeks and possibly more pending on how his knee looks upon reevaluation. Given the nature of his injury, it’s no guarantee he returns at all this season and that has to worry the Warriors a great deal. Even if he is able to return, there’s no guarantee that he’ll be able to be close to full strength. Curry is the heart and soul of this Warriors team. Without him, it’s really hard to see the Warriors repeating as NBA champions.

As for how concerned the Warriors should be, if I were going on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being not concerned at all and 10 being full blown panic, I would say their level of concern should be at a 7. Winning a championship is just as much about surviving the grind of an NBA schedule as it is about being the best team. The grind appears to be catching up with the Warriors and with 24+ games to go in the season, their chances of surviving it for another year look dicey.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: The Golden State Warriors are virtually unstoppable

As we head into the 2017-18 NBA season, we see a league that looks very different than it did last year. The Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves all have new looks and should prove to be very exciting teams. However, none of these teams made moves that should take the Golden State Warriors off their perch as the top team in the league.

The Warriors' only obstacle to defending their title is health. So long as they stay healthy, they will win the NBA championship again. They simply have too many weapons. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, and Draymond Green are good enough to be the go to option on nearly every other team in the league. Collectively, they form a unit that is virtually unstoppable.

What makes these five guys so tough to stop is their versatility and ability to play elite basketball on both ends of the floor, both inside and out. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson form the most frightening three-point shooting duo the league has ever seen and Kevin Durant is one of the most lethal scorers the league has ever seen due to his combination of size, skill, and athleticism. As for Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, those guys are some of the best defenders in the league, capable of making things tough on the best of players in the league. They're also guys who you can't leave open on offense.

Outside of those five guys, the Warriors have some very solid role players like JaVale McGee, Zaza Pachulia, Nick Young, Shaun Livingston, etc. They don't just have a ton of talent. They have a ton of talent with depth. It's not like you can easily make up ground when their stars are resting. They have a second string that is good enough to hang with most starting lineups in the league, allowing them to give their stars ample rest and not wear them out too much during the grueling regular season.

Unfortunately for the Warriors' opponents, it's highly unlikely the injury bug derails their season. When you have a team as deep as the Warriors, you can keep your stars fresh and still win games handily. That's what makes this Warriors team close to unbeatable. Nobody can beat them in a seven game series when they are at full strength and even if a couple guys get hurt, they're still probably the favorites.

This upcoming NBA season promises to be very exciting due to all the moves that have happened, but make no mistake; there should be very little drama when it comes to who wins it all. The Warriors are way out in front of everybody else and will practically need to hand the Larry O'Brien Trophy to another team to not come out on top.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Can anyone stop the Golden State Warriors?

The Golden State Warriors have gone 8-0 in the NBA Playoffs so far, sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz without hardly breaking a sweat. The Jazz I thought would give the Warriors a serious challenge, but in the end, they were no match for the juggernauts of the Western Conference.

While the Warriors can kick back and drink some Kool-Aid, the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets are engaged in an epic battle that appears to be going the distance (Spurs up 3-2). With Tony Parker out for the playoffs, it's hard to see the Spurs having enough juice to take the Warriors out while the Rockets' style of play is basically a B-grade version of what the Warriors already do.

With the way things are going, it's really hard to see anyone stopping this Golden State Warriors team. When you add Kevin Durant to a team that already consists of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala, you have something really scary. The Warriors are almost too good. While it's a thing of beauty to watch them play basketball, it's also a little bit boring just because we already know the outcome of each series they enter. We knew the Warriors would take out the Trail Blazers, we knew the Warriors would take out the Jazz, and I'm already comfortable saying that we know the Warriors will take out the winner of the Spurs/Rockets series.

The Warriors have too many weapons and they all know how to play together. We've seen teams try to stockpile on talent and have it backfire. What makes the Warriors' formula work is that their pieces all know how to play together and are willing to make sacrifices for each other. There are no egos on this team. The willingness of this cast of players to make sacrifices for each other is what makes this team virtually unstoppable.

With this being the case, can anyone stop this Warriors team? The answer yes, but there is only one team who can: The Cleveland Cavaliers. While the Warriors are the more talented and deeper team, the Cavaliers have LeBron James, who is still the best basketball player in the world. The Cavaliers have a ton of weapons in their own right with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and Kyle Korver in addition to LeBron James. They have the pieces to take out this Warriors team, but even for them it will be no easy task.

Without giving away my inevitable Warriors-Cavaliers NBA Finals preview, I will say that at this point, the only team who can take out the Golden State Warriors is the Cleveland Cavaliers. Everyone else in these playoffs can go home and figure out how to get better over the summer. I know it sounds harsh, but it's the truth.

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Saturday Slam: What the loss of Kevin Durant means for the Warriors

Earlier this week, it was announced that Golden State Warriors small forward Kevin Durant will be reevaluated in 4 weeks after being diagnosed with an MCL sprain in his left knee and a tibial bone bruise. Durant has been the best player on this 50-11 Warriors team, averaging 25.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game. Durant has been so valuable that he has actually been the Warriors' top rim protector as well as their most efficient scorer. He's been the ultimate small ball player. 

Now with their jack-of-all trades small ball weapon out for at least 4 weeks, the Warriors need to find a way to keep in front of the 47-13 San Antonio Spurs for the #1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. It won't be easy, but the good news is that we know that even without Durant, the Warriors might still be the best team in the NBA. 

Speaking a little bit more specifically, the absence of Durant means that Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson need to take on more of the scoring load. Durant leads the team in scoring, but Curry and Thompson are right behind him, Curry averaging 24.8 points per game and Thompson averaging 21.8 points per game. The fourth leading scorer on the team is Draymond Green at 10.2 points per game, so there really is a huge drop off in terms of scoring production after Durant, Curry, and Thompson. It will be up to "The Splash Brothers" to make up for Durant's production and be the ones who carry the offense until he returns. 

On defense, that's really where Draymond Green will have to step up. Green is averaging 2.1 steals and 1.4 blocks per game to go along with 8.1 rebounds (6.8 defensive). The Warriors will miss Durant's rim protection and so it will really be up to Green to protect the rim and not allow easy baskets inside. Green is one of the most versatile defenders in the NBA and he will certainly need to play like it during this stretch without Durant. 

The good news for the Warriors is that Kevin Durant should be back in time for the playoffs and they also have enough weapons to survive for the short term. If he was out for the season, that would be much more concerning, but since he should be back in a reasonable amount of time, I don't see this set back as anything too serious. The Warriors have embraced the whole "Strength In Numbers" team mentality and don't care having to share the spotlight with each other. This mentality should serve them well during this stretch and keep them in possession of the #1 seed in the West. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Golden State sends a strong message to Cleveland

On Martin Luther King Day, the Golden State Warriors sent a strong message to the Cleveland Cavaliers, crushing the defending champions 126-91. After falling to the Cavaliers 109-108 on Christmas Day, the Warriors struck back in commanding fashion, reminding the Cavaliers that at the moment, the road to the 2017 NBA championship goes through Oakland and not Cleveland.

The Warriors' supreme excellence was on full display as they controlled the glass 58-35 and shot 50.5% from the field while holding the Cavaliers to 35.2% shooting from the field. The Warriors played elite level basketball on both ends of the floor and it showed in the final result. Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson all had 20+ points while Draymond Green finished with another triple-double consisting of 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists while LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love combined for 30.2% shooting from the field.

The Warriors are seen as an offensive juggernaut that loves to play at a fast tempo, but the reality is that they are so much more than that. They are a multi-dimensional basketball team that is capable of destroying teams on both ends of the floor due to their athleticism, talent, and versatility. Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant are all elite shooters while Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala are some of the best defenders in the game today. Such a combination of offensive potency and stellar defense has rarely been seen in NBA history, which is why the Warriors are 35-6, on pace to win 70 games.

The one play that everyone is talking about is a flagrant 1 foul that was called on Draymond Green in the second quarter. LeBron James was driving down the court and Draymond Green bumped him at half court. LeBron James sold the call by flopping, which caused Warriors fans to freak out and complain about LeBron James getting superstar treatment. Having watched the play myself, it is clear that Draymond Green committed a flagrant foul and it's also clear that LeBron James helped to sell the call. Draymond Green wanted to send a message to LeBron James and he succeeded by getting the flagrant 1 foul.



On NBA TV,  Rick Fox said the Warriors needed to win big and I think he's right. The Warriors had to bounce back convincingly from the Christmas Day loss and give off the impression that winning in Oakland will be no easy task come June. While the Warriors still have the entire Western Conference playoffs and about half of the regular season to go before the NBA Finals, it is still important for them to send a message to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Warriors know that should they reach the NBA Finals for a third consecutive time, the Cavaliers will likely be the team waiting for them. The Warriors want to give themselves as much of a mental advantage as possible by clinching home court and holding serve at home against the Cavaliers this season.

At the moment, the Warriors have the edge over the Cleveland Cavaliers. They have the better record and had the more convincing win on their home floor. While there is still tons of basketball to be played, Monday's game will definitely linger in the minds of both teams until/should they meet again in June. What's perhaps most amazing is that despite playing in different conferences, these two teams are forming one of the most fun and exciting rivalries in NBA history. I certainly would like to see both of these teams have a rubber match in June. That would be thrilling entertainment.

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5 things to look for in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals

                                         (Credit: Jesse Garrabrant/ NBAE via Getty Images) 

     Tonight is Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. The game will tip off at 8:00 PM EST on ABC in Oakland, California. After trailing 1-3, the Cleveland Cavaliers have found a way to win two straight games thanks to Draymond Green getting suspended for Game 5 and also thanks to LeBron James' back-to-back 40+ point games, a feat only done in the NBA Finals by Shaquille O'Neal and Michael Jordan. This series has gone from being one-way traffic for the Warriors to a fierce duel between two of the best teams in the NBA.

     If you read my NBA Finals preview on here, you already know that I picked the Warriors to win this series in seven games and I won't change my pick going into tonight's game. I still have the Warriors winning, but I do believe that the Cleveland Cavaliers have what it takes to become the first team to win a Game 7 on the road in the NBA Finals since the Washington Bullets back in 1978. The Bullets won Game 7 in Seattle by a final score of 105-99.

     Given the fact that tonight's game is just the fifth Game 7 in the NBA Finals since 1990, I thought it would be appropriate for me to do a quick preview of it by listing five things to look for. This series has had so many twists and turns such that it wouldn't be right of me to leave my initial series preview as the preview for tonight's game, even though a lot of what I said in that preview still applies to tonight's game. The five things to look for are largely predicated on what has happened since I wrote my initial preview.

#1. Look for Cleveland to pound it inside: Andrew Bogut is out for the rest of the series due to a sprained left knee that he sustained in Game 5 on Monday night. Without the big Aussie on the floor for Golden State, Cleveland would be smart to pound it inside and try to win by controlling the boards. Tristan Thompson had 9 rebounds after the first quarter of Game 6 and finished with 16 rebounds to go along with 15 points. If Tristan Thompson has another monstrous performance on the glass tonight, the Warriors will be in trouble.

#2. The first quarter will be huge: What lost the Warriors Game 6 wasn't the officiating or Ayesha Curry's father getting mistaken for a guy who sneaks into major sporting events. What lost the Warriors Game 6 was putting up only 11 points in the first quarter while allowing the Cavaliers to score 31. If the Warriors come out hot and in control to start the game, that will be a very good sign for them. If on the other hand, they come out cold and Cleveland is controlling the boards and getting easy buckets in transition, things will definitely be in favor of the Cavaliers.

#3. Draymond Green has to play big: 8 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists isn't exactly the type of performance the Warriors needed out of Draymond Green in Game 6. A big reason for why we are at a Game 7 is because Draymond Green was stupid enough to commit a flagrant 1 foul which triggered his suspension. Because Draymond Green contributed to getting the Warriors in this position, it is his responsibility to do whatever he can get them out of it. If Draymond Green plays big and the Warriors win, he'll have saved his skin from a ton of criticism. If on the other hand he lets his emotions derail his performance and the Warriors lose, he'll be the one who takes most of the blame for the Warriors losing this series.

#4. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving have to deliver: With Kevin Love not showing up, the Cavaliers need LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to deliver the goods tonight. LeBron James needs to put up around 40 points and Kyrie Irving has to be in that same neighborhood. LeBron has to take it upon himself to will his team to victory and Kyrie Irving has to take it upon himself to be the one to help LeBron James out in terms of scoring. Tristan Thompson will do his thing on defense and on the boards, but he can't be relied upon to get points. That has to be up to Kyrie Irving.

#5. Role players need to step up on both sides: For the Cleveland Cavaliers, they need guys like Kevin Love (Yes, he has become more of a role player), J.R. Smith, Channing Frye, and Matthew Dellavedova to step up and give LeBron James whatever help they can. As for the Warriors the main role player they need to step up his Harrison Barnes. He has made 2 of his last 12 uncontested shots and he scored 0 points in Game 6. If Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala aren't able to give the Warriors much, then it will be up to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green to have sensational performances.

Conclusion: I think what will decide tonight's game is which team is able to dictate the tempo and  play the style of basketball that they want to play. If the Warriors come out splashing threes from beyond the arc and are playing relaxed and loose, they'll be in great shape. If on the other hand, the Warriors are clanging threes and LeBron James is scoring at will while getting the help he needs from Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, the Cavaliers will win instead. Like I said earlier, I still have the Warriors winning tonight's game by a final score of 104-100. I think it will be a close game, but the Warriors will find a way to come up big at home. I have a hard time believing that the Warriors will drop three straight games with two of those games being on their home floor.

As far as what's at stake tonight, the Warriors are playing to be considered the greatest team ever. If they win 73 games en route to an NBA title, it'll be hard to say that they're not the greatest team ever. If they lose, they'll go down as perhaps the biggest disappointment in NBA history. Coming back from 1-3 to win the Western Conference crown to only blow a 3-1 lead in the finals would be beyond disappointing.

In regards to the Cavaliers, LeBron James is once again playing to silence his haters, which for no good reason still exist. If  the Cleveland Cavaliers become the first team since 1978 to win a Game 7 on the road in the NBA Finals and the first team to ever come back from a 1-3 hole in the NBA Finals, LeBron James will truly elevate himself into the same class as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,  Oscar Robertson, and even Michael Jordan. If on the other hand, the Cavaliers lose, there will once again be questions about LeBron James' ability to lead a team to a title without having Dwyane Wade by his side. It's tough, but that's how it goes when you get to this level.