Old Men in Sweats! ™
By: Tommy T. & Barry D.
Volume 30
NBA FINALS GAME 4… DEFENSE! BOOM BOOM!
Defense! Boom Boom! Defense!! Boom Boom!! No matter how many three pointers these players drain in today’s new NBA, the name of the game is still DEFENSE. Game 3 was proof. Golden State overcame the loss of two all-stars and 3 out of their top 7 rotation players to score 109 points. The same total they scored in the Warriors’ game 2 victory. But you know what was absent in Game 3? Yup… some perimeter defense. Without Klay, KD, and the ultra-goofy Kevon Looney the Warriors were obliterated by the Raptors 3-points shooters.
Kyle Lowry and Danny Green combined for 11 3-pointers in only 20 shots. Yeah that is a cool 55% from the starting backcourt for WE THE NORTH. There is no way the Warriors were expecting those numbers from the Raptors long-range gunners. Kerr, Steph, Iggy, Dray and company were probably thinking that Danny Green hasn’t hit a big 3-pointer since he left San Antonio. Green was traded to Toronto with Kawhi Leonard in the blockbuster off-season trade. But, we can tell you that Green was just a throw-in. A throw away. The Raptors wanted The Klaw. One of the top 5 players in the NBA. “Danny Green? Okay we’ll take his contract off your hands.” And the way he’s played in the 1st three rounds of the playoffs the last thing the WE THE BAY faithful expected was for Green to nail 6 shots from downtown.
The injuries are catching up to the Warriors. It’s clear now that Durant’s calf injury is a serious one. And let’s be real. The girth of the guy’s calf is the equivalent of a piece of sashimi so we’re all wondering “what muscle?” Even if KD returns this series he won’t be his usual dominating self. Also, it may be over if Klay Thompson is more seriously injured than the suddenly Mafia-style Warriors are letting on. Klay is scheduled to play in tonight’s game but when you can barely limp off the court in Game 2, you don’t usually come back healthy in 6 days. It may be a wrap for GSW. Because KD and Klay are the Warriors two best perimeter defenders. Nobody guards the perimeter like Klay and there are very few defenders in the NBA who can guard multiple positions like KD.
That’s why the Raptors can smell blood in The Bay. They can smell it a mile away, like a Great White. No KD. A limited Klay. And no goofy Looney to bother Lowry, Green, and the equally goofy Gasol, and one might think the Raptors are going to be feeling confident from downtown.
Here’s the deal with tonight’s game and going forward in the Finals. If Green, Lowry, Gasol, and Siakam are feeling confident then the Warriors have no chance. We’re seeing marginal players, over the hill players, and inexperienced players finding their way in these Finals. Siakam looks like a developing Scottie Pippen. Gasol looks like his more talented brother, and Lowry is making shots. We never remember Kyle Lowry hitting a big shot in the playoffs the last 5 years.
GSW needs their stars back for reasons you wouldn’t think. For their Defense. That’s where the champions are suffering the most. So now when their fans at the Oracle start chanting “DE-FENSE!” it seems more hopeful than confident. The name of the game is still defense and right now the Raptors have it and the Warriors don’t. Tonight’s game is the whole season. Raptors win and it’s over. GSW wins and it comes back to Oracle for one more time. Game 6!
DEFENSE!!! BOOM BOOM!!!
-OMIS
“PREACHIN’ SPORTS KNOWLEDGE FOR A LIFETIME!”