Wait. You’re telling me this is the first NBA Finals without Lebron since 2010?! Wow, it looks like the finals are going to actually be different for once. Oh, the Warriors made it again? Geez. I swear the NBA Finals have become more predictable than The Bachelor.



It’s finally that time of the NBA season. The NBA Finals kick off this Thursday as the Golden State Warriors host the Toronto Raptors. Although missing Kevin Durant and Demarcus Cousins, Stephen Curry and the Warriors swept the Trail Blazers to win the West for the fifth straight season. On the other side of the country and in Canada, Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors came back from a 2-0 series deficit to take down the Milwaukee Bucks to win the East.



The Warriors are looking to further their dynasty with a fourth championship in five years while the Raptors seek their first championship in franchise history. If I were to be honest, I love watching the Warriors play. Their fast pace of play accompanied by the top shooters in the league make them an extremely exciting team. That being said, I’d hate to see another Golden State championship. They’re too stacked for this league and they’ve simply made basketball look too easy. Sadly for me and the rest of the world excluding California, the Warriors are going to win another title.



Yes, Kawhi is a top five player in the league and has done nothing short but dominate these playoffs. He’s beaten the Magic, 76ers, and Bucks basically all by himself, but none of those teams are close to the Warriors’ caliber. Curry is already known as one of the best point guards and shooters to play the game, and as we saw before Durant’s signing, is capable of leading the Warriors to a title. Sure, you can have Kawhi lock up Curry but then you still have to worry about Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. What’s even worse for Toronto is the fact that Boogie and Durant will come back some time this series and when they do, they simply won’t have an answer for the Warriors.



If the Raptors want to shock the world and bless the NBA community, they’ll need to continue their lockdown defense they’ve displayed these playoffs and rely on supporting players to step up. Kawhi, Pascal Siakam, and Kyle Lowry will all be heavily guarded by Thompson, Green and Andre Iguodala, so Serge Ibaka, Marc Gasol, and Danny Green must take advantage of their match-ups. If Danny Green can exploit Curry’s defense and Ibaka and Gasol can knockdown their open jumpers, the Raptors might just have a shot at making history.



As far as what I think, I say Toronto takes game one at home, but the Warriors win out to grab their third straight title as Stephen Curry finally gets a Finals MVP.



Toronto, we’re rooting for you.

-Mateo Gutierrez

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