OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 04: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors claps his hands during their preseason game against the Los Angeles Clippers at ORACLE Arena on October 4, 2016 in Oakland, California.
The Golden State Warriors are opening their fifth straight NBA Finals Thursday night at Toronto. The Warriors have rested for nine days after sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals, while the Raptors remain fit after beating the Milwaukee Bucks in six games on Sunday night.
All-Star Kevin Durant remains out for Game 1 of the Finals, as he continues to suffer from a right calf strain he sustained against the Houston Rockets in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-finals. He has yet to play since. The Warriors seemed to have picked up Durant’s workload without issue, having not lost a game without him.
Steve Kerr has ruled DeMarcus Cousins as questionable for Game 1, while Andre Iguodala looked game ready as he sat out against the Trail Blazers in Game 4 with a calf issue.
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“We’ll see where my body takes me and we’ll see what happens,” Cousins said, according to USA Today. “I feel good, a lot better than I was, I’m in a better place. I’m able to get up and down the court more. I’m able to play a little competition basketball.”
Despite the Warriors finding success without Durant, they can’t help but wish he was on the court with them for the Finals, as Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors remain a serious threat. Durant was averaging 34.2 points a game this postseason before his injury. The key for the Raptors in this finals is Leonard’s supporting cast. If Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol have a high-quality series, the Warriors could find it difficult to beat them. Gasol could torment the Warriors’ front court without Cousins, as forward Draymond Green will likely be guarding Siakam or Leonard.
Leonard has shown why he should be in the argument for the top player in the league this season, as the two-time NBA Finals MVP proves that his clutch, game-winning shots and lock-down defense has him shining when his team needs him the most.
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