Kyrie Irving and Al Horford Both Leaving the Celtics in Free Agency

Kyrie Irving and Al Horford Both Leaving the Celtics in Free Agency

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NBA – The most talented and perhaps the cornerstone of the Boston Celtics Kyrie Irving an NBA Champion and 6 – time All-Star and Al Horford a 5 – time All-Star are both reported leaving the Boston Celtics comes 2019 free agency. 

Irving, who has been with the Celtics for 2 seasons after being traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers has a disappointing first year in Boston after suffering an injury that held him out in the post season where the Boston Celtics nearly dethrone the reigning Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 Post season.

While on his 2nd year Irving and the Celtics are the heavy favorite of winning the East after LeBron James departed from the East and go West with the Los Angeles Lakers, but the expectation came another disappointing season where a healthy Boston Celtics ousted early in the 2019 Post season and rumors began circulating that Irving is leaving the Celtics and leaning toward to sign with the Brooklyn Nets as soon the free agency begun on July.

While Al Horford, who has been a solid performer for the Celtics for the past 4 years, leading the Celtics in the Post Season each year decided to part ways with the Celtics after Horford opted out in his contract. The Celtics did not agree on another long deal with Horford and now Horford is reportedly leaning toward to sign with the Dallas Mavericks comes free agency.

Both Irving and Horford are very talented players and they will surely hurt the Celtics, but the Celtics still have upcoming superstar Jason Tatum, Jalen Brown, Marcus Morris, Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier that could still lead the Celtics in the Post Season but less making the Conference Finals.?

What would be the situation of Boston Celtics this upcoming 2019 - 2020 NBA Regular Season? will this team make it through the post season? or will this team became a just an ordinary team? lets wait and see....

Raptors Clinch their 1st ever NBA Title Dethroning the defending Champ Warriors

Raptors Clinch their 1st ever NBA Title Dethroning the defending Champ Warriors

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NBA – The defending back to back NBA Champion the Golden State Warriors host Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. It will be the final game of the series if the Raptors win Game 6 and clinch their first ever NBA Title while the Warriors keep their hopes of extending the series in Game 7 and perhaps clinch their 3rd straight title at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario. 

Meanwhile, the defending NBA Champion will play their final game at Oracle Arena as they move on to another home court next season. It will be their last stance at home at their historic home court where they played the last 5 straight NBA Finals.

In the game, the Raptors start strong courtesy of Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, who scored the first 11 points of the game 11 – 2, since then it was all Raptors controlling the early quarter not until the later minutes where the Warriors came back and take the lead at 2:15 to go. The quarter ends 33 – 32 Raptors leading by a point.

In the 2nd quarter, the game are toe to toe with several lead changes, but still the Raptors won the quarter 27 – 25 ending the 1st half leading by 3 points 60 – 57. Kawhi Leonard was limited into 6 points and 3 fouls, but it was Lowry, who carried the Raptors with 21 points to lead all scorers at the half. Klay Thompson led the Warriors in scoring with 18 points while Andrei Igoudala added 11 points. Curry was limited into 9 points at the half.

In the 3rd quarter, both teams are in tight contention as no team manages to take a double digit lead, Kawhi Leonard has been the main man for the Raptors scoring 13 points in the quarter while Klay Thompson scored 12 points out of 30 points for the Warrior. Warriors able to retake the lead 78 – 76 with 4:35 to go. Warriors able to won the quarter 31 – 26 up by just a 2 points 88 – 86 at the end of the 3rd.

In the 4th and final quarter, Klay Thompson was ruled out of the game due to knee injury he suffered in the 3rd.and the Warriors will now heavily rely to Stephen Curry and the supporting cast to manage to force and extend into Game 7? Kevin Durant, who is already out suffered a torn Achilles in Game 5 and now Klay Thompson in Game 6.

Raptors able to take advantage the absence of Klay Thompson in the 4th as they overcome the Warriors lead and manage to put 6 point separation with under 2 minutes to go in regulation, but Warriors closed the gap 109 – 108 with 37 seconds to go and once again 111 – 110 with 18.5 seconds to go. Raptors Danny Green made a crucial turnover pass to Pascal Siakam that leads to Raptors turnover with 9 seconds to go.

Warriors had their chance, but Stephen Curry missed a 3’s that sealed the game for the Raptors first ever NBA Title in a 114 – 110 win.

Kyle Lowry and Pascal SIakam led the Raptors in scoring with both 26 points, Fred vanvleet who has been great in the 4th added 22 points and Kawhi Leonard the Finals MVP with 22 points.

Raptors One Win Away of Capturing Their First NBA Title

Raptors One Win Away of Capturing Their First NBA Title

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NBA – Eastern Conference Champion the Toronto Raptors visit the defending back to back NBA Champion the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. The Raptors won Game 1 and Game 3 to take a 2 – 1 lead in their best of seven series. 

Prior to Game 4, both Warriors Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney are back in the Warriors lineup and expected to play despite the injury they suffered in Game 2, while 2 – time Finals MVP Kevin Durant is still out due to a calf injury.

In the game, The Warriors start strong in the 1st half taking an early double digit lead in the game with the help of their returning star player Klay Thompson alongside Stephen Curry who exploded for 47 points in Game 3 losing effort.

In the 2nd half of the game the Raptors came strong in the 3rd quarter, hits back to back 3’s in the early minutes to take their first lead of the game 48 – 46. Since then the Raptors never look back as they outscored the defending champion 37 – 21 in the 3rd and finish the three quarters 79 – 67, Raptors up by 12 points.

In the 4th and final quarter, Raptors hit a 3’s extending their lead into 15 points in the very first possession of the final quarter. Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green had no answer on Raptors complete domination led by Kawhi Leonard, Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry to finish the game 105 – 92.

With the Raptors win in Game 4 they are now one win away of capturing their very first NBA Championship in franchise history after 24th NBA Season. While the defending back to back NBA Champion are facing elimination in Game 5 and for the first time they are the underdog in the series.

Kevin Durant, who is nursing an injury is still questionable in Game 5? He might be the answer for the Warriors if he comes back? But if not it will be a very tough series for the Warriors to get back after falling down 1 – 3. Although it has been done by the Warriors in 2016 Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals against the Warriors.

Game 5 is scheduled at the Raptors home court, will the Raptors finish the series or will the defending NBA Champion extend their series and continue their home of three peat? Let’s wait and see.

Warriors trying to Bounce Back in Game 2 of the 2019 NBA Finals

Warriors trying to Bounce Back in Game 2 of the 2019 NBA Finals

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NBA – The Eastern Conference Champion Toronto Raptors host the defending back to back NBA Champion the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario.

The Raptors made history as the first team to reach the NBA Finals outside the US territory and takes the home court advantage of the 2019 NBA Finals, which they eventually take advantage in Game 1, stunning the Warriors in 118 – 109 win.

Game 2 could also in favor of the Toronto Raptors with still less Kevin Durant in Warriors line up who is nursing an injury, the Raptors have a very great chance of winning Game 2 and go to Oracle Arena with 2 – 0 advantage and take their chance of stealing one game in the Warriors home court where the defending champion are very tough to beat.

Meanwhile, the defending back to back NBA Champion are in very strange situations after losing Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals where for the past four straight NBA Finals they won all Game 1 at home opposite Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals. The absence of Kevin Durant a 2 – time Finals MVP is surely one reason they loss Game 1 and with Durant to the lineup the Warriors are very hard to beat.

Will the Warriors manage to bounce back in Game 2 with less Durant? Will 2 – time league MVP Stephen Curry find his way to lead the Warriors in Game 2 victory? Or will Kawhi Leonard leads the Raptors in 2 – 0 start of the 2019 NBA Finals? Let’s wait and see.

The Warriors are back once again in the NBA Finals for the 5th Straight Season

The Warriors are back once again in the NBA Finals for the 5th Straight Season

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NBA – Back to back NBA Champion the Golden State Warriors made a franchise history after defeating the Portland Trailblazer in a come from behind victory in Game 4, 119 – 117 to end the Western Conference Finals match and move on to the 2019 NBA Finals. The Warriors are now in their 5th straight NBA Finals appearance the most appearances in today’s league. 

The defending NBA Champion manages to pull up another comeback after falling behind by double digit in the early minutes of the 4th quarter. The home team Portland Trailblazer unable to hang on to their lead, but able to extend the game into overtime.

At the overtime Damian Lillard had his chance of winning the game but failed to connect a 3 point basket in the right side of the court that went to 119 – 117 win by the Warriors. Lillard finish the game with 28 points, 12 assists and 4 rebounds in what could be his best performance of the series in losing effort.

Meanwhile, 2 – time league MVP Stephen Curry, who was brilliant in the whole series finishing the game with triple double and a game high 37 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assist.

The Warriors only await the winner in the East between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Toronto Raptors. Bucks currently lead the series 2 – 1 while the Raptors are trying to tie the series at their home over the next game.

After 4 – straight NBA Finals appearance the Warriors are facing the East in the Finals with no LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers. Warriors are 3 – 1 in the Finals since 2015 – 2018. The only loss by the Warriors is in 2016 after blowing a 3 – 1 lead in the Finals against the Cavs.

Now, the Warriors are still favored to win the title despite no Kevin Durant in the lineup due to injury. Will the Warriors be once again the NBA Champion? Let’s wait and see.