The Dust Never Settles: NBA Thoughts, June 2019 Edition

Congratulations to the Toronto Raptors. A team has officially dethroned the Golden State Warriors without a crotch-punch-suspension by Draymond Green. Unfortunately, it happened over a cloud of injuries to those Warriors. The Durant-less Warriors managed to push the series to a 6th game after a Game 5 second half of pure grit and Klay Thompson’s marksmanship. In Game 6, Thompson went down awkwardly, grasping at his knee, writhing in pain on the baseline. The Warriors didn’t just lose Game 6. They lost the 2019–20 season as well when it was determined Durant tore his Achilles and Thompson tore his ACL. After five years of good fortune, the luck drained out of Oracle Arena on the final day of it’s NBA existence. Now the Warriors move to San Francisco, furthering their luxury-status and deepening the divide from their Oakland roots.

Meanwhile, Canada celebrates and for a short stretch, Canadian hoops fans can watch their beloved Raptors bask in the glory of a title. Toronto won in part because of health, but in large part because of great defense, and a imperturbable steady determination, not to be overwhelmed by the streaks of brilliant offense from the Curry-Thompson-Green trio. As the Finals dust settles, Kyle Lowry has officially stuck a fork in his playoff past, Fred VanVleet has officially become a sturdier version of Sam Cassell, and Nick Nurse’s victory in his first season as an NBA head coach goes out to all the vagabond coaches, taking circuitous routes to the big time. None of it would have been possible…