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It's a good thing that the Warriors took up the torch of playing without Kevin Durant in the Western Conference finals, as it looks like they will be without him at least for the first part of the finals of the NBA 2019.
On Thursday, the team announced that Durant had not yet resumed his basketball activities and that it was "unlikely" to play early in the finals.
After sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference finals, the Warriors have a week off before the start of the title round in Milwaukee or Toronto.
While the Bucks and Raptors are battling a total battle for the Eastern Conference title, Warriors fans watched every minute of the Eastern Final to determine which team they would prefer to face when the Dubs will win their fourth title in five seasons.
Do not get me wrong, whatever team the Warriors will face in the NBA finals will be a much tougher test than Cleveland Cavaliers last year.
After Kawhi Leonard appeared disabled after Game 3, the Raptors seemed to be the weakest potential opponent of the Warriors in the NBA Finals. But both teams will present significant problems to the Dubs when the lights will be at the rendezvous. Durant's inability to dress up could alter the match potential of the Warriors.
The absence of Durant at the start of the series only amplifies the danger that the Warriors will face in the NBA Finals if the Raptors manage to overtake the Bucks.
Even without Durant, the Warriors line up well with Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee guard game fell because of the drugs for the finals of the Eastern Conference. The trio Eric Bledsoe, Malcolm Brogdon and George Hill, although reliable in defense, had difficulties in the fourth game in Toronto and would be terribly outclassed by Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.
Although Giannis Antetokounmpo is a candidate for the most valuable player, the teams of Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green and the Warriors should be able to find a way to make life difficult in Greek Freak, in the same way that the Raptors have bottled it at Games 3 and 4.
Durant would be missed early against the Bucks, but the Warriors could easily be able to weather the storm without him.
This may not be the case if the NBA Finals open at the Scotiabank Arena.
To face the Warriors without Durant would give the Raptors the opportunity to have Leonard Shadow or Thompson instead of occupying his time running for the NBA Finals double player. The possibility of making sure that Leonard, one of the best defenders of the NBA in football match, eliminates one of the Splash brothers could significantly hinder an offensive attack from the Warriors without Durant. It also eases some of the defensive pressure on Danny Green, an aging man, and on Kyle Lowry. Toronto could have Curry guard Leonard, Green on Thompson while hiding Lowry on Iguodala.
The absence of Durant also leaves the Warriors with one less defender to bother Leonard. Thompson has the ability to fight the most valuable player in the 2014 NBA Finals and Iguodala could beat him out of breath, but Durant's defensive length is an essential tool that will be missed early in the NBA Finals.
[[[[RELATED: Klay is not happy with the snobbish NBA team]
The Warriors may be deprived of cousins Durant and DeMarcus at least for the first part of the finals of the NBA. While the Dubs have the talent to resist these absences, no matter the opponent, a confrontation with the Raptors without KD would be a difficult way to open the championship round.
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