2019 NBA Finals preview: 'Warriors Dynasty' or 'King in the North'?

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Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals is happening on Friday at the Scotiabank Arena between the Golden State Warriors, which are chasing their third NBA Championship in a row and the Toronto Raptors, which have just made their first ever NBA Finals. Which team will have a better chance of claiming the tile?

Warriors' advantages

Stephen Curry #30 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors. /VCG Photo

Golden State, especially in the playoffs, are apparently better than any of the three opponents that Toronto have eliminated before reaching the finals, both in offense and defense. Though the defending champion does not have the perfect spacing like the Milwaukee Bucks, they have richer choices in offense. Their give-and-go system and Draymond Green's orchestrating after screen play will test Toronto's defense.

Besides, during Kevin Durant's absence, Stephen Curry has regained his best version from the 2015-16 season during which he was unanimously voted NBA's Most Valuable Player. Unlike Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid or Giannis Antetokounmpo, Curry has no weakness in offense for Toronto to exploit.

Andre Iguodala #9 and Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors. /VCG Photo

The Warriors may cause even bigger trouble for the Raptors with their defense. The defending champion prefers constant switch in defense and often chooses to leave the opponent's worst 3-point shooter to Draymond Green who will thus be able to participate more in helping out in defense. Moreover, both Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala are elite defenders in one-on-one plays and won't give Kawhi Leonard an easy time on court.

Raptors' advantages

Marc Gasol #33 and Danny Green #14 of the Toronto Raptors double team Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks in the game. /VCG Photo

Toronto's biggest advantage comes from defense. Their five players from the starting lineup, Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Leonard, Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol are all All-Defense-Team players who rarely need help taking care of most of the league's guys. Meanwhile, even after screen plays, all of them, including Lowry and Gasol, can defend mismatch in some possessions without being punished.

It's true that the Raptors do not have the incredible explosive firepower of the Houston Rockets but they are tough enough to keep the game hopeful until the last five minutes. After that, the Raptors can push the button to turn on their nuclear weapon Leonard whose might was already proved by the elimination of the Philadelphia 76ers and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors. /VCG Photo

Furthermore, even in regular time, Toronto should try to expose Golden State's weakness in defense, Curry. Curry did a good job in the series against Houston surviving those possessions when he switched to cover Harden but aiming for him in offense has always been an effective way of undermining Curry's influence in Golden State's offense. Furthermore, Toronto have multiple players for the job: Lowry, Leonard and Siakam.

Warriors' key to victory

Stephen Curry #30 and Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors. /VCG Photo

Since Golden State do not have home court advantage this time, Game 1 and Game 2 in Toronto will be both a challenge and opportunity for the team. If they can take at least one win before returning to the Bay Area, Golden State will feel less stressed at home and are more hopeful of finishing the series in five to six games.

The Warriors must avoid letting the game slip into the last few possessions to be decided by superstars. It's already confirmed that neither Kevin Durant nor DeMarcus Cousins will come back in Game 1. Even if they come back, it's a big question how much they have left with their games. More importantly, the Warriors do not have Leonard but the Raptors do.

Fred VanVleet of the Toronto Raptors. /VCG Photo

Golden State must pay more attention to Toronto's 3-pointers. In their four straight wins against Milwaukee, Toronto buried in total 60 shots from the 3-pointer line. Fred VanVleet's rise from the bench contributed a lot to destroying Milwaukee's defense. While keeping an eye for VanVleet, Gasol and Leonard, Golden State must not ignore Danny Green. Though all he did was bricking in the playoffs so far, Danny Green did sink 26 3-pointers in the 2013 Finals.

Raptors' key to victory

Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors. /VCG Photo

Lowry and Gasol must share Leonard's ability, especially in orchestrating. It's true that Leonard has learnt how to pass in their last two games against Milwaukee but he's still far from a qualified playmaker. Golden State have the league's best double-teaming defense and they are capable of turning every turnover of the opponent into easy points.

The Raptors cannot afford to be distracted in any possession in defense in front of the Warriors, the team that kept moving the ball and themselves on the court. Besides, coach Nick Nurse will have to decide how much time he can give Gasol. The Spanish giant is a good defender but he is also a seven-foot-tall player who will be targeted by Curry in screen plays.

Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors shoots in the game against the Milwaukee Bucks. /VCG Photo

Siakam must carry bigger responsibilities. Though the Warriors have the complete-skill defender Draymond Green and offensive rebound collector Kevon Looney, inside is still the team's weakness and that's where Siakam must contribute. He has the proper size, strength and skills to assault the Warriors' paint – the more damage he can cause from inside, the more vulnerable Warriors' defense will become.

Schedule of the 2019 NBA Finals:

Game 1, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, May 30;

Game 2, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, June 2;

Game 3, Oracle Arena, Oakland, June 5;

Game 4, Oracle Arena, Oakland, June 7;

Game 5, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, June 10 (if needed);

Game 6, Oracle Arena, Oakland, June 13 (if needed);

Game 7, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, June 16 (if needed).