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A22 sports
Monday 27 May 2019

Matchups for the NBA Finals between the Warriors and Raptors

By TIM REYNOLDS Norman Powell, Serge Iba-
AP Basketball Writer ka. Analysis: The Warriors’
The position matchup bench rotation will change
breakdown for the 2019 if Cousins and/or Durant
NBA Finals between the return. Golden State has
Golden State Warriors and averaged 24.6 points off
Toronto Raptors: the bench in the playoffs,
STARTING GUARDS which doesn’t look so hot,
Golden State: Stephen but a deeper dive shows
Curry and Klay Thompson. how effective certain things
Toronto: Kyle Lowry and have been for the Warriors.
Danny Green. Looney has been fantastic,
Analysis: All respect to Low- shooting 72% (50 for 69) in
ry, whose toughness and 329 minutes off the bench,
leadership are both comi- and Livingston is looking
cally overlooked because for his fourth ring as a key
people tend to see only reserve. Ibaka, assuming
scoring, but this matchup he doesn’t start at center,
clearly tilts Golden State’s will get big minutes for To-
way. Curry and Thompson ronto and plays the two-
have averaged 42.5 points man game with Leonard
combined in their first 22 fi- like they’ve been together
nals games together and for seven years instead of
even on their bad days seven months. And VanV-
are two of the most feared leet came up big time and
shooters in the game. To- time again toward the end
ronto simply needs more Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson hugs forward Jonas Jerebko at the end of Game 4 of of the East finals, his emo-
from Green, who is shoot- the NBA basketball playoffs Western Conference finals against the Portland Trail Blazers Monday, tions bolstered by the birth
ing only 32 percent in the May 20, 2019, in Portland, Ore. of his son midway through
playoffs and 31 percent Associated Press that matchup.
from 3-point range. Toronto calf strain, and it remains right-now conversation. in a finals game and missed Edge: Raptors, slightly.
won the last four games unclear if he’ll play at any The Leonard vs. Green (or most of these playoffs with COACHING
of the Eastern Conference point in the finals. Iguo- Iguodala) matchup when a quad injury, is back on Golden State: Steve Kerr.
finals even while Green dala is a past Finals MVP the Raptors have the ball the floor early in the series Toronto: Nick Nurse.
went a staggering 1 for 15 and Green may be play- will be fascinating. for the Warriors and back Analysis: Kerr won five rings
from 3-point range. But he’s ing the best basketball of Edge: Even, based on the as a starter not long after as a player, has three al-
had enormous moments in his life right now, with keep- plan that Durant is missing that. So far in the playoffs, ready as a coach and
the finals before, and is a ing his emotions in check some of the series. Gasol has made more 3s somehow seems to always
52 percent shooter from yet another bonus for the STARTING CENTER (28) than 2s (27) and 55% of push the right buttons.
3-point land in 12 previous Warriors. Siakam has had Golden State: Jordan Bell his points have come from Nurse has dealt incredibly
finals games. great moments in these (presumably). beyond the 3-point line. well with the pressure that
Edge: Warriors. playoffs and is likely the Toronto: Marc Gasol. Edge: Raptors, largely be- accompanied being a first-
STARTING FORWARDS most improved player in Analysis: Gasol has waited cause of the uncertainty year coach who just hap-
Golden State: Kevin Du- the NBA this season. But a long time for this first taste surrounding Cousins’ avail- pened to be replacing the
rant/Andre Iguodala and this matchup comes down of the finals, and Bell — if he ability. reigning NBA coach of the
Draymond Green. to Leonard, who has willed does actually start, which BENCH year in Dwane Casey and
Toronto: Kawhi Leonard the Raptors through every is in some doubt — has Golden State: Kevon had to lead a win-now-or-
and Pascal Siakam. tough moment they’ve 35 points in 11 games this Looney, Shaun Livings- else team that went all in
Analysis: Durant isn’t ex- faced in the postseason postseason. And don’t be ton, Quinn Cook, Andrew on moves to get players like
pected to be available and has put himself in the surprised if DeMarcus Cous- Bogut. Leonard and Gasol.
for Game 1 because of his best-player-in-the-world- ins, who has never played Toronto: Fred VanVleet, Edge: Warriors.q

Cubs slugger Kris Bryant exits game after outfield collision

By JAY COHEN what we’re doing with this Eugenio Suárez’s fly ball to-
AP Sports Writer whole thing yet. But we’re ward the gap in right-cen-
CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs trying to talk with the docs ter. It looked as if Heyward
slugger Kris Bryant left Sun- and find out exactly where and Bryant both called for
day’s game against Cin- we’re at.” Bryant was it before running into each
cinnati after colliding with cleared to travel with the other , and the ball went off
center fielder Jason Hey- team to Houston for the Heyward’s glove. Bryant,
ward in the sixth inning. start of its six-game road a natural third baseman
Speaking right after Chica- trip. He walked through the who occasionally plays the
go’s 10-2 loss, manager Joe Cubs’ clubhouse after the outfield, stayed down as
Maddon said he hadn’t loss to the Reds, but the Senzel scored and Suárez
watched the replay but media wasn’t allowed to hustled into third. Maddon
was told Bryant was hit in Chicago Cubs center fielder Jason Heyward, left, and right speak with him because and a trainer ran out to
the head/neck area. “He’s fielder Kris Bryant (17) collide while chasing a ball hit by he was still being evaluat- take a look, and the 2016
doing OK. He’s still under Cincinnati Reds’c Eugenio Suarez (7) during the sixth inning of a ed. With two outs and Nick NL MVP gingerly walked
evaluation,” Maddon said. baseball game Sunday, May 26, 2019, in Chicago. Senzel on first, Heyward off the field after a short
“We don’t know exactly Associated Press and Bryant converged on conversation.q