The Golden State Warriors faced the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 NBA Finals during what would turn out to be the final days of Kevin Durant‘s stint with the Dubs. For most games in the series, Durant remained absent following a right calf strain he sustained during the Western Conference semi-finals against the Houston Rockets.
Advertisement
In a recent appearance on Tidal League’s Run Your Race podcast, former Raptor Danny Green discussed KD’s absence and how the Raptors found it difficult to guard the Warriors without the Slim Reaper. KD’s absence warranted a different style of play from the Dubs, which kept the Raptors in check.
When KD returned in Game 5 of the series, Green admitted that it was an moment of relief for the Toronto side. Nevertheless, the two-time NBA Champion’s absence had created a huge dent in the Warriors’ offense, which was evident from the series’ result. The then-defending NBA champions were overwhelmed 4-2 by the Raptors, earning Toronto their first-ever NBA championship.
The Toronto Raptors were excited to see Kevin Durant return in the 2019 Finals series
The Toronto Raptors eagerly anticipated the return of Kevin Durant in the 2019 NBA Finals. After missing nine games in the postseason, Durant returned in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors.
Speaking of Durant’s absence, three-time NBA Champion Danny Green revealed how the Raptors wanted to play against a healthy Warriors team. The reason for that was that the Raptors obviously wanted their Championship win to be devoid of any ‘if and buts’. Moreover, Green pointed out how a KD-less Warriors team was actually more difficult to guard.
Therefore, when Durant returned for Game 5, Green recalled the Raptors’ excitement. Speaking about this, the 36-year-old said,
“I was like s**t, hell yeah! [when KD came back] This is what we want. Mind you, I’m not saying they played better without him. They played different. It was harder to scout for them. It’s just more continuity, harder to scout [without Kevin Durant]. With him, it’s like you know there’s going to be some point in the time where the ball’s going to start moving. I’m saying like you could focus on an area.”
“It’s not like ‘Oh s**t! I gotta run around, chase Steph, Klay. Zaza setting the screen. It’s still hard to guard. KD’s hard to guard, but it’s like alright I’m not running around, I know where this is going. I can predict where, maybe we can stop this. They’re gonna give it to him in the mid-post or something. He’s gonna make a 1-on-1 move, they’re gonna do this some part of the game. So we can predict that and throw something at them.”
As Danny Green reiterated, having KD in the team gave the Raptors a sense of direction about the Warriors. Durant’s impressive skills as a forward made him an incredible offensive force for the Dubs. The increasing reliance on KD to carry the offense offered Toronto predictability on the Warriors’ subsequent moves. Though the Dubs cut the Raptors’ lead short to 3-2 after KD’s return, this stint was a short one. During the second quarter of Game 5, Durant tore his Achilles tendon, thus ending his run with the Warriors in the Finals series. Eventually, the Warriors lost the series 4-2, handing Toronto their first-ever NBA championship.
KD departed soon after the end of the Warriors’ three-peat quest
Kevin Durant and the Warriors parted ways soon after their quest for a three-peat was shattered by the Raptors. The Slim Reaper announced his signing with the Brooklyn Nets that same year, leaving the Warriors after winning two NBA championships with the team. Golden State’s CEO Joe Lacob honored Durant’s legacy with the team by retiring his iconic No.35 jersey.
Since his 2019 departure, Durant never had the chance to play in front of the Warriors’ home crowd. However, the Slim Reaper is soon expected to return as a Phoenix Suns player to a fully packed Chase Center. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr believes Durant will definitely receive ovations from the crowds for his performance and his legacy with his former team.
