LOCAL basketball fans think the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors will play another epic game in Game 6 on June 14, 2019, following the thrilling fourth quarter finish in Game 5 in Toronto, Canada.
The Warriors survived the Raptors, 106-105, in Game 5 after Kyle Lowry missed a potential game-winning three-point attempt, giving the Warriors a ray of hope on their three-peat dreams.
Fitness coach Pio Solon, the program director of Epic Performance and Fitness and the athletic director for Southwestern University-Phinma, expects a game for the ages.
“The momentum, emotional and home court advantage are with the Warriors, but the Raptors are a stoic bunch,” he said.
The Warriors are determined to bounce back for their injured teammate Kevin Durant, who ruptured his Achilles heel in the second quarter of Game 5. Durant reportedly was far from 100 percent when he played for the first time in the championship series after being sidelined for weeks nursing a calf injury.
The Warriors will have to figure out the Raptors, though, as they have lost all their home games at the Oracle Arena in the Finals.
“The Warriors have not won in their home court in this series. It’s going to be an exciting game. The key for them is (Stephen) Curry and (Klay) Thompson to shoot the lights out,” he said.
Curry and Thompson delivered down the stretch in Game 5, knocking down crucial three-pointers to save the Warriors from elimination.
For fitness coach and avid basketball fan Alan Choachuy, it will depend on the scoring output of the teams.
“It’s very hard to predict the outcome of Game 6. I think it’s all about who gets to more than 109 points first. The first team to do it will win Game 6,” said the MetaFit founder Choachuy.
He stressed the Warriors have scored 109 thrice but did not go beyond 109. The Raptors’ highest scoring output was in Game 3 during their 123-109 win.
“The Bench for both teams must contribute. The pressure will be on the Raptors if they lose Game 6. If that happens, the Warriors will win the series in Game 7,” he said. “Toronto has to go deep in the bench again. In Game 5 only nine players played for them, while 12 players played for the Warriors.”
Reggie Licanda, the head coach of the University of Cebu-Lapu-Lapu Mandaue (UCLM), for his part believes the Warriors are extra motivated because of Durant.
“I think Golden State Warriors will win Game 6. They have the home court advantage and they have to win this game because of Durant, who played in Game 5 even if he was not 100 percent,” said Licanda.
He said the Warriors can even the series if they focus on defense, limit Kawhi Leonard, ball rotation and get everyone involved, not just Curry and Thompson. (RSC)