Warriors, makahirit kaya sa Raptors ng winner-take-all?

OAKLAND, California (AP) — Binabalik-balikan ni Stephen Curry ang listahan nang mga isyu na makapagbibigay ng motibasyon sa Golden State Warriors upang mapalawig ang serye at buhayin ang sisinghap-singhap na kampanya para sa katuparan ng pangarap na ‘three-peat’.

Siguradong una sa listahan ang manalo para sa na-injured na kasangga na si Kevin Durant sa Game Six of the NBA Finals Huwebes ng gabi (Biyernes sa Manila).

Pagbibigay pugay sa ‘Dub Nation’ para sa huling laro na magaganap sa Oracle Arena.

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“I don’t think much needs to be said about the motivation that we have or are going to have tomorrow,” pahayag ni Curry matapos ang ensayo ng Warriors nitong Miyerkules (Huwebes sa Manila).

“... To protect our home court, feed off our crowd’s energy, play for ‘K’ and try to keep our season alive. There are a lot of things that you can kind of tap into for energy tomorrow. We’ll be ready.”

Kailangan nilang masawata ang paghahangad ninaKawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry at ng Raptors na magtatangka para sa kauna-unahang titulo ng prangkisa at unang major title para sa Canada mula nang magkampeon ang Toronto Blue Jays sa World Series noong 1993.

Tangang ng Toronto ang 3-2 bentahe sa serye at lalaro na may 3-0 abante sa Oracle ngayong season.

“For some reason I think both teams are really good road teams and have been all season,” sambit ni Raptors coach Nick Nurse. “That’s one thing. Two, two really tough-minded teams playing and you’ve got to be a little more tough-minded on the road. And I think a lot of those games probably could have went either way.”

Posibleng maisalba ng Warriors ang serye matapos tuluyang mamahinga ng na-injured na si Devin Durant sa Game 5. Nagtamo ito ng strained calf sa serye laban sa Houston Rockets at halos isang buwang nabakante bago nagbalik aksiyon sa hangaring matulungan ang Warriors sa tiyak na kabiguan.

Nagtagumpay ang Warriors, ngunit kailangan pa rin nila ang ibayong pakikibaka para maisalba ang gutom sa kampeonato na Raptors.

“We’re just thinking about enjoying this last show at Oracle we’re about to give our fans. And I expect our fans to be the loudest they have ever been, especially in the name of Kevin and bringing his type of spirit he would bring to the fight and the competitiveness,” pahayag ni Klay Thompson.

“I know our fans will do that because we deserve it, but more importantly Kevin does for what he gave this team, this organization. There wouldn’t be banners if it wasn’t for his presence.”

Sa Game 5 matikas ang “Splash Brothers” sa pinagsamang 12 three-pointer at 19 for 44 sa field.

“We don’t want to give up that many to those guys,” sambit ni Nurse.

“I think you got to guard them, got to find them in transition. They get a good chunk of them in that.”