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The 2019 NBA Finals changed everything. Before that June, the Golden State Warriors and Raptors were just two teams on opposite sides of a border, rarely crossing paths in any meaningful way. Then, the ACLs started popping and the calf muscles started tearing.
Most people look back at that series and see a "what if." What if Kevin Durant stayed healthy? What if Klay Thompson didn't go down in Game 6? But honestly, focusing only on the injuries does a massive disservice to what Nick Nurse and Kawhi Leonard actually pulled off. It wasn't just luck. It was a tactical masterclass that effectively ended the most dominant dynasty of the modern era.
Basketball is cruel like that. You spend years building a juggernaut only to have it dismantled by a guy who barely speaks and a box-and-one defense that most coaches wouldn't dare use in a middle school gym, let alone on Stephen Curry.
Why the 2019 Finals Still Haunt the Bay Area
If you ask a Warriors fan about Toronto, they don't talk about the CN Tower or poutine. They talk about the "Junk Defense."
Nick Nurse basically told the world he didn't care about "respecting the game" or traditional defensive schemes. He threw a box-and-one at Steph. It looked desperate. It looked clunky. But it worked because the Warriors' depth had been completely gutted by the salaries of their four stars. When KD went down, the floor shrank.
The Golden State Warriors and Raptors matchup in 2019 was really a battle of philosophies. Golden State believed their talent could overcome a lack of bench depth. Toronto, led by Masai Ujiri, banked on a roster where literally every single player—from Kyle Lowry to Serge Ibaka—was a high-IQ veteran who knew how to punish a mistake.
People forget how close Game 6 actually was. If Steph hits that wing three at the end, we’re going to a Game 7 back in Toronto. Maybe the Warriors win. Maybe Klay’s knee is fine. But he didn't hit it. The Raptors walked out of Oracle Arena with the last trophy ever hoisted in that building, and the Warriors moved to a shiny new arena in San Francisco with a lot of "what could have beens" in their luggage.
The Kawhi Factor and the Ghost of Kevin Durant
Kawhi Leonard was a cyborg during that run. Seriously. He averaged 28.5 points and nearly 10 rebounds against the Warriors. But the real story was the health of the superstars.
Kevin Durant’s return in Game 5 is one of the most polarizing moments in NBA history. He looked like the best player on earth for about eleven minutes. Then his Achilles snapped. The silence in Scotiabank Arena—briefly interrupted by some cheers that the Raptors players themselves had to quiet down—was the sound of an era shifting.
You can't talk about the Golden State Warriors and Raptors without acknowledging the risk-reward nature of the NBA. Toronto risked it all for a one-year rental of Kawhi. Golden State risked it all by pushing their stars to the limit for a three-peer. Toronto won the bet.
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The Post-2019 Landscape: A Strange Kind of Respect
Since that Finals series, these two teams have gone in wildly different directions, yet they remain tethered together.
The Warriors managed to climb back to the mountain top in 2022. That championship was a middle finger to everyone who said they were finished after the Toronto series. Steph, Klay, and Draymond proved they weren't just products of the KD era.
Toronto? They’ve struggled to find an identity since Kawhi left for the Clippers. They’ve gone through a "Vision '6-9'" phase where they tried to play five guys who were all the same height. It was weird. It didn't really work. Now, they’re rebuilding around Scottie Barnes, while the Warriors are trying to squeeze one last drop of greatness out of Curry's prime.
But whenever the Golden State Warriors and Raptors play now, there’s this weird energy in the building. It’s not a "blood feud" like Lakers-Celtics. It’s more of a mutual acknowledgment of a shared traumatic event.
- The Warriors respect the Raptors' grit.
- The Raptors respect the Warriors' longevity.
- The fans? They just argue about injuries on Twitter.
Breaking Down the Tactical Chess Match
When these teams meet, it’s a coach’s dream. Steve Kerr wants flow, movement, and "0.5-second" decision-making. The Raptors, especially under Darko Rajaković now, are trying to move back toward that high-assist, European-style offense.
The problem for Toronto lately has been containing the gravity of Stephen Curry. Honestly, who doesn't have that problem? But against Toronto, Curry seems to have a point to prove. He remembers the box-and-one. He remembers Fred VanVleet chasing him across every screen like a persistent shadow.
VanVleet's performance in that 2019 series is actually one of the most underrated things about the Golden State Warriors and Raptors history. He got a Finals MVP vote! A guy who went undrafted was the one primarily responsible for making Steph's life miserable. That’s the kind of stuff that makes this matchup special. It’s not just about the big names; it’s about the random role players who decide to become legends for a week.
The Geography of a Rivalry
It’s weird to think about a rivalry between two cities 2,500 miles apart. San Francisco and Toronto are both tech hubs. Both have ridiculously high real estate prices. Both have fanbases that are incredibly loud and, frankly, a bit spoiled by recent success.
When the Warriors travel to Toronto, it's a "Drake Night" atmosphere. When the Raptors come to Chase Center, there's a heavy contingent of Canadians living in the Bay Area who show up in those red "We The North" jerseys.
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The NBA thrives on these cross-conference matchups because they feel like an event. You only get two of them a year. There’s no time for the familiarity to breed contempt; instead, it breeds intensity.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2019 Series
The biggest myth is that the Raptors "stole" a ring.
That’s nonsense.
In the NBA, availability is a skill. The Raptors stayed healthy because they managed Kawhi Leonard’s "load management" (a term we all learned to hate that year) perfectly. They built a roster deep enough to win games while their best player sat on the bench in February.
The Golden State Warriors and Raptors clash was a reminder that basketball is a game of attrition. Golden State’s style of play—that high-octane, constant-motion offense—takes a massive physical toll. By the time they reached their fifth straight Finals, the bill finally came due. Toronto was simply the team ready to collect.
Another misconception? That the Warriors were better without KD.
We saw that proven wrong in the most painful way possible. While they beat the Blazers in the WCF without him, the Raptors were a different beast. They had elite wing defenders. You had Kawhi, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby (though OG was out for the Finals, his presence in the system mattered). You can't beat that kind of length with just "system" basketball. You need a flamethrower. You need Durant.
Current State of Affairs: 2024 and Beyond
Right now, the gap between these two teams feels wider than it has in years.
The Warriors are in "win now or never" mode. Every game is a high-stakes drama revolving around Curry’s brilliance and Draymond Green’s... let’s call it "intensity." They are fighting to stay relevant in a Western Conference that has gotten younger and more athletic.
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Toronto is looking at the future. Trading away OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam signaled the end of the championship era. They are officially in the Scottie Barnes era.
But here is the thing: the Golden State Warriors and Raptors games still matter for the standings. Because the Raptors are long and scrappy, they still give the Warriors fits. Golden State historically struggles against teams that can switch everything and force them into one-on-one battles.
If you're betting on these games, look at the turnover stats. The Raptors pride themselves on "havoc." The Warriors, for all their brilliance, can be incredibly careless with the ball. It’s a recipe for a 15-point lead evaporating in three minutes.
The Impact of the "Raptors Blueprint"
Every team in the league tried to copy what Toronto did to Golden State. They saw that a "star plus elite role players" model could beat a "multi-superstar" model if the stars got banged up.
We see it now with teams like the Celtics or the Nuggets. They prioritize versatility. They want guys who can play multiple positions. That whole trend? It was accelerated by the Golden State Warriors and Raptors Finals.
Masai Ujiri showed the league that you don't have to wait for a superstar to choose you in free agency. You can trade for one, win a title, and even if he leaves, the banner stays in the rafters forever. It changed the way GMs think about "all-in" moves.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the Golden State Warriors and Raptors this season or looking back at their history, here’s how to actually analyze the matchup like a pro:
- Watch the "Point-of-Attack" Defense: When these teams play, the game is won or lost at the top of the key. If Toronto can't stop Curry's initial movement, their defense collapses. If Golden State can't handle Toronto's length on the perimeter, they start throwing cross-court passes that get intercepted for easy dunks.
- Ignore the "Superteam" Narrative: Focus on the bench. In their most iconic matchups, it was guys like Norman Powell or Kevon Looney who swung the momentum. The stars usually cancel each other out.
- Check the Injury Reports Early: Because of the history here, both teams are hyper-cautious. Load management isn't just a meme; it's a legitimate strategy that often dictates the outcome of their regular-season meetings.
- Value the Chemistry: The Warriors have a decade of shared DNA. The Raptors are building something new. Watch for the moments where the Warriors' "telepathy" breaks down—that's usually where Toronto finds their opening.
The rivalry might not be the loudest in the NBA, but it’s certainly one of the most consequential. It gave Canada its first Larry O'Brien trophy and signaled the end of an era in Oakland. Whether they are competing for a title or a play-in spot, the history between the Golden State Warriors and Raptors ensures that it’s never just another game on the calendar.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the defensive rating of both teams leading up to their next meeting. The Warriors' defense has been uncharacteristically shaky lately, and a young, fast Raptors team is exactly the type of opponent that can exploit those aging legs in transition. Pay attention to the transition points—it's usually the best indicator of who is dictating the pace.
Don't just look at the box score; look at the "deflections" stat. For Toronto, that's their heartbeat. For Golden State, it’s their nightmare.
The legacy of their 2019 clash continues to ripple through the league, influencing trade logic, defensive schemes, and the way we value roster depth. It wasn't just a series; it was a shift in the NBA's tectonic plates.