Quick look at starting-5 for most-likely teams in 2019 NBA Finals


Well, Media Day is over - training camp is starting - and most analysts are predicting a Celtics-Warriors Finals. Here are the most-likely starting-5's for both teams via tweets from Media Day.


We know that Finals series are not won on paper - they are won on the hardwood. The tweet below represents the probable starting-5 for the Golden State Warriors, and yes, DeMarcus Cousins is there - at least for the tweet/video. Don't forget, Boogie was averaging 25.2 PPG, 12.9 RPG and 5.4 APG for the Pelicans before he tore his Achilles tendon. He is already doing some shooting and will most likely be ready for the post-season.

Besides Cousins, the Dubs starters include Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Kevin Durant. This is a potent five-some, all of whom were All-Stars last season (per NBA's Janie McCauley):

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Warriors would be the first team since Boston in 1975-76 to play five All-Stars from the previous season at the same time. That group was Jo Jo White, Charlie Scott, Dave Cowens, Paul Silas and John Havlicek.


Now to the Celtics projected starters - Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward and Al Horford. The only two All-Stars from last season from Boston were Kyrie and Al. Gordon was out for the season with an injury, and Jayson and Jaylen were first-and-second-year men, respectively. Hayward is back. Kyrie is back. Jaylen and Jayson have playoff experience. And Al is always ready. Add in the newly-labeled Bench-With-Attitude, and this appears to be a group that can handle the Warriors.


Preseason starts in a few days, and we will have a better picture of the NBA landscape. It will be a number of months before we can find out if this paper match-up becomes reality.

Follow Tom at @TomLaneHC

Photo via Maddie Meyer/Getty Images


Share