When the NBA Finals tip-off on Friday between the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors, cynics will have you believe that the 'David versus Goliath' showdown won’t be worthy of their full and undivided attention.

They’ll tell you that for as wonderful as the Raptors have been this postseason, as gritty and tenacious as they were, overturning a 0-2 ECF deficit to the #1 seed Milwaukee Bucks, that they’ll ultimately be no match for the Warriors juggernaut, seeking to claim it’s fourth NBA Championship in five seasons.

As a last resort, they’ll point to the incredibly skewed bookmakers’ odds that are indeed framing these NBA Finals as decidedly lopsided, with a Warriors clean sweep seen almost as probable as a Raptors win.

So for the cynics of the world who can’t possibly bring themselves to watch this Finals series, who wouldn’t dare tune in to see some of the world’s greatest athletes and their quest to claim one of sports most sought-after prizes, then here are five peripheral reasons for the unconvinced to watch.

KAWHI’S FAREWELL

Kawhi Leonard has been simply spectacular throughout the 2019 NBA Playoffs. He’s averaged 31.2 points per game along with 8.8 rebounds, while nearly a third of all Toronto’s offence has been run through him.

While the rest of Toronto’s supporting cast hasn’t by any means set the world on fire this postseason, Kawhi has most certainly kept his end of the bargain.  

In fact, it’s not a stretch to say that there’s simply no way on earth these Raptors would be contesting their first NBA Finals in franchise history, without the contribution of the former San Antonio Spur.

And yet, with all that said, and for as remarkable as Leonard’s season has been in Canada, these genuinely might be the last games we ever see Leonard suiting up for the Raptors. 

When Toronto traded for Kawhi last offseason, they did so with full knowledge it might be for just one season but executed the trade with the knowledge that adding a rarely available top-5 NBA player would provide them with the opportunity to finally get over the hump.

They were right about getting over the hump, now it's time for them to convince Kawhi Leonard to extend his stay north of the border.

WILL THE REAL KYLE LOWRY PLEASE SHOW UP

Whichever way you slice it, Kyle Lowry has simply not played like the $32 million dollar athlete he is this postseason, not to mention, one who’s set to earn a few extra millions on top of that next season.

It is exorbitant money for a 33-year-old who’s game has precipitously dipped both in the last regular season and in these playoffs.

Occasionally, Lowry is capable of breaking out like in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals when the former Villanova guard scored 30, but the reality is that pedestrian performances have been more the norm for Lowry, scoring 20 points or more in just four of his 18 playoff matches in 2019, while hitting the three-point shot at just 35%, down sharply from the 44% he registered last postseason.

Yes, the Raptors have come this far without anything resembling consistent excellence from - who's by some margin - their most expensive asset, however, they certainly won’t be making any waves against the Warriors without a significant contribution from Kyle Lowry.

DURANT’S FAREWELL

Even though Kevin Durant has been ruled out of Game 1 - with much conjecture regarding the severity of his calf injury - all eyes will be on whether the one-time NBA MVP and 2-time NBA Finals MVP will play any part in these Finals.

It’s a huge question mark, as if he doesn’t - as with Kawhi Leonard - we’ll perhaps never see Durant in a Warriors uniform again.

With Durant set to become an unrestricted free agent, there’s plenty of noise indicating that these are the final days for Durant in the Bay Area, and that he’s set to take his otherworldly talents elsewhere, with the New York Knicks heavily favored.

It would be a serious shame not seeing Durant prove his wares once again on the sports biggest stage, however, it’s this kind of NBA player movement and speculation which makes the league so compelling in the first place.

A DIFFERENT FINALS MVP?

In 1969, in the very first season of awarding the Bill Russell Award for the best player in a Finals Series, Jerry West took home the award despite his Lakers losing to the Boston Celtics in seven games. 

Since then, not a single NBA Finals MVP has been awarded to a player on the losing team.

Could this be the season - in the 50^th anniversary of the award - where history is re-made?

Kawhi Leonard has left nothing on the table this postseason, which is precisely why the bookmakers have pencilled him in at $3.65 to take home the Finals MVP, even if it very well might be in a losing effort.

Leonard aside, this year’s Finals MVP market is being dominated by Steph Curry, whose outrageous 2-time MVP, 5-time All-Star career has yet to be punctuated with a Finals MVP.

At $21, Klay Thompson represents excellent value. Especially if his lights out shooting is complemented with the kind of lockdown defensive job on Kawhi Leonard which would completely hamper any serious Raptors Championship bid.

SUPER SIAKAM

Hidden beneath Kawhi Leonard’s outlandish exploits this post-season the casual viewer might have missed the incredible maturation of Pascal Siakam

While to be fair, the Cameroonian’s game has taken off like a rocket this season, and will undoubtedly be crowned the NBA’s Most Improved Player, the fact is that Siakam has time and time again been Toronto’s best player outside Kawhi Leonard, and at times, Kawhi’s only reliable bailout for the team.

In just his third season as a pro, the former New Mexico State late first-round NBA Draft pick could have been forgiven for tailing off somewhat after such an impressive regular season. Instead, Siakam has welcomed the increased competition throughout the Raptors' Playoff run, averaging 18.7 points per game while hauling in 7 rebounds.

Not only are the Raptors comfortable running their offence through Siakam (his 23.7% usage rate is the second highest on the team) but Siakam’s defense has been critical for Toronto all season, with his 1.2 defensive win share number second again, only to Kawhi Leonard’s 1.3.

Did you enjoy this article? Leave a comment below, or join the conversation on the Stats Insider Twitter or Facebook page.