Hopefully for the Golden State Warriors and their fans, there's no such thing as a "Stephen A. Smith curse."
Because if there is, he's just given the kiss of death to the Warriors' three-peat hopes.
In the moments after the Toronto Raptors eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday night, Stephen A joined Sportsnet's Eric Smith and was asked if the Raptors have a chance to dethrone the Warriors in the NBA Finals.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
"With Kawhi Leonard, you always have a chance, but I'm not betting my money on Toronto," Stephen A said. "I've got them losing this series."
But Stephen A was quick to point out his own mistake when making a pick prior to the start of the Eastern Conference finals.
"Let's keep in mind I was wrong, because I thought Milwaukee would beat them at the beginning until I saw Game 3," Stephen A said. "Bottom line is Milwaukee has a problem hitting perimeter shots. I think everyone on Planet Earth and beyond knows the Golden State Warriors don't have a problem hitting perimeter shots. That's your No. 1 problem if you're the Toronto Raptors."
With Kevin Durant out because of a right calf strain, the Warriors' offense has been running through Steph Curry. Over the last five full games without Durant, Curry is averaging 35.8 points and attempting more than 14 3-pointers per game.
Golden State Warriors
While Milwaukee has players who can knock down 3-pointers, their offense ran through Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is not much of an outside threat.
"[The Warriors] don't really have to deal with you in terms of going down low," Stephen A said. "They can beat you from 3-point range all over the place. That's your dilemma, that's what you're going to have to deal with, and it's going to be real interesting to see what they do with that.
”I've got Steph Curry and Klay Thompson exploding, and the only way they can be stopped is if you stop them from hitting baskets. Offense outscoring them ain't going to get it done. You've got to stop Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Otherwise, you're going home in five games."
[RELATED: Warriors-Raptors NBA Finals preview]
Stephen A has a point. WIth the way Curry played in the Western Conference finals, if Thompson finds his shot early in the NBA Finals, it could be a short series. If Thompson finds his shot AND Durant then returns midway through the series, Toronto could find itself in a world of hurt.
The safe bet is to put your money on the back-to-back defending champs.