The Toronto Raptors are rugged and relentless, capable of punishing teams in transition any time they make a mistake.
The Golden State Warriors felt like they were seeing a version of themselves in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, and now they have to stop it.
No problem, they figure.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 first to four, not first to one,B次元官网网址� Klay Thompson said. B次元官网网址淪o, still a lot of basketball to be played.B次元官网网址�
The WarriorsB次元官网网址� 1-0 deficit may be unusual, but they certainly donB次元官网网址檛 seem uncomfortable. Golden State had won 12 straight Game 1s before on Thursday, and the two-time defending champions hadnB次元官网网址檛 been behind in the NBA Finals since Cleveland had a 2-1 lead in 2015.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr has pointed to his teamB次元官网网址檚 poor transition defence in the opener after Toronto used its quickness to score 24 fast-break points and turn the WarriorsB次元官网网址� 17 turnovers into 17 points.
B次元官网网址淭hey were getting the ball off the rim and just pushing it. Instead of crashing as hard as we did, weB次元官网网址檒l have to make the adjustment in Game 2 and try to send more guys back,B次元官网网址� Thompson said Saturday. B次元官网网址淏ut 10 days off as well, we might have had a little cobwebs. It was just a mixture of things. But I know this: I know weB次元官网网址檒l be better tomorrow.B次元官网网址�
Kerr said the Raptors reminded him of the Warriors, with Pascal Siakam pushing the ball in transition the way Draymond Green does. Siakam was the far more effective player in the opener, with 32 points while Green struggled to a 2-for-9 night.
But the Warriors arenB次元官网网址檛 worried, relying on the confidence from facing just about every possible situation while making it to five straight NBA Finals.
B次元官网网址淭hey got rings and they can be confident,B次元官网网址� Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said. B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 really necessarily worry about them. We have to continue to worry about us. TheyB次元官网网址檙e going to be them and theyB次元官网网址檙e going to do their thing, but for us we have to concentrate on us and focus on what we have to do.B次元官网网址�
Things to know going into Game 2:
BETTER LEONARD?
Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points in the opener but shot just 5 for 14 after averaging 31.2 points in the first three rounds. Coach Nick Nurse doesnB次元官网网址檛 think the All-Star forward was bothered by a leg injury that appeared to hamper him somewhat in the Eastern Conference finals.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think the leg trouble is much of an issue,B次元官网网址� Nurse said, B次元官网网址渁nd IB次元官网网址檓 expecting him to play a lot better tomorrow.B次元官网网址�
TALKING TRASH
If the Warriors want to rattle Leonard, it will require actions rather than words. The 2014 NBA Finals MVP always appears to be calm, and he was asked if he responds when players try to trash talk him.
B次元官网网址淚t really doesnB次元官网网址檛 happen too much,B次元官网网址� Leonard said. B次元官网网址淚 really canB次元官网网址檛 say it happens.B次元官网网址�
KDB次元官网网址檚 OK
Though Kevin Durant remains out at least one more game with a strained right calf, he travelled to Toronto with the Warriors to work with the training staff. Stephen Curry said his presence around the locker room is helpful until the two-time NBA Finals MVP can get back on the floor.
B次元官网网址淎nybody who goes through an injury like that, you kind of feel alienated because your schedule is a little different. Most of the time youB次元官网网址檙e on kind of (isolation) with our athletic training staff, putting extra hours in. Stuff starts to feel monotonous, especially with the big stage of the finals here and now,B次元官网网址� Curry said. B次元官网网址淪o I think heB次元官网网址檚 handled that well, understanding his time is coming sooner than later and heB次元官网网址檚 doing whatever he can on a daily basis to get healthy.B次元官网网址�
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The Warriors started Jordan Bell at centre in Game 1 and Kerr thought he did well, but Golden State has other options. DeMarcus Cousins and Andrew Bogut are also in the centre rotation along with Kevon Looney.
B次元官网网址淓very game is going to be different,B次元官网网址� Kerr said. B次元官网网址淧retty much every game this post-season has been different at the centre position, based on what we have needed. The one constant is Looney, who is going to play his 28, 30 minutes one way or the other. What weB次元官网网址檙e always trying to do is mix and match, and find matchups and fill in those gaps with the right combinations that can help us win.B次元官网网址�
WATCH YOUR MOUTH
The Los Angeles Clippers were fined $50,000 by the NBA on Friday for comments coach Doc Rivers made about Leonard during a TV appearance. Kerr wonB次元官网网址檛 fall into the same predicament, having gotten in trouble before.
B次元官网网址淚 got fined when I was the GM of Phoenix for making a joke on B次元官网网址楾he Dan Patrick Show.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Kerr said. B次元官网网址淚 think he asked me if we were interested in LeBron when LeBron was a free agent back in whatever it was that he went to Miami. I said if heB次元官网网址檚 willing to take the minimum, we would take him. Dan laughed. And I wrote a $10,000 check the next day. So I learned my lesson. I donB次元官网网址檛 comment about any other playersB次元官网网址�.
Brian Mahoney, The Associated Press
