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Golden State Warriors: Top 3 keys to victory in Game 5 of the NBA Finals

By Justin Fried

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 07: DeMarcus Cousins #0 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrate the play against the Toronto Raptors in the first half during Game Four of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 07, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 07: DeMarcus Cousins #0 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrate the play against the Toronto Raptors in the first half during Game Four of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 07, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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Golden State Warriors
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 07: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors is defended by Shaun Livingston #34 of the Golden State in the first half during Game Four of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 07, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

2. Eliminate Secondary Scoring Options

There are no two ways about it, Kawhi Leonard has been absolutely phenomenal in this series so far. And if the NBA Finals were to have ended with the two teams’ last game, he would have likely been named the Finals MVP — much to the chagrin of Stephen Curry.

But it hasn’t necessarily been Leonard who has driven the dagger into the Warriors in each of their three losses. Rather, he’s had a little help in each game.

In Game 1, it was the underrated Pascal Siakam who showed out for Toronto finishing with a career playoff-high 32 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. The native of Cameroon shot an incredible 14-of-17 from the floor and helped Leonard carry the Raptors to a victory.

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But when Siakam dropped down to 18 points in Game 3, it was the Raptors backcourt that stepped up. The duo of Danny Green and Kyle Lowry put up a combined 41 points going 11-of-19 from three-point range to once again catapult Toronto into the win column.

And finally, it was the emergence of the typically defensive-minded Serge Ibaka who went 9-for-12 coming off the bench finishing with 20 points on the night.

Leonard is great and he has been the one constant in the Raptors offensive attack, but the perpetual rotation of secondary options stepping up as the real bane of the Warriors existence.

Stopping Leonard is a given, but it’s darn near impossible. But limiting the Raptors secondary scoring options, now that sounds like a much more achievable and impactful strategy.

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