3. Limit Toronto from long range
The Raptors have played extremely efficient basketball for essentially all of this series. They haven’t turned the ball over frequently, they’ve knocked down nearly all of their free throws, and they’ve played sound, functional defense.
But perhaps most encouraging for the team has been their accuracy from three-point range. In each of the Raptors’ three victories, they outshot the Warriors from long range and shot 39% in better in two of the three.
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However, it isn’t a coincidence that Toronto failed to even shoot 30% in each of their two losses. For the Warriors to have success in Game 6, they’re going to need to limit the Raptors three-point shooting.
Golden State got pretty lucky with that in Game 5 as the Raptors were able to get plenty of open looks, but their shots just weren’t falling.
Toronto finished the game just 8-of-32 from three-point range for a lowly 25% rate. The trio of Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, and Pascal Siakam was a combined 1-of-14 from three which ultimately cost the Raptors the victory.
The Warriors can’t rely on Toronto missing as many open shots as they did last game and instead will need to crack down on their perimeter defense. The Raptors go eight deep with their bench, and each of those eight players can shoot meaning that it’s going to be all hands on deck for a Warriors defense that hasn’t looked all too great this series.
Luck will certainly play a factor, but the Warriors will control their own destiny with their defensive output. If they could hold the Raptors to under 30% from behind the arc once again, a Game 7 might just be in the cards.
If not, the Warriors could be saying goodbye to Oracle Arena and their three-peat aspirations all in one night.