Plenty to work on if that was Finals preview
Warriors’ final regular-season look at the East-leading Raptors raised old concerns
OAKLAND » The Warriors did not offer an NBA Finals preview. Instead, they displayed regularseason sluggishness.
The Warriors fell to the Toronto Raptors 113- 93 on Wednesday night at Oracle Arena, marking two distinct differences from when they played nearly two weeks ago.
Unlike their three-point overtime loss in Toronto that Steve Kerr called “the most entertaining game of the year so far,” the Warriors struggled with turnovers (19), efficiency (23.1 percent from 3-point range) and limiting the Raptors’ depth.
Unlike their previous game, the Warriors had four healthy All- Stars, while Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard sat for a second consecutive game because of a bruised right hip. Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas also left the game in the second quarter after dislocating his left thumb after getting tangled up with Warriors forward Draymond Green.
“We didn’t start the game off with a sense of urgency,” Warriors forward Kevin Durant said. “That’s the story.”
The Warriors (19-10) talked about wanting to build off a four-game winning streak after finally integrating Stephen Curry and Green back into the
lineup. The Warriors have recently offered the perfect blend of offensive balance among their stars. And the Warriors showed signs of defensive intensity that mostly lacked throughout the season.
The Warriors had an opportunity to progress on all of those goals against a Raptors team (23-7) they could face in the NBA Finals.
“I can’t really explain it, other than we’re now at a place where we’re defending a title and defending a mantle that we’ve had for several years,” Kerr said. “It’s a different vibe and it’s a different feeling when you’re on the climb like Toronto is and like Milwaukee is and like we were a few years ago. It’s a different feeling.
“It’s harder to get up for each game. There’s certain nights you can just feel it. You don’t have that energy. If you’ve played in the NBA and coached in this league, you understand it and you’ve followed it closely as you have, you understand that. It’s not an excuse. It’s just reality. We did not bring the required energy.”
The Warriors unanimously downplayed that Leonard’s absence led them to lacking the effort they needed. Durant also dismissed Kerr’s theory that the Warriors struggle with feeling motivated.
“I don’t think we overlooked anybody. They just played better than us,” Durant said. “We respect every team that comes in here no matter what their record is, and they played better than us. We have to be a better basketball team next game and going down the line if we want to get to where we want to get to.” OFFENSE LOOKS SLUGGISH
» The Warriors’ normally prolific offense suddenly disappeared.
The Warriors leaned on Durant’s efficiency because Curry and Klay Thompson suddenly lacked it. Durant had a team-leading 30 points, while shooting 13 of 22 from the field, 2 of 4 from 3-point range and 2 of 2 from the freethrow line. He also had seven rebounds and five assists. Thompson had 14 points on 7- of-17 shooting while missing all five of his 3-point attempts. Curry had 10 points while going 3 for 12 from the field and 2 of 8 from 3-point range.
The Warriors’ main issues did not trace to Curry or Thompson shooting
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“You would hope we would be more engaged and energetic playing against this team. But we didn’t bring it,” Kerr said. “I got to do a better job preparing them to play and getting them to get ready to get after it.”
WARRIORS FAILED TO GET AFTER IT » It started when the Warriors’ frontcourt shrank because of early foul trouble. They already missed veteran Andre Iguodala for the second consecutive game because of tightness in his right hip. Then Green collected two fouls and a technical protesting the offensive foul, prompting Kerr to yank him with 8:15 left in the first quarter. Warriors reserve Jordan Bell also was whistled for two fouls, including falling for a Kyle Lowry pump fake after he drove to the basket.
“I couldn’t be as aggressive in the second quarter, but whatever,” Green said. “It is what it is.”
Those issues went beyond though. the Lowry foul often trouble, set up Serge Ibaka with open shots at the lane and for open jumpers off of pickand- rolls. Lowry often probed toward the basket without much of a problem Pascal Siakam had a handful of open layups. On and on it went.
“We have to be a little better in making an adjustment if something is hurting us. That’s not on the coaching staff. That’s on us as players,” Green said. “We’re on the floor. You can feel if something is hurting. We got enough veterans on this team to know what we need to do to change that. We didn’t do that, and that falls on us.” IF THEY MEET AGAIN » The Warriors lost a season series to an Eastern Conference team for only the second time since Kerr has coached the Warriors for the past five years. Does that matter?
“I would think we would have the edge at this point now that they kicked our butts twice,” Kerr said. “I know if that were to happen, we would be ready to play. So that’s a good thing.”
Curry pointed out the Raptors have “a little bit of everything” and “have shown different styles to win games.” The Raptors can rely on Leonard’s scoring and defense when he’s healthy. They can lean on Lowry’s playmaking. They can use Ibaka’s athleticism and defense. They can rely on a deep bench.
“I wouldn’t call them a young team, or I wouldn’t say them beating us two times would give them extra confidence,” Durant said. “They’ve been balling before that, and they’re going to be balling after they beat us. So they’re not an up-and- coming team, they’re here.”
Perhaps in six months, the Warriors will find out if what just happened matters.
• Shaun Livingston left the game with a pelvic contusion with 8:36 remaining and will miss tonight’s game in Sacramento. Livingston walked around the locker room afterward, but the Warriors have often handled him with care in recent seasons. Earlier this season, Livingston missed nine consecutive games because of a sore right foot.
• The team does not consider Iguodala’s injury — termed left hip tightness — to be serious. He’s listed as questionable for tonight.