Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Either great or checkmate
Still trailing, Warriors must do everything right in Game 6
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Warriors were so moved by their brilliant Game 5 comeback Monday, that Draymond Green declared it “the greatest” performance of their stellar five-year run in the NBA Finals.
Trailing the Raptors by six points with less than three minutes to play, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry combined to hit three 3-pointers, Green blocked a potential game-winner at the buzzer, and the two-time defending champs celebrated the improbable end to a tragic night that saw Kevin Durant lost to an Achilles injury.
The Warriors staved off elimination, narrowing the Raptors’ series lead to 3-2 and forcing a Game 6 at Oakland’s Oracle Arena on Thursday.
“We could have thrown in the towel,” Green said. “We could have folded, but we didn’t. I said it before: I’ve never seen this group fold. And that stands true still.”
The tricky thing about digging out of a 3-1 deficit, though, is that it takes a lot more than one legendary performance. LeBron James needed three masterpieces to lead the 2016 Cavaliers to the only 3-1 finals comeback in league history. In Game 5, he posted 41 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists. In Game 6, 41 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists. In Game 7, 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, plus an all-time chase-down block on Andre Iguodala for good measure.
The Warriors, in other words, still have plenty of work to do.
The natural inclination following Game 5 was to focus on the huge thing that went wrong for the Warriors, namely Durant’s devastating injury. On the eve of Game 6, it’s instructive to note how many little things went right for the Warriors during their 106-105 victory.
Curry and Thompson were both red hot, combining for 12 3s. Durant’s first-half cameo was crucial to re-instilling the Warriors’ customary swagger. DeMarcus Cousins offered strong contributions for the first time since Game 2. Green, in addition to his timely stop, hit two huge 3s after enduring a cold postseason. And they skirted disaster when the Raptors couldn’t make them pay for an inexplicable overand-back violation in the final minute.
The Warriors also benefited from numerous Raptors shortcomings. Kawhi Leonard nearly sealed the Raptors’ first title by hitting four straight shots in the fourth quarter, but he shot poorly from the field and uncharacteristically committed five turnovers. Forward Pascal Siakam looked bothered by Durant’s length early and never got on track. The Raptors shot just 8 of 32 on 3s. And their late-game execution on both ends lagged.
If even one of those factors had broken differently, the Raptors would have popped champagne and started to plan the parade. Raptors coach Nick Nurse will remind his team that they have been steadier and more dominant in this series, and that both of their losses were largely the result of self-inflicted wounds.
With that in mind, the Warriors’ comeback formula includes no margin for error. Curry, like James three years ago, must be spectacular. Thompson too. The Warriors must get quality outside shooting from their supporting cast, and Cousins must continue to pick his spots scoring inside. A Green-led defense must keep Leonard off the freethrow line and continue to challenge the Raptors’ shooters.
Taken together, that’s exhausting work in a series that has already left the Warriors juggling multiple injuries, including Kevon Looney’s fracture in his chest/rib cage, and obvious fatigue. It wasn’t surprising, then, that the Warriors quickly turned to Durant’s injury as a rallying point.
“We do it for Kevin,” Thompson said. “It obviously inspires you to play harder knowing your best player can’t be out there. You think of him every time you dive for a loose ball or go for a rebound.”