The Toronto Raptors have more than held their own and looked like the better team for six of the eight quarters played so far in the 2019 NBA Finals.
But with tipoff for Game 3 mere hours away (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Sportsnet), the Raptors hit the road in Oakland as six-point underdogs against the Golden State Warriors, who are looking to cement their legacy as potentially one of the two or three greatest dynasties in NBA history.
The Raptors, of course, are looking to re-write the history books and bring a first-ever championship to Toronto. Which is what makes this game so pivotal for the Raptors, who don’t want to give the Warriors momentum and the confidence that comes with consecutive wins.
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There are plenty of adjustments to be made following Game 2 — the Raptors effective-yet-gimmicky defensive surprises, for example, won’t be as effective the second time around — and the spotlight has never shone brighter on both the players and organization.
As we have done throughout this post-season, let’s check in with the out-of-market media to see what they’re saying about Toronto ahead of what feels like another in a long line of the “most important games in Raptors history.”
Jay Williams | Get Up! – The Raptors have no shot if they don’t win Game 3
Sports Illustrated — NBA Finals Roundtable: Picking the Best Adjustments in Advance of Game 3
SI’s hoops panel weighs in on what we might see differently from both sides Wednesday night, with a focus on the Raptors’ shooting woes and what the team can do about a formidable DeMarcus Cousins.
For the Raptors, composure. Coughing up home-court advantage to a three-time champion can be daunting. But Toronto heads to Oakland to face a Warriors team down Kevin Durant, down Kevon Looney and with a hobbled Klay Thompson, whose status for Game 3 is up in the air. The Raptors need to believe that if they shoot better, they can win this game—and this series. – Chris Mannix
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Heading into the series, I thought Toronto would need to play more small minutes to defend Steph Curry pick-and-rolls. Injury issues have forced Steve Kerr to keep his lineups traditional, however, and now I’m wondering if the Raps should go smaller to target the Dubs’ bigs.
Boogie Cousins didn’t look 100% in Game 2, but he played remarkably well under the circumstances, especially on the defensive end. Marc Gasol came back down to earth and Toronto’s offense couldn’t take advantage of the minutes with Cousins on the floor, despite targeting him relentlessly. Perhaps a more athletic look—like with Pascal Siakam at center—would expose Cousins in a way the Raptors could not in Game 2. The Warriors defense was outstanding in the second half of that contest, and Toronto may need to find a way to loosen it up if that continues in Game 3. If Cousins—who will likely play substantial minutes with Kevon Looney out for the series—can’t be taken advantage of, replacing Gasol with a more dynamic threat could be one way to force Golden State to start scrambling. – Rohan Nadkarni
Antoine Walker | FS1 — Kawhi Leonard needs to take a page out of Jordan’s book
The Raptors need Kawhi Leonard to dominate Game 3, says former NBAer Antoine Walker, who calls on Leonard to channel his inner MJ, Kobe and LeBron.
ESPN — Four big questions that will decide this mysterious NBA Finals
What makes this Finals series so compelling is that it’s legitimately difficult to get a feel of which way it’s going. It’s an exciting formula for hoops fans watching on the edge of their seats, as the tone of the series swings wildly from game to game. There are plenty of unanswered questions piling up, and Zach Lowe breaks them down ahead of Game 3, starting with an important question about the Raptors’ best and most important player.
How limited is Kawhi Leonard?
Leonard has 57 points, 28 free throw attempts, and 22 rebounds in two games, so it’s tempting to say he’s fine. Kevon Looney bounced off of Leonard like an 1980s jobber trying to spear Andre the Giant. Some of those 22 rebounds were those “where did he come from?” flying snatches where Leonard summons a ferocity that is both explosive and icy, stone-faced cool — and honestly a little alarming.
But he has also labored. Draymond Green roasted him for an easy layup. Klay Thompson wrongfooted him a few times off the ball. His free safety work hasn’t been as airtight.
Leonard ran only seven isolations in Game 2, his second-lowest figure in the playoffs, per Second Spectrum. He posted up only four times.
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Leonard was limping noticeably after Game 2. Maybe two days off has helped.
Get Up! — Is DeMar DeRozan rooting for the Raptors in the NBA Finals?
“It’s hard to watch the Raptors and not think of how much this team has changed in the last few years.”
After DeRozan called himself a “sacrificial lamb” who helped pave the way for Toronto’s Finals run, ESPN’s morning panel weighed in.
