Toronto can’t go on losing like this
Pascal Siakam, dusky long-limbed sensation in Toronto’s conquest of Golden State in the NBA Finals opener, was left stranded, alone at the sideline. He was absently mumbling how they started missing shot after shot, at the same time wondering what had hit them.
Siakam, majestic pillar in Game One, was now a shrunken beanpole, confused and lost after their Game Two setback.
There had been nothing as dismal as the foldup suffered by the Raptors in NBA Finals history.
A double-digit lead in the second quarter became a double-digit deficit. It was recorded as the longest on-court blackout in NBA Finals lore.
Siakam, with 34 points in the previous game, was a towering flop, scoring only 12 scattered points in their monumental loss to defending champion Golden State.
It was not a simple team slip.
Toronto coach Nick Nurse said he would have to soon check the reason behind the foldup.
How to properly sort out the mess could be a big problem. He might need outside help.
It’s all about defense, winning coach Steve Kerr was later heard clarifying.
Eight successive missed shots, five turnovers, 18 points given up in a six-minute stretch starting the third quarter.
Toronto was held down to 37 percent shooting.
Of course, it would not be right to depend on raw statistics alone. They will have to dig deep to determine what the Warriors did right, and why Toronto wilted and got wasted in the heat of battle.
Coach Nurse tried to conceal the hurt and claimed they would be back on track.
He said they can win one when the Finals move to Golden State.
They’re going to do exactly that, coach Nurse assured.
It won’t be that simple.
Toronto was the victim of this specter called championship defense.
Steph Curry put it mildly, pleasantly saying the test brought out the real DNA of the Warriors.
Golden State was definitely the side with the greater character, the depth and core of tested champions.
Golden State was brimming with composure and competence.
Curry explained it all, claiming the key lies in how “we support each other, how guys stay ready throughout the year.”
Toronto will try truly hard to prevent another foldup in the Finals Game Three.
Golden State can only be expected to stage a homecourt ambush, using a patented smooth Warrior wallop.
