Five takeaways from Toronto Raptors amazing NBA Finals Game 1 win

Quiet Kawhi

Perhaps the most impressive part of the Raptors Game 1 performance is that they were able to win relatively easily without a big performance from star player Kawhi Leonard.

Leonard finished with “only” 23 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. He couldn’t seem to get to the basket, his mid-range jumper wasn’t falling, and he received zero easy looks. Kawhi gritted out 23 points by getting to the free-throw line and hitting some tough stepback jumpers, but anyone watching knew he wasn’t getting to his spots like he normally does.

Andre Iguodala, Klay Thompson, and even Kevon Looney all did an excellent job of bodying up Leonard and forcing him in to help. The Warriors loaded up to stop the hoop, and at least in Game 1, it worked.

No matter how teams load up to stop Leonard, 35-percent shooting from the field, including 2-8 from two-point range, is a tough night for him. However, to say his “quiet” performance was simply the result of poor-play is incorrect. The Warriors did an excellent job of loading up the defense.

Look at all the attention Kawhi receives on this possession. The Warriors zone up (not literal zone but an aggressive help defense) better than anyone in the NBA. Livingston is sagging off a healthy amount into the elbow of the paint. Draymond is playing more aggressive help than a defender typically would.

The Warriors gameplan was clearly designed to stop Leonard and force role players to beat them. Unfortunately for Golden State, that’s exactly what the Raptors role players did.