Five takeaways from Toronto Raptors critical Game 3 win vs Warriors
Raptors role players
The biggest difference between Game 2 and Games 1 and 3 has been the play of the Raptors role players. In Game 3, the “others” as Shaq calls them, stepped up big-time.
Marc Gasol seems to be a barometer for this team’s success in the playoffs. When he plays well, the Raptors offense is unstoppable with threats all over the floor. When he plays poorly, it gives the opposing defense an area to help off of. In Game 3, he put up 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
At the moment, DeMarcus Cousins is a complete defensive liability. Gasol attacked him on rolls to the basket, down in the post, and on drive-and-kicks. Marc has been extra-aggressive during these NBA Finals, and the Raptors are a better team when he is looking for his own offense.
After disappearing for the first three rounds of the playoffs, Danny Green is back. He’s been solid as a whole during the Finals but was particularly hot in this one. Green went 6-10 from the field with all six shots coming from beyond the arc.
Green was benched in favor of Fred VanVleet to start the second half. After getting pulled, it would have been easy for him to put his head down or to let it sink into his confidence. But Green’s a veteran, he’s been here before, and was unaffected by the change. He continued to play his game, which is making it rain from everywhere behind the arc.
Somehow, the player he was benched for, Fred VanVleet, outshined him. VanVleet finished with 11 points on 4-8 shooting, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.
On defense, FVV is locking into Curry and harassing him at every turn. In Game 3, Curry played 30 minutes with VanVleet on the court, scoring 27 points on 8-21 shooting. During the 12 minutes Curry played while FVV was on the bench, he scored 20 points on 6-10 shooting.
VanVleet is giving the Raptors a tremendous defensive effort while providing above-average to good offense on the other end. He’s playing out of his mind right now and might receive the start for Game 4, depending on Nick Nurse’s rotations.