Toronto Raptors: Four keys to a decisive NBA Finals Game 5

The Toronto Raptors are heading into a potential title-deciding game against the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. What are some of the keys for the Raptors to zone in on?

With the Toronto Raptors on the brink of their first ever NBA championship, the only thing standing between them and glory is the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors. The Raptors have been the far superior team in the series so far, taking a 3-1 lead. But the series is far from over.

It can be over after Game 5, though. But what will the Raptors have to do to make that a reality?

Here are four quick keys to success.

Stick with what worked

The Raptors can’t afford to be scared of mixing in pick and roll and pick and pop plays into the offense. During the regular season, the Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka pick-and-pop was a staple offensive move that seemed to be an easy bucket every time. Lowry could always get Serge to his spot, and his mid-range touch was sweet enough to add into the gameplan.

Toronto can sometimes live and die by the three and when the triples aren’t falling, mixing in some basic plays can provide some much-needed respite on the offensive end.

The pick-and-roll plays have also been working. Game 4 saw Toronto pick apart the Warriors defense with Ibaka and Marc Gasol rolling to the rim. The Warriors were caught up in their defensive switches and the bigs were able to roll to the rim virtually uncontested.

If the Raptors can take control of those miscommunications, it could be curtains.

Never stop moving

Secondly, motion on the offensive end has been paramount to the Raptors success this postseason. The offense has stagnated at times down the stretch in games this season, but recently, the Raptors have been playing some of their most crisp basketball of the postseason.

Toronto has players like Lowry, Fred VanVleet and Danny Green who can all come off of screens and hit three-pointers, a valuable trait, especially against a team that can counter with the exact same gameplan.

The motion should also apply to the Raptors playing their game in transition. Hitting teams on the fastbreak has been a stronghold of the teams’ identity this season. Having someone like Pascal Siakam leaking out after rebounds is a great way to push the tempo, and having a player like Lowry willing to attack with the ball in his hands only furthers that point. The Raptors can’t stop moving.

Switch as much as possible

With Steph Curry and Klay Thompson running off numerous screens to lose their marker, the ability of the Raptors defense to quickly switch defenders and provide help from different positions has been key to contesting the Warriors shots.

Double-teaming, trapping and providing constant help defense has left the Warriors scratching their heads at times, and with Steph Curry providing the only consistent offense (counting Klay Thompson’s injury) the Raptors have been able to apply pressure on him from all sides.

Offensively, drawing the Warriors bigs into switches has worked wonders too. DeMarcus Cousins and Andrew Bogut have been a step slow in the series, and having guards who are willing to attack the paint and draw contact at the rim is a great way of making the most of those matchups.

Continue to be aggressive

Finally, offensive aggression has been an early sign of the mentality that the Raps have throughout the game. To win this championship, Toronto will need to be using pace in the lanes to drive to the hole and draw early fouls. Kawhi Leonard has averaged a career-high 9.1 free throw attempts per game during the playoffs, and even when he looks to be struggling, Leonard wills his way to the line.

It is key for Lowry to get into this flow early with him either driving to the hole and either looking for the finish, kicking it out for an open look or circling back around. This early mentality has knocked the Warriors out of its rhythm by shedding light on defensive holes and providing early easy looks for players in need of confidence.

If the Toronto Raptors want to wrap up the series tonight, their attention to detail will need to be on point. Sticking with these keys might just be a fast track to their first ever NBA Championship.