2019 NBA playoffs on May 30: Raptors claim victory in Finals Game 1

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The Toronto Raptors finished their NBA Finals debut with a victory by defeating the Golden State Warriors 118-109 in Game 1 at the Scotiabank Arena on Thursday, leading 1-0 in the series.

Though Pascal Siakam dropped Toronto's highest 32 points plus eight rebounds and five assists with an astonishing field goal rate of 82.3 percent, the real heroes behind the team's win were Kawhi Leonard and Marc Gasol who supported Toronto's game with passing and defense.

Game 1 was a defense contest

Kevon Looney #5 and Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors double team Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals at the Scotiabank Arena, May 30, 2019. /VCG Photo

Golden State and Toronto chose similar defense tactics from the beginning of the game: double-teaming the opponent's best player, namely Stephen Curry and Kawhi Leonard. Golden State's goal was clear – stopping Leonard from appearing at the free throw line, forcing him to penetrate with the left, non-dominant hand and trying to get the ball out of Leonard's hands to see if the rest of Toronto can defeat Golden State.

The Raptors responded well enough. Leonard aside, the other eight players in Rotation buried 10 three-pointers. Siakam (32 points), Gasol (20 points) and Danny Green (11 points) all scored double-digit points while Fred VanVleet contributed 15 off the bench unit.

By contrast, the Warriors did not do so well in punishing the Raptors for double-teaming Curry. Though Quinn Cook, Alfonzo McKinnie and Jonas Jerebko together sank five shots from the three-pointer line, their contributions were limited because they could not stay on the court for too long. Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala missed all of the six three-pointers.

Marc Gasol #33 and Fred VanVleet #23 of the Raptors double team Stephen Curry #30 of the Warriors in Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals at the Scotiabank Arena, May 30, 2019. /VCG Photo

Toronto's double-teaming of Curry was also more complexed. In most cases, they would have Gasol join another teammate to cover Curry. When Curry was surrounded by two players including a 2.16-meter-tall giant, it will be extremely hard for him to either shoot three-pointers or pass to his teammate (usually Draymond Green) to do finish advantageous four-on-three play in offense.

The other advantage the Raptors enjoyed in defense was better height, strength and athleticism which enabled all five of their starting lineup to provide help to the defense. However, it did not mean that their defense was perfect. No matter how skillful Gasol is, his 120-kilogram-weight was responsible for the fact that the Spanish center could not chase Curry or Klay Thompson in off-ball plays and that should be on coach Steve Kerr's notebook when he builds his strategy for Game 2.

Raptors built offense with patience

Kyle Lowry of the Raptors handles the ball in Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Warriors at the Scotiabank Arena, May 30, 2019. /VCG Photo

Though Toronto performed great in shooting in Game 1 (50.65 percent for FG rate and 39.39 percent for three-pointer rate), it mattered more that the team managed to keep the game at a slow pace. The two sides together grabbed 74 rebounds (38-36) – by contrast, Golden State could have almost 50 rebounds per game in the series against the Portland Trail Blazers. Without enough rebounds, it was more difficult for Golden State to launch their favorite transition offense.

When the Raptors were patient enough to make one more extra pass, they had a better chance of scoring easy points. Moreover, in the second half, the team slowed down their game even further by making sure that they did not shoot until the last four seconds in every half-court possession, which helped a lot in killing time for the leading side.

Pascal Siakam #43 of the Raptors shoots in Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Warriors at the Scotiabank Arena, May 30, 2019. /VCG Photo

Of course, when perfect chances presented themselves for fast break, the Raptors would not let them go. Thanks to their two half-court passers, Kyle Lowry and Gasol, the team outplayed the Warriors in fast break points 24-17. Siakam had nine points in this way and that's how he managed to make 11 straight field goals.

What should the Warriors do?

Stephen Curry #30 of the Warriors shoots in Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena, May 30, 2019. /VCG Photo

Though they lost by nine points, Golden State's game was not as bad as it seemed. Even under such incredible defense and pace-control of Toronto, Golden State still had 17 fast break points and led in second-chance points 20-9. Their offense was limited by the opponent's defense, but not neutralized.

Warriors problem lied in defense. They gave Raptors players (except Leonard) too much space and time to deal with the ball. They should get aggressive on all of them to increase the chances of forcing turnovers which may be turned into fast break. Double teaming Gasol proved effective when he was in the Memphis Grizzlies; Lowry's court vision is limited by his 1.83-meter height; Siakam and Danny Green are definitely not good ball handlers.

DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Warriors handles the ball in Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena, May 30, 2019. /VCG Photo

The other decision coach Kerr has to make is over DeMarcus Cousins. Though "Boogie" came back, his move on the court and sense of the game were apparently rusty. Besides, if Joel Embiid is uncomfortable under the defense of Gasol, there's no way for Cousins to be any different. Maybe it will be a better choice to give Cousins more time leading the bench squad so he can bully Serge Ibaka.

Game 2 will take place at the same arena on Sunday.