Quinn Cook confirms ‘fake timeout’ in NBA Finals Game 5, explains mindset

Programming note: Watch the NBA Finals pregame edition of Warriors Outsiders on Thursday at 4 p.m., streaming live on the MyTeams app.

Early in the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Toronto, Warriors guard Quinn Cook did something that took a lot of guts.

Just watch for yourself:

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This is wild. As my guy @GrantLiffmann pointed out, Steve Kerr wanted Quinn Cook to dribble down the floor and call timeout. But Cook pulled a “fake spike” and took matters into his own hands (watch the look Curry gives the bench at the end...) pic.twitter.com/Vg4sF4QIwg
— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) June 11, 2019

After Golden State's 106-105 win over the Raptors, ESPN's Zach Lowe spoke with Cook about the play:

"I practice that in my mind. Anytime Steve tells me to take [a timeout], I think about doing it." (Cook said Kerr indeed asked for a timeout, and you can see Kerr signaling for one.) "It's an NBA thing. You kinda point at the ref. But when I went to point the ref, Norman Powell cut me off, so I made a move."

Cook says Curry does it now and then, but Cook has been a little wary of stepping out of his lane. He also worried this column might put Toronto onto the scent. I don't think so. The fake timeout works.