Raptors focused on task at hand with NBA championship one win away

Share

TORONTO -- Cool, calm and collected.

The Toronto Raptors walked off the floor at Oracle Arena on Friday night looking more like the film poster from “Reservoir Dogs” than a team that had just dealt a crucial blow to the two-time reigning NBA champions.

There was no celebration, only focus. The job isn’t done. They know who and what they are up against, and they all have seen what a motivated Warriors team can accomplish, especially in the NBA Finals.

“We believe, if you look at the other series, we were the same way,” veteran Raptors center Marc Gasol said Sunday after the team's practice session. “It means a lot to win on the road, and we understand that the job is not done, and the job gets harder and harder as you move on.”

The Raptors have one of the greatest teams in modern NBA history on the ropes, with only one win needed to claim the title, and no one expects the champs to lay down, regardless of who steps on the floor for the Warriors.

“I think it's just we're focused,” Raptors star Kawhi Leonard said. “We know that it doesn't mean anything until someone has four wins. You never know what could happen, and you got to take advantage of it and don't get overly hyped and excited. Still a great basketball team on the other side.”

It’s possible the Raptors have fallen under the spell of Leonard. He’s an unassuming superstar who lulls the media to sleep with his off-court demeanor.

He’s taken over the Finals, but the Raptors are a veteran team with plenty of other voices in the locker room.

“Kawhi certainly sets that tone, but so does Kyle [Lowry], so does Marc [Gasol], so does Danny [Green] -- those four guys,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “And then I think the younger guys take the cue from them. I think they like playing together. I think they know there's work to be done.”

Ravaged by injuries, Golden State is facing an incredible uphill battle against a Toronto group that seems unfazed by the moment.

After faltering in the playoffs in past seasons, there is a collective mindset to this Raptors group. They have one objective, and they are getting dangerously close to accomplishing it.

“We haven't done anything,” Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said. “You don't do anything in this league unless you win the trophy. You can accomplish this or that, but at the end of the day, we have certain goals and standards that we want to reach.”

The Raptors won’t walk in for Game 5 wearing matching suits and combat boots Monday night. They don’t have a crafty team slogan, and they’ve allowed a rapper to steal the show and deflect much of the attention away from their success.

[RELATED: KD to practice with Dubs prior to Game 5]

The Raptors’ unity appears genuine. Their goal is singular. They are one win away from an NBA championship, and they are unwavering in their focus.

Contact Us