This is why Nick Nurse coaches the Raptors

Unwrapping the box-and-one almost did the trick in Game 2

BY DAVID THORPE

I was wrong. I thought the Warriors had seen it all in this five-year stretch of playoff games. And then Nick Nurse busted out the box-and-one.

With just under six minutes left in Game 2 of these Finals Sunday night, their offense was humming, even after just losing Klay Thompson to what turned out to be a pulled hamstring. Steph Curry was slashing, Quinn Cook was cooking, and the Warriors had built a lead that was hovering at 10 points.

At the 5:47 mark, Curry zoomed past Draymond Green, which forced the other Raptors players to all rush him. He easily kicked the ball out to Draymond, who decisively attacked the scrum in the paint. Meanwhile Andrew Bogut sliced behind the action toward the rim, so he had a moving start when Green lobbed him the pass for a very easy layup.

Cuisinart mode: engage
After scoring 109 points in Game 1, the Warriors now had 106 with nearly half a quarter remaining. The Raptors had just 94 points—improved offense alone wouldn’t be enough.

Dwane Cas…