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 takes a lot of guts.
Just watch for yourself:
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:
Sports
"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.
If you gamble like Cook did, you better win the bet.
Does he take this risk if he hadn't just hit a 3-pointer to give the Warriors an 88-82 lead? Perhaps that gave him the confidence to give it a shot.
[RELATED: Nike Basketball posts awesome ad after KD's Achilles surgery]
With Kevin Durant out because of a torn right Achilles tendon, Cook should play big minutes in Game 6 on Thursday night at Oracle Arena.
Perhaps he has another trick up his sleeve...
