Klay Thompson on Leonard: 'We're not playing Kawhi, we're playing the Raptors'

Kawhi Leonard’s colossal playoff run has drawn comparisons to those of Michael Jordan’s illustrious career and few blinked at them prior to the NBA Finals. It’s easy to see why the Golden State Warriors planned around him ahead of Game 1 and though they limited his impact, it didn’t matter during a 118-109 loss to the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night.

Although the series was often billed as Kawhi vs. The Warriors, Klay Thompson wasn’t pleased with the result and cautioned against focusing singularly on the Raptors’ superstar.

“I mean, Kawhi didn’t have his best game to his standards, but other guys stepped up,” said the Warriors guard during his postgame media availability, according to Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star. “(Pascal) Siakam had the game of his playoff life. We did a good job limited Kawhi, but it’s not Kawhi Leonard. It’s the Raptors.

“I know we’ll respond like the champions we are.”

Leonard scored 23 points on 5-of-14 shooting and added eight rebounds as well as five assists in the winning effort, while Siakam emerged as Toronto’s best player on the evening, with 32 points, eight rebounds, five assists.

Siakam’s dominant performance in Game 1 also caught the attention of Warriors’ defensive anchor Draymond Green, who also vowed to be better Sunday.

Leonard wasn’t ineffective by any means, but he merely didn’t meet the stratospheric standards he set for himself during this playoff run and he’ll almost certainly be better in Game 2. If Leonard and Siakam - along with Marc Gasol, who added 20 points and seven rebounds Thursday - continue to spearhead the Raptors’ relentless attack, Golden State’s killer instincts will be fully applied.

More Raptors coverage from Yahoo Sports