The Golden State Warriors find themselves at the verge of elimination, trailing the Toronto Raptors 3-1 in the NBA Finals and forced to embrace the role of underdogs against a capable team that is one win away from the championship.

Former Warriors center David West recalls watching Game 4 and noticing that Golden State will need more than just one inspired game to topple a “loaded” Raptors team:

“You’ve just got to find it somewhere else,” West told Sam Amick of The Athletic. “They need somebody else to step up, have a career game, or a career three games now. They need it. But it was weird seeing them play like that. I don’t know. They just didn’t have – I thought Steph gave what he had in (Game) 3. Klay came out and gave what he had, but Toronto is loaded.”

West paused briefly for further emphasis.

“Loaded.”

Kevon Looney, who learned his role as a capable back up big from West himself, praised his teammate Draymond Green for his post-game speech in the locker room, one that encouraged this bunch. Green turned misfortune into opportunity, something an emotional leader is expected to do at this stage of the game.

“Draymond gave a great speech,” said Looney. “He made sure we had our heads up, said ‘Stay confident, know who we are. We didn’t get here by quitting and pouting or giving up. We always believe, and we’ve got a bunch of guys who have been underdogs and who have been counted out before.’ I think we’re going to embrace this challenge more. Everybody probably thinks we’re going to lose now. And being the underdog again, like we haven’t been in a long time, it’s fun. We’ll try to go out there and prove everybody wrong.”

Head coach Steve Kerr has been poised through the course of the series, an even-keeled nature that has stuck to Looney and many others.

“This is a tough challenge. Steve always says, ‘There’s a reason we pour champagne on each other when we win a title,” said Looney. “It’s hard. It’s not going to be easy. Nothing in the NBA is easy.’ Toronto is a great team. They’re hungry, but we’re capable of winning. We feel like we have the better team. We’ve just got to go out there and show it.”

Game 5 of the NBA Finals tips off at 9 p.m. EST.