The Golden State Warriors find themselves in a shocking position ahead of Monday night’s Game 5 of the NBA Finals — down 3-1 against a hungry and disciplined Toronto Raptors squad that’s playing on their home court.

However, with Kevin Durant back in action for Game 5, the tables might just turn for Golden State, though only time will tell if KD is able to summon his best game after missing over a month of action.

In Durant’s stead, the Warriors have had to turn to unproven wing Alfonzo McKinnie for critical minutes in the NBA Playoffs and Finals, and the 26-year-old has showcased solid defensive chops during his limited time with the Warriors.

Despite only playing 13.9 minutes a game in the regular season, McKinnie actually played far less in his first stint in the NBA — which was with the Raptors.

McKinnie worked his way up through the G League where he played under then-Raptors 905 head coach Jerry Stackhouse, who conveyed his terrific work with the team into a head coaching gig at Vanderbilt University.

McKinnie credits Stackhouse with teaching him important defensive principles as well as helping to instill the prospect of switching if the need arises.

“He was part of the reason my defense is the way it is now,” McKinnie said of Stackhouse in an interview with Mark Medina of the Mercury News.

“I’m able to switch off on guards and guard wing players and point guards and stuff like that. He’s defense first. If you don’t play defense, you don’t play.”

It remains to be seen what role McKinnie will play as the Warriors try to live another day in the NBA Finals. However, the Dubs could certainly use his defense in crucial moments.