It’s the playoffs, the Warriors are up 3-1, Stephen Curry is on the rise, Andrew Bogut has arrived and another edition of the WarriorsWorld podcast is here.
In our first segment we discuss everything Game 3/4: the environmen at Oracle Arena, team unity, Mark Jackson’s lineups, Andrew Bogut, Jarrett Jack and more.
CSN Bay Area and 95.7 The Game’s Matt Steinmetz joins us in our next segment to talk his favorite player in the NBA Stephen Curry: how do you stop him? Can we say he’s a superstar? Does he stil think he’s not a PG and more.
Finally, Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group to talk DEN-GSW: did last week’s crowds match “We Believe”? Are the Warriors now a prime destination for free agents? Would the Warriors be where they are with David Lee healthy?
This wasn’t a last ditch effort in the second half of the season nor a surprising outcome come the final whistle of Game 82. This was a playoff team through and through, something the “We Believe” team never fully grasped until the final game of the regular season and even into the first series with the Dallas Mavericks.
The 2007 Warriors were very much a spurt of great luck, smarts and grittiness never seen before in such a short amount of time. The stars aligned for what was the most memorable moment in recent Warriors history. It felt rushed in a sense, considering the roster that began that season to the one that finished it in Utah.
Where “We Believe” was a shot-in-the-arm for the Bay Area, a sudden realization that postseason basketball can in fact be a reality in what was otherwise basketball misery, this season’s Warriors squad feels like the start of something permanent. 2007’s team was new, vibrant, flashy and eventually a tease. Now, the heightened sense of youth, togetherness and harmony can be seen both on and off the court.
Warriors fans have seen this team grow to what it is today. Whether through drafting, trades or hirings, this team was constructed with the long-term in mind. Fans are reaping the benefits now, possibly earlier than expected. This is a young team — the sixth youngest in the NBA — which presents every Warriors fan with a growing sense of satisfaction, a “this is our team and we’re here to stay” mentality.
Much has changed since 2007, and you’ll be hard pressed to find many similarities between this franchise from then and now. There is, however, one constant. This constant wasn’t known before the 2007 season began, but was beautifully seen (and heard from) again Friday night: Oracle Arena.
The Pepsi Center in Denver was a much discussed topic before the series began: altitude, crowd noise and the Nuggets increased effort at home all poised great threats to any potential Warriors win. It’s been a week since Game 1 and those threats couldn’t be any less important at this very moment.
Oracle Arena is its own animal, a beast that can’t be tamed and the leader of the NBA pack. The crowd Friday night rivaled 2007 and every memorable moment Oracle has ever seen. Game 3’s crowd was incredible and once again pushes every other crowd to be better, to be more like Golden State. The Warriors proved once again why they have one of the best home advantages in the NBA.
The Warriors wanted to be more like their Game 2 selves Friday night, and why wouldn’t they? Not that they played a particularly bad Game 1, but a near 65% shooting night that included 131 points of offense was historically great and something this team now knows it could do. The anticipation for Game 3 rivaled anything seen at Oracle this season, and the game delivered in every it could.
In what is one of the worst first rounds in NBA history, this Nuggets-Warriors series has captivated the eyes of any and all basketball fans with a pulse. There isn’t a more entertaining (or more competitive) series in the first round, which only enhances the buzz that comes with each of these games. Two systems prone for high scoring outputs through run-and-gun offenses can have this effect. This is what the NBA playoffs should be.
Playoff basketball is known to get chippy, and as the games have progressed so has the disdain from both teams. Jarrett Jack re-iterated this thought post-game: “When you’re playing a team multiple times you’re gonna grow to not like each other. That’s playoff basketball.” This isn’t exactly Clippers-Warriors level of hatred yet, but there is a growing sense of physicality and irritation coming from both teams as we head towards Game 4.
Game 3 was corporeal in its own right. There is a newfound feud between Stephen Curry and Corey Brewer and another feud that includes anyone who comes in contact with Andrew Bogut. It’s refreshing for a Warriors team to have enemies and for the Warriors to back up talk with their play. Even without their sneaky goon active (David Lee for those who didn’t know), the Warriors have embraced playoff physicality and emotions.
The Warriors 110-108 victory over the Nuggets was a true test of both physical and emotional strength. Physically, Curry and Bogut were essentially playing (and starting) hurt, toughing out what might normally be missed games in the regular season. Emotionally, the team is coming off the best shooting performance in NBA playoff history and is surrounded by new pieces (including three rookies). Every win is truly a team effort.
The first half was rough for the Warriors. Denver forced Curry and Jarrett Jack into numerous traps beyond the three-point line, daring any other Warriors players to hurt them. Normally, feeding David Lee of the pick-and-roll is a dependable option as Lee can create for himself off the dribble or pass out of it if need be. The Warriors struggled with this tonight due to the Nuggets assertiveness with their P&R defense.
The result was 13 first half turnovers and a 12 point deficit at halftime. The Warriors answered the Nuggets stout defense with increased ball movement and when the opportunity presented itself, penetration of the Nuggets interior before the double could come. Jack also made a noticeable effort not to dribble into corners, a brutal flaw in his otherwise dependable offensive game.
Klay Thompson had an off night offensively, but his importance defensively is nothing short of critical. With Brandon Rush out, Thompson has proved to be the Warriors best perimeter defender and as a result is often matched up with the opposing team’s best perimeter scorer. With Denver essentially playing position-less in an effort to keep up with the Warriors, Thompson was matchup up with Ty Lawson a lot in the second half. Lawson was unconscious in Game 3, but cooled down slightly with a modest 5-for-13 in the second half.
Many wondered how serious Curry’s left ankle was pre-game: was Jackson (and Curry) just posturing to keep Denver guessing or was Curry’s status really in question? He played, and oh how impressive he was. It wasn’t Game 2, but no one expected an identical performance. Considering the pain Curry did indeed play through, 29 points and 11 assists was an incredible feat. Most importantly, when the fourth quarter came Curry showed a willingness to control the offense. If there is one flaw in Curry’s offensive game it’s his submission to Jack running the offense, especially in crunch time. This wasn’t the case Friday night as Curry drove on multiple occasions and ran the offense with aggression in the fourth quarter.
Every win in the playoffs requires multiple efforts and Game 3 was no different. Jack held his own with 23 points, seven assists (7 TO’s) and one atrocious inbounds sequence. Barnes followed up his career night with another solid performance that included 19 points, seven rebounds and multiple run-stopping buckets. Carl Landry had his best output of the playoffs so far with 19 points off the bench. Draymond Green made one three (Yes!) and once again brought solid pressure to whoever was put in front of him on the defensive end. Finally, Bogut brought his sternness and defensive awareness to the paint once again, proving to be the most important Warriors defender.
This team has resiliency, as shown in every game this series and once again shown in the second half of Game 3. A young team with so much composure is rare, and credit goes to Mark Jackson, the veterans and the maturity of said young players. This series could easily be 3-0, but 2-1 isn’t a bad position either. The Warriors know the job isn’t done and the team stressed their attention to Game 4 in the post-game interviews. There are no dualities with this team, just one succinct goal: to win the way Warriors win.
Game 3 was Bay Area basketball at its finest. The Warriors came out to play and so did their opponent, resulting in a two-point win for the home team. Oracle was near perfection on Friday night: a sea of yellow covering nearly every spec of the arena, chants echoing the rafters (“Warr-iors!” and “M-V-P!”), passion in the air and a desire for more from their lovable Warriors. Luckily, they aren’t the only ones:
“There’s nothing like being as good as advertised. The great thing about it is that when you are a part of an environment like this, you want more.”
The Golden State Warriors have succeeded where others have failed for the most part. The Splash Brothers have been making it rain in their first ever playoff appearance and Mark Jackson looks better for it.
Entering Game 2 of their first round matchup with the Denver Nuggets, George Karl’s group had won 39-of-42 home games including the postseason. The Dubs came close in Game 1 but a series of mistakes cost them an opportunity at victory.
Instead they “settled” for a win in the second contest.
As unlikely as this sounds, the Warriors nearly won back-to-back games in a venue where most teams simply cannot hang. Several factors have given Golden State an opportunity to compete with the Nuggets.
Jarrett Jack’s production so far in the 2013 playoffs has been on par with Steve Francis during his days with the Houston Rockets. He’s been scoring the ball, rebounding in traffic, running the offense and findings his teammates whenever they’ve shaken free.
Andrew Bogut has been a defensive monster. His rebounding and rim protection have consistently stymied the Nuggets and forced them to practically pay a toll every time they’ve ventured inside the paint.
Harrison Barnes was mostly invisible in Game 1 and victimized repeatedly by Andre Miller. But in his second ever playoff game, the rookie took no prisoners. As a small-ball power forward playing with wide driving lanes, he made his presence felt with multiple drives, jumpers and long-range shots.
The Warriors are not in this series without the contributions of these players.
Mark Jackson knows this all too well. But the Dubs’ head coach also knows his team wouldn’t be in this situation without his starting backcourt.
The guard tandem done messed up the game for the Nuggets.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have effectively turned George Karl into Homer Simpson: pulling out whatever hair he has left.
Curry struggled in the opening playoff game and converted a mere 7-of-20 shots from the field. Game 2 saw a different player come out on the floor. His confidence never wavered, but his swagger and intimidation levels were certainly raised a few notches.
In the second game in Denver, Curry was simply defiant. He refused to be caged up by any form of defense. He aggressively attacked the Nuggets’ blitzing pick-and-roll defense by making jumpers over the outstretched arms of the Denver big men.
When the opposition switched on screens and sent Kenneth Faried, Andre Iguodala or Wilson Chandler at him, he never blinked. He stared them down and created enough air space with his ball fakes to rain jumpers.
The Warriors’ leading scorer finished Game 2 with 30 points and 13 assists on 13-for-23 shooting from the field. With his feathery jumper drawing nothing but net, George Karl ordered his troops to run him off the 3-point line.
Steph obliged by driving past defenders and sharing the ball with the open man, or setting up the initial action that led to the pass that eventually created an assist for a teammate.
Klay Thompson benefitted from this by catching a couple of passes for open looks. Whether it was Curry or Jack feeding him, Thompson simply could not miss. There were even instances where teammates grabbed offensive rebounds and threw the ball out to him and he connected.
In the first two playoff games of his career, Thompson is pouring in 21.5 points per game on 60 percent shooting from the field. Unlike the regular season, the Dubs’ shooting guard has been incredibly patient with the ball.
Instead of forcing up shots, he’s waited for optimal opportunities to put the rock up and the end result is a field goal percentage suited for a Hall of Fame center.
Given that shooters are prone to off nights, conventional wisdom suggests that Thompson might be due for a clunker at some point in time. Although that possibility exists, the Warriors have a few things going for them on this front.
David Lee is sidelined for the remainder of the postseason and consequently Harrison Barnes is now playing the role of stretch-four. The Dubs aren’t better because of this, but it presents them with an interesting set of matchups.
Kenneth Faried missed Game 1 and played some ineffective minutes in Game 2. Consequently, George Karl hasn’t been shy about using a small lineup with Wilson Chandler at power forward.
Because of the diminutive units, Denver has sent their players into the paint for defensive purposes. Hence, when Barnes put the ball on the deck in Game 2, he was afforded some great driving lanes, which allowed him to finish at the basket.
This created situations where defenders had to temporarily abandon Thompson and well, he made them pay.
This specific scenario might repeat itself unless Faried regains his form. And even then, there’s no guarantee that a healthy Manimal will be able to snuff out drives without the benefit of help from his teammates.
Also, one has to assume Karl will once again unleash his trapping defense against the Warriors, a strategy he shied from using in the middle of the floor in Game 2.
Many are quick to argue that Golden State can’t reproduce the shooting night they had in the second game in Denver and there may be something to that.
But would you bet against the best shooting team in the NBA when it’s consistently getting open shots?
Questions or comments? Feel free to leave them in the comments section or you can contact me by email at [email protected].
It’s the playoffs! Nuggets vs. Warriors has proven to be the most exciting series in the first round by far, and Game 2 was one Warriors fans will remember for years to come.
In our first segment, we talk anything and everything from Denver as the Warriors head back to Oracle with the series tied 1-1. The amazing shooting night, Klay’s consistency, Mark Jackson’s moves and more.
In our second segment we talk Harrison Barnes: his incredible performance in Game 2, maturity and what he has to do now to build on his success.
Finally, we bring back Adam Lauridsen (@GSWFastBreak) who was in Denver for Game’s 1 and 2 to talk what has impressed him the most through two games, the shooting, Harrison Barnes and if he’s staying with his pre-series prediction.
As always, you can listen to the podcast, subscribe and rate us on iTunes here.
Andrew Bogut has been the topic of much discussion this season. The talk around the Warriors big man revolved around the gross mishandling of his injury news on behalf of Warriors management and public relations department.
That wasn’t Bogut’s fault. The Warriors wanted their big man, their prime acquisition of the previous trade deadline, their centerpiece in what they were hoping was a playoff season and their big man that this very franchise has needed for years.
As Bogut began getting minutes criticism undeservedly increased. Fans clamored for more points, more rebounds, quicker switches and increased minutes. As is the case with many fans, their expectations were simply too high for such a delicate product. The idea of tame production as a placeholder for future success didn’t exist.
Bogut was never going to be 100% this season and is still not 100% entering the Warriors first round series with the Denver Nuggets. That doesn’t mean his presence isn’t any less important. In fact it only heightens, especially after the injury to fellow big man David Lee.
The Warriors aren’t looking for offense from Bogut, nor should they be. Any production on the offensive end is an extended bonus, at least until Bogut feels comfortable making his own moves down on the block. This aspect of his game, according to Bogut himself, most likely won’t be shown on the floor until next season.
With David Lee out with a torn right hip flexor, the dynamic passing between both Warriors bigs leaves as well. One of the more underrated aspects of a player’s game is his ability to pass. This skill is especially rare for a big man, and the Warriors were lucky to have two very capable (and willing) passers down low. Without Lee, Bogut’s ability to pass out of the block and make plays for others increases.
Where a lot of big men are one-and-done on the offensive end — deciding what they’re doing before they actually start their move — Bogut has the skills to pass out of every situation and make plays for other players when needed. On a team so dependent on shooters — even more now with Lee out — this will be crucial for the rest of the series.
With each possession increasingly important, the playoffs are often decided by turnovers, rebounds and increased possessions. Bogut only had nine points in Game 1 (also carried a team high +10), but will surely get more looks as the series goes on simply by default. Whether that means more set plays for the Aussie is an unknown, but his importance on putbacks and on the offensive glass stays vital for a team now missing their most productive offensive force down low.
It’ll be interesting to see how Mark Jackson approaches the hole in the frontcourt as the series progresses. First instincts point to Carl Landry sliding into the starting lineup with some combination of Green/Barnes/Ezeli sharing time at the 4. Landry and Bogut have only shared the floor for 53 minutes together this season, something I asked Landry about in my one-on-one with him just last month. Landry expressed confidence in more potential floor time with Bogut. This wasn’t any shock, but the proposition is a scary one considering the circumstances.
Lee loved to work off the pick-and-roll with Stephen Curry, something we haven’t seen Landry do much at all this season (Jack is often handling PG duties when Landry is on the floor). The Landry-Bogut duo could work simply because Landry can score for himself and is physical inside. Landry will have to work off the P&R more than he’s used to and start hitting the midrange jumper we became so accustomed to him hitting early on this season.
While Klay Thompson had an impressive game and Curry hit the game tying three with seconds to go, Bogut might’ve been the most important Warrior on Saturday. 14 rebounds (5 offensive) and four blocks are the stats, but his presence down low can’t be overstated (nor recorded). He adjusts shots nearly every possession by either altering shots themselves or forcing passes out of drives or the block. We saw a taste of this in the regular season, but to see it in the playoffs has been huge for an otherwise mediocre defensive team.
Lee’s struggles on the defensive end have been well chronicled, and Bogut is often the linchpin in covering up many defensive deficiencies from both Lee and everyone else on the floor. With that said, the defensive end is where Lee won’t be missed as much. Not that Landry is a superior defender, just a more than adequate replacement. Similar size and weight, both aren’t your ideal post defenders, but Landry is slightly more aware of his defensive surroundings than Lee is. Not losing your man on back cuts or being between your man on the basket are simple but highly important traits for a defender. Lee often failed at both.
Since Bogut’s insertion in the lineup he has been the on-court leader the Warriors hoped he’d be. In addition to being the best inside defender on the team, Bogut is vocal. He leads by example and isn’t afraid to call other players out on the court if need be. While this isn’t a breaking development, it may be new for Landry, who as noted hasn’t shared much time with Bogut on the floor. They know each other’s games, but playoff minutes is entirely different that practice time in downtown Oakland.
Bogut has always been an important member of this team, whether on the floor or not. Now, as the playoffs are upon us and his backcourt-mate no longer here, it’s up to Bogut to anchor the defense and make his unique passing abilities and aggressiveness on the glass a known commodity. The Warriors won’t go down easy in this series, and Bogut will be a big reason why.
Warriors exit court (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images).
The Golden State Warriors caught a horrible break with David Lee’s hip injury. He is currently sidelined for the remainder of the postseason and consequently the Warriors must now battle for their playoff lives without their lone All-Star.
Let’s not mince words here, it’s an incredibly difficult proposition for the Dubs.
Lee was essential to everything the team did. He provided the team with low post scoring, a good mid-range shooter and a terrific release option against defensive pressure.
His absence puts added pressure on Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli. Not only must they patrol the paint and serve as Golden State’s defensive backbone, but they must now clean up the boards on their own for the most part.
Mark Jackson isn’t being dealt any favors in his first postseason head coaching experience. As our very own Ethan Sherwood Strauss noted, Jackson might have to turn to Nellieball.
Ever the tactician, George Karl unleashed a trapping defense in Game 1 that flustered the Warriors’ guards on occasion. Jarrett Jack struggled with it and picked up his dribble at inopportune times while Stephen Curry made some questionable passes in a few instances.
The Denver Nuggets’ defensive scheme forced the Dubs into somewhat of an accelerated pace. Lee was the player that helped them on this front.
Much like he did throughout the season, he camped out at the free throw line and waited for the pass that relieved the defensive pressure. From there, he could shoot, drive or pass. Executing these tasks was fairly easy for him considering his skills and good judgment.
But with Lee in street clothes, Golden State needs someone to replicate that. And honestly, they don’t have another big man capable of doing so.
The closest they’ve got is Draymond Green but his jumper has completely betrayed him this year. Consequently, he is not the triple-threat the Warriors need.
Draymond Green 2012-13 regular season shot chart courtesy of NBA.com/Stats.
Thus, Jackson might have to downsize. That’s the conventional train of thought.
This might sound counterintuitive, but in the 19 minutes that Lee spent either on the bench or in the training room, the Warriors generated 131.7 points per 100 possessions according to NBA.com’s advanced stats tool.
The sample size is incredibly small but Golden State did a couple of things with their starting power forward off the floor to manufacture points.
The Nuggets trapped the pick-and-rolls headed towards the corners and also attacked players with a live dribble in that area of the court. The Warriors’ perimeter players got themselves into some tough situations in these instances and coughed the ball up a bit.
Avoiding these key-trapping areas on the floor is almost mandatory for the sake of ball security.
Nonetheless, the Dubs used a few wrinkles to their advantage.
For instance, late in the fourth quarter, Denver doubled Klay Thompson when he ran curl screens. Stephen Curry had his shooting guard run the action and fed him the ball before he even got open.
Once Thompson caught the ball, he immediately dropped off the ball to his center as he rolled to the hoop.
In addition, with Jarrett Jack running the point, his defender often cheated in the direction of the curl screen. The Warriors’ backup guard countered by simply driving the ball to the hoop for scores or dishes.
As the contest unfolded, the Warriors slowly figured out their points of attack. They scrapped the two-man game attack because of the trap and instead ran some screen-the-screener action for their shooters and sprung them loose.
Denver adjusted late in the final period by simply switching on screens and trusting their athletes would stay with the 3-point shooters. This resulted in the Denver “bigs” defending the perimeter and the guards on the interior.
The Warriors lack a huge post threat and thus couldn’t take advantage of this tactic in that manner. However, with big people playing on the outside, it created driving lanes for the Warriors as well as offensive rebounding opportunities.
The Warriors got by without Lee in Game 1 and nearly stole the contest. Mind you, as Zach Lowe demonstrated, doing so for an entire series against the Nuggets is a completely different proposition.
Mark Jackson will more than likely mix and match his lineups, alternating his small lineups with his big ones and truly open things up. It’s risky, but it could yield some terrific results.
Statistical support provided by NBA.com.
Questions or comments? Feel free to leave them in the comments section or you can contact me by email at [email protected].
The opening weekend of the 2013 postseason has come and gone. Warriors World reached out to Jovan Buha of Clipperblog and Rey Moralde of Forum Blue & Gold to get their takes on the Western Conference playoffs.
1. Best performance from a player on a losing team in the Western Conference?
Jovan Buha, Clipperblog: Dwight Howard. Somehow, Howard always makes a 20-15 game look mundane. That’s absurd. With Kobe Bryant out for the rest of the season, the pressure falls on Howard to lead the offense and churn out dominant performances. He was his efficient self (8 of 12 shooting), made an acceptable amount of free throws in relation to his average (4 of 8), and added a couple blocks for good measure. He outplayed Tim Duncan for most of the game, and did his best to command the Lakers’ shaky perimeter defense and mistimed rotations. Even if he’s Superman, there’s only so much he can do, as has been the case all year, and he’s still visibly not the monster he was in Orlando. Pau Gasol (16 points, 16 rebounds) is the clear runner-up.
Rey Moralde, Forum Blue & Gold: It seemed impactless because the Lakers didn’t exactly keep it close with the Spurs. But Dwight Howard went for 20 points and 15 rebounds. He also went 8 for 12 from the field. Howard probably needed more touches but this is one of the more quiet 20-15 performances I’ve ever seen.
J.M. Poulard, Warriors World: I’m going to cheat a little here and say the Lakers’ twin towers. They helped hold the Spurs to 32 points in the paint and also produced a combined 36 points, 31 rebounds and seven assists on 15-for-28 field goal shooting.
It was tough to separate both given how productive and effective they were, so I submitted them together. Sue me.
2. Best performance from a player on a winning team in the Western Conference?
Jovan Buha: Manu Ginobili. There are a lot of safe, correct choices: Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Andre Miller all had admirable Game 1 performances, and led their respective teams to victory in one way or another. But Ginobili, who had played just 12 minutes in all of April, scored 18 points off the bench for the Spurs – almost double the output of the entire Lakers’ bench (10 points) – and looked like the Ginobili of old, not Old Ginobili. He slashed to the rim, hit momentum-changing 3-pointers, and made key play after key play. If he can provide the spark he used to, he’s the ultimate X factor of not only this series, but also the entire playoffs. The Heat and Thunder look invincible, and they probably are, but a healthy and effective Ginobili changes that dynamic.
Rey Moralde: I’ll give it to Andre Miller, who went 11 for 16 and finished with 28 points, including the game-winner. Denver couldn’t get much going but Miller kept them in the game and, at times, even took over. And it’s not like he had extensive minutes, either; he played 27 minutes. Along the way, he dished out five assists. If it wasn’t for Miller, Denver would be wondering how they lost in the Pepsi Center, which has been a rare occurrence this season.
J.M. Poulard: Before the second day of action commenced, my answer was Andre Miller. But day 2 offered something different: Russell Westbrook.
The Thunder guard was simply out of this world. He spent the bulk of Game 1 playing at a breathtaking speed in a contest that already had a fast pace. Westbrook was simply a terrorizing force that completely flustered the Houston Rockets.
3. Which Western Conference player that had a poor showing in Game 1 do you expect to break out?
Jovan Buha: Stephen Curry. He didn’t have a bad game by any means – 19 points, 9 assists and four 3-pointers is nothing to scoff at – but he wasn’t as efficient as we are accustomed to (7 of 20 shooting, 4 of 10 from beyond the arc). With David Lee now out the remainder of the postseason, Curry will have even more of an offensive burden on his slender shoulders, and will likely need to replicate some of his insane scoring outbursts from earlier this season (it’ll be tough to match his 54-point performance at MSG, but it wouldn’t hurt). The Nuggets’ have a slew of perimeter defenders to throw at Curry, and the length of Andre Iguodala or Corey Brewer can certainly bother him, but he’s had to deal with those dilemmas all season, and if the Warriors are creative, they’ll find ways to get him open (or he’ll find his own). Once he has a sliver of space to get a shot off, he usually doesn’t miss.
Rey Moralde: Jeremy Lin didn’t do bad in the regular season against Oklahoma City (14.0 PPG, 7.3 APG in three games) but he was dismal in Game 1. Four points on 1 for 7 shooting is terrible. But he’s a resilient kid, as he has shown in his short NBA career. He’ll come out more aggressive on the next game.
J.M. Poulard: There’s poor showing, and there’s Stephen Curry poor showing. The Warriors’ leading scorer struggled in his first ever playoff games, converting only 7-of-20 field goal attempts and coughing up the ball five times.
Nonetheless, he made timely shots and tied the game with a ridiculous 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter. Curry will bounce back and play his regular brand of basketball.
Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha), Rey Moralde (@TheNoLookPass) and J.M. Poulard (@ShyneIV) are all members of the TrueHoop Network and can be found on Twitter brewing a basketball storm.
JaVale McGee erases a David Lee dunk (AP Photo/Chris Schneider).
The Golden State Warriors (0-1) were defeated on April 20 by the Denver Nuggets (1-0) in the most exciting playoff game of the day. The Warriors World staff breaks down the loss in this most recent installment of 3-on-3.
1. Who was the best Warrior in Game 1 versus the Nuggets?
Jack Winter: Andrew Bogut. David Lee produced consistently after the first several minutes and before leaving with an injury, Steph Curry had some huge second half baskets, and Jarrett Jack filled the box score despite poor shooting numbers. But Bogut was Golden State’s most effective player today, showing off the rare quickness and anticipation for a player his size that makes him such an impactful defender. He was a terror at the rim all day, and constantly kept balls alive off the glass. Bogut never got it going offensively, but his influence on the other end was key in limiting Denver’s opportunities in the paint. The Warriors won’t always be so offensively inept; if Bogut can anchor the defense like he did today, this series should be a long one.
Jordan Ramirez: The best Warriors player was Klay Thompson, although you can make a case for Andrew Bogut here as well. Klay kept the Warriors in the game throughout the first half, becoming the go-to-guy we all believed Steph to be. Now, the Nuggets were trapping Steph and forcing him into double teams near the three-point line, allowing Klay to matchup with Ty Lawson for the majority of the game. This obviously was an advantage for Klay who totaled 22 points on 10-for-19 shooting (2-for-5 3PT) and only two turnovers. The big question heading into this game — and the series — was who besides Steph will score? Klay answered the bell when Steph, David Lee and Harrison Barnes went awol. Whether the Nuggets make any adjustments on Klay will be an interesting development and something to keep an eye on. Do they leave Steph more in the following games? How does Faried coming back (fully healthy or not) affect the Warriors inside? Is Jarrett Jack God Mode now a thing of the past?
J.M. Poulard: Andrew Bogut was the best Warrior in Game 1 on the strength of his defensive brilliance. The former Buck changed field goal attempts at the rim, swatted shots and beautifully cleaned up the glass.
Bogut was simply a terrorizing force for the Dubs.
2. Fact or Fiction: Stephen Curry will struggle throughout the series against the Nuggets.
Jack Winter: Fiction. Curry missed many shots he usually makes today, shooting just 7-of-20 from the field. But the box score lies a bit, because once he hit his first shot the floodgates (somewhat) opened; Curry made seven of his last 11 attempts after missing his first nine. It’s a make or miss league, and even the best shooters sometimes struggle. But they correct themselves in time just as Curry did in the second half today; there’s no reason to expect he won’t build on that today’s late success going forward.
Credit George Karl and his staff, though. Golden State was thrown early when the Nuggets aggressively double-teamed Curry on high pick-and-rolls, and again late as Wilson Chandler and Corey Brewer face-guarded him beyond the three-point line. Mark Jackson will surely adjust and his player will too; this is chess match to keep an eye on as the series moves forward.
Jordan Ramirez: Yes, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be effective. This is Steph’s toughest challenge to date as he’s the focal point to the Nuggets every move on the defensive end. They doubled and trapped him all during Game 1 and one of his all-time worst halves ever. You would like to see Steph be more efficient as well. 19 points is pedestrian for such a gifted scorer, but 7-for-20 is just slightly concerning. His first half was actually understandable: his first ever playoff minutes, being the defense’s main focus and in such a hostile, high-altitude environment like Denver. I expect Steph to settle down and have a much more effective game — especially in the first half — in Game 2. Also, I expect the coaching staff to find additional creative ways to get him the ball. As tired a narrative it may be, Steph still doesn’t run the offense as much as I’d like him too. When not engaged by two defenders there’s no reason why Steph shouldn’t be handling the ball and leading the offense. Jarrett Jack might disagree, but too bad.
J.M. Poulard: Fiction. Curry missed his first nine field goal attempts and was pressing a little early on. He took a few semi-difficult floaters and missed a few open jumpers. But once he collected himself and got a shot to drop, he was back.
Steph made 6-of-10 shots in the second half and helped keep the offense crisp. Curry created some looks for himself and drilled them.
It stands to reason that he should be able to do as the series progresses, but Mark Jackson will have to make a few subtle adjustments to take advantage of the Nuggets’ double team as well as continuously spring his leading scorer loose.
3. Biggest take away from the Warriors’ Game 1 defeat against Nuggets?
Jack Winter: Bogut’s activity. Golden State lost this game but there were a few positive takeaways that suggest future success, Klay Thompson’s early scoring binge among them. But Bogut’s play is the most encouraging on-court development for Golden State in quite some time. Today’s Bogut was the one we imagined suiting up for the Warriors all season long, but nagging injuries robbed him of health and the team a legitimate paint presence on both ends of the floor. If he can build on this performance the rest of the way, Bogut has the size, knack and skill to swing this series and any others that follow. It was justone game, after all, on the road, too; there’s still many games to be played.
Jordan Ramirez: The Warriors are ready for the moment. The Warriors are the sixth seed, but let’s not forget they’re also the sixth youngest team (27.3) in the NBA. Let’s not forget that four of the five starters for the Warriors were playing their first playoff minutes ever in Game 1. This very easily could’ve been a double-digit loss when the Nuggets extended their lead in the 3Q. Instead, the Warriors showed great resilience and poise for a team popping their playoff cherries on Saturday. This team wasn’t swayed by the playoff atmosphere one way or the other. They are playing above their age, but whether this continues throughout the series is another question. For now, we should be impressed. Game 2 will be tougher to steal now that the Nuggets have all traces of momentum, but I can’t put anything past this quirky but mentally strong Warriors squad.
J.M. Poulard: Golden State actually controlled the pace in Denver, which is no small feat. The Dubs had a plethora of miscues but still held the Nuggets to 97 points. It’s not that the defense was amazing but rather that the half-court execution produced some quality looks and took away Denver’s transition game.
The Nuggets only scored seven fast break points. Also, the Warriors collected 55 rebounds to the Nuggets 45. That was a huge aspect in controlling the pace and keeping Denver from running wild.
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