Reactions: Warriors 113, Trail Blazers 112

Golden State Warriors

113

112

Portland Trail Blazers

	David Lee, PF 24 MIN \| 8-15 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 3 REB \| 0 AST \| 1 STL \| 1 BLK \| 1 TO \| 16 PTS \| -13Lee started off getting the rock early and often as Mark Jackson decided to exploit the smaller defender in Dorell Wright. Lee answered by making 5/9 of his shots in the opening quarter. While exploiting the smaller defender was the right call, it was at the expense of the rest of the offense who went 5/14 in that time. The most important development from this game might be Jackson’s decision to keep Lee on the bench for the majority of the second half. He had three fouls in the 3Q, but Jackson opted to keep Draymond Green on the floor instead. If Jackson is willing to adjust Lee into different lineups and situations, that could be huge for their playoff rotations and the ultimate success of this team. Lee is a fine player, but is a liability on the defensive end (especially against stretch-4’s/5’s) and can halt ball movement on the offensive end if the team becomes too dependent on his post-ups. More mixing and matching of lineups — specifically with the second unit — can maximize Lee’s talents even more. Lee let former Warrior Dorell Wright loose a few times but made up for it with two clutch baskets in the final quarter.
	Andre Iguodala, SF 30 MIN \| 2-5 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 5 REB \| 2 AST \| 1 STL \| 0 BLK \| 1 TO \| 4 PTS \| -3This was a fairly quiet game for Iguodala, even by his standards. His four points were the lowest amongst the starters and only had two assists in his 30 minutes. Defensively, where Iguodala has made his name this season, Andre was handled by Nicolas Batum, who had 23 points on 7/13 shooting with 14 rebounds.A rare off night on both ends for Iguodala, who will have some lighter competition next week as the team welcomes Orlando and Milwaukee into town.
	Andrew Bogut, C 27 MIN \| 3-5 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 7 REB \| 3 AST \| 1 STL \| 3 BLK \| 1 TO \| 6 PTS \| -5Bogut had to have his ankle re-taped in the second half, causing much worry and stir from Warriors fans when he was forced to head back into the locker room. He still looked to be hobbled still when he came back out on the floor, and hopefully won’t be needed for many minutes next week (at least until San Antonio). His seven rebounds only trailed Draymond Green, but it was Robin Lopez who helped stave off Bogut for most of the night. While Bogut dominates centers of equal speed and size, against quicker, more active bodies he has struggled at time this season. Lopez won the battle of the centers on Sunday night.
	Stephen Curry, PG 40 MIN \| 11-24 FG \| 9-9 FT \| 4 REB \| 5 AST \| 1 STL \| 0 BLK \| 5 TO \| 37 PTS \| -5What more is there to say about Curry that hasn’t already been said? When he went on his shooting tear in the second half, there’s not much you can do but sit back and enjoy the talent that is on the court. Curry struggled in the first half, only making 3/9 of his shots for nine points and a team low +/- of (-17). In the second half, he put the team on his back and exploded for 28 points in all 24 minutes, displaying every type of shot a mortal human can possibly attempt. When it’s from such a gifted shooter like Curry, you accept these shots and welcome them, even if they seem almost too ambitious at times. He was making them, and the Warriors won this game because of the Splash Brothers incredible production. It helps that Mo Williams can’t play defense anymore and Andrew Bogut is one of the best screen setters in the game, but Curry took full advantage. Another phenomenal game from one of the game’s best.
	Klay Thompson, SG 39 MIN \| 10-19 FG \| 4-6 FT \| 4 REB \| 0 AST \| 1 STL \| 2 BLK \| 2 TO \| 27 PTS \| -2Amazing what continued confidence can do for a player. Coming off a heartfelt trip to the Bahamas for his grandfather’s funeral, Thompson said he felt good before the game after keeping hydrated and suffering through what us mortals call: multiple flights in a short amount of time. Ever since the Pacers game winner, Thompson has driven more to the basket in an attempt to get more fouls, continued to play stellar defense on the opposition’s best perimeter player and taken smarter shots. Tonight, he nearly matched Curry’s 28 second half points with 23 points of his own, including a three with :53 seconds left to put the Warriors up 110-107, and the go ahead trey with :11 seconds left to (nearly) ice the game. When both Curry and Thompson are splashing, there’s very few teams who can keep up.

Looking ahead: The Warriors now have three straight homes games next week before a ridiculous five games off. Orlando, Milwaukee and San Antonio all coming to Oracle next week, with the Spurs coming on the second leg of a B2B.

Your Splash Brothers second half shot chart of the night:

Your Damian Lillard dunk of the night:

http://youtu.be/QbM4ra2Fr_Q

Your Stephen Curry crossover of the night:

Your Klay Thompson game winner of the night:

http://youtu.be/N9gUC6u6-yg

Tweets of the night:

Game in and Game out, Mark Jackson does more to hamper the GSW offense than anything the other team does.

— Haralabos Voulgaris (@haralabob) March 17, 2014

The Mark Jackson thing isn’t that he’s a bad coach—he isn’t—but that he’s the biggest ceiling on the Warriors’ potential.

— Kevin Draper (@kevinmdraper) March 17, 2014

You need waves to “splash” RT @JRAM_91 Klay will rock those waves until death.

— Raider Ass Ed (@EdTheSav) March 17, 2014

Follow @JRAM_91

	David Lee, PF 24 MIN \| 8-15 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 3 REB \| 0 AST \| 1 STL \| 1 BLK \| 1 TO \| 16 PTS \| -13Lee started off getting the rock early and often as Mark Jackson decided to exploit the smaller defender in Dorell Wright. Lee answered by making 5/9 of his shots in the opening quarter. While exploiting the smaller defender was the right call, it was at the expense of the rest of the offense who went 5/14 in that time. The most important development from this game might be Jackson’s decision to keep Lee on the bench for the majority of the second half. He had three fouls in the 3Q, but Jackson opted to keep Draymond Green on the floor instead. If Jackson is willing to adjust Lee into different lineups and situations, that could be huge for their playoff rotations and the ultimate success of this team. Lee is a fine player, but is a liability on the defensive end (especially against stretch-4’s/5’s) and can halt ball movement on the offensive end if the team becomes too dependent on his post-ups. More mixing and matching of lineups — specifically with the second unit — can maximize Lee’s talents even more. Lee let former Warrior Dorell Wright loose a few times but made up for it with two clutch baskets in the final quarter.
	Andre Iguodala, SF 30 MIN \| 2-5 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 5 REB \| 2 AST \| 1 STL \| 0 BLK \| 1 TO \| 4 PTS \| -3This was a fairly quiet game for Iguodala, even by his standards. His four points were the lowest amongst the starters and only had two assists in his 30 minutes. Defensively, where Iguodala has made his name this season, Andre was handled by Nicolas Batum, who had 23 points on 7/13 shooting with 14 rebounds.A rare off night on both ends for Iguodala, who will have some lighter competition next week as the team welcomes Orlando and Milwaukee into town.
	Andrew Bogut, C 27 MIN \| 3-5 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 7 REB \| 3 AST \| 1 STL \| 3 BLK \| 1 TO \| 6 PTS \| -5Bogut had to have his ankle re-taped in the second half, causing much worry and stir from Warriors fans when he was forced to head back into the locker room. He still looked to be hobbled still when he came back out on the floor, and hopefully won’t be needed for many minutes next week (at least until San Antonio). His seven rebounds only trailed Draymond Green, but it was Robin Lopez who helped stave off Bogut for most of the night. While Bogut dominates centers of equal speed and size, against quicker, more active bodies he has struggled at time this season. Lopez won the battle of the centers on Sunday night.
	Stephen Curry, PG 40 MIN \| 11-24 FG \| 9-9 FT \| 4 REB \| 5 AST \| 1 STL \| 0 BLK \| 5 TO \| 37 PTS \| -5What more is there to say about Curry that hasn’t already been said? When he went on his shooting tear in the second half, there’s not much you can do but sit back and enjoy the talent that is on the court. Curry struggled in the first half, only making 3/9 of his shots for nine points and a team low +/- of (-17). In the second half, he put the team on his back and exploded for 28 points in all 24 minutes, displaying every type of shot a mortal human can possibly attempt. When it’s from such a gifted shooter like Curry, you accept these shots and welcome them, even if they seem almost too ambitious at times. He was making them, and the Warriors won this game because of the Splash Brothers incredible production. It helps that Mo Williams can’t play defense anymore and Andrew Bogut is one of the best screen setters in the game, but Curry took full advantage. Another phenomenal game from one of the game’s best.
	Klay Thompson, SG 39 MIN \| 10-19 FG \| 4-6 FT \| 4 REB \| 0 AST \| 1 STL \| 2 BLK \| 2 TO \| 27 PTS \| -2Amazing what continued confidence can do for a player. Coming off a heartfelt trip to the Bahamas for his grandfather’s funeral, Thompson said he felt good before the game after keeping hydrated and suffering through what us mortals call: multiple flights in a short amount of time. Ever since the Pacers game winner, Thompson has driven more to the basket in an attempt to get more fouls, continued to play stellar defense on the opposition’s best perimeter player and taken smarter shots. Tonight, he nearly matched Curry’s 28 second half points with 23 points of his own, including a three with :53 seconds left to put the Warriors up 110-107, and the go ahead trey with :11 seconds left to (nearly) ice the game. When both Curry and Thompson are splashing, there’s very few teams who can keep up.