Warriors Need to Focus on First Quarter After All-Star Break
By Andrew Ites
The Warriors finally made it to the long-awaited All-Star break, but they need to fix their first quarter issues in the final stretch of the season.
The Warriors have faced a first quarter deficit in six of their last nine games heading into All-Star weekend. Even when Golden State has had a first quarter lead, it hasn’t been very convincing.
They were only leading 25-24 after the first quarter against the Suns at home, they had a three-point first quarter lead over the Nuggets before eventually losing that game, and they only held a two-point lead over the lowly Sacramento Kings.
Those first quarter woes were a major factor in the Warriors losing four of their last eight games heading into the All-Star break. According to many of Golden State’s players and coaches, taking a few days off for All-Star weekend is supposed to solve all of their problems.
However, I think their main motivation over the last 24 games of the season will be seeing the Houston Rockets at the top of the Western Conference standings.
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The Warriors had been the top seed in the West both heading into the All-Star break and at the end of the regular season in each of the past three years, but the Rockets are giving them a run for their money this year.
In addition to holding the top seed at the All-Star break, Houston is 2-1 against Golden State this season and holds the tiebreaker for that number one seed.
If seeing Houston take your spot at top of the Western Conference and losing to them twice this year doesn’t get this Warriors team motivated to come out of the All-Star break on fire, I don’t know what will.
Next: How do the Golden State Warriors Fix Their Defensive Issues?