The Golden State Warriors weren’t prepared for a nothing-to-lose Clippers
The Golden State Warriors, at home in Game 5, didn’t come out with the necessary energy to defeat an LA Clippers team with their backs against the wall.
Although the Golden State Warriors did find a way to come back and give themselves a chance to win in the fourth, there’s no way this team is going home content. It’s the same feeling that the team had after Game 2.
They know that they’re better than the Clippers. Klay Thompson even somewhat reiterated that postgame. Per NBATV, Thompson said: “Let’s win big. Let’s freaking win by 30, like we’re capable of.”
If they can win by 30, why didn’t they in front of their home crowd in a game that they could have closed out the series on? It’s a simple answer.
They didn’t come to play on the defensive end. The energy wasn’t there to defeat a Clippers team with their backs against the wall.
This game was won in the second quarter for LAC, a quarter that featured 15-7 run and a shellshocked Warriors team. Were they not ready for the haymakers that Los Angeles was almost certainly going to through?
As Doc Rivers said during this game, this team is “confident.” Defeating the Warriors for a second straight time on their home court requires confidence. It requires grit and a ton of shot-making too. That’s where Lou Williams comes in.
He was the difference in this game. Although Williams was hitting some borderline impossible shots, he also wasn’t being double teamed. They were letting him beat them. With 11 points and a handful of must-see shots in the fourth quarter, Williams lit the defending champs up.
When Lou Williams scores of 30 points or more, the Warriors lose.
With the right defensive effort, the Warriors can shut down Williams. Just take Games 3 and 4 for example, Williams had a combined 28 points. The Warriors were trapping him off screens and forcing the Clippers to move the ball and then to make the contested shot.
129 points later. The LA Clippers forced a Game 6 against the mighty Golden State Warriors on a night where the Warriors second-round opponent took it to a Jazz team in a situation similar to the Clippers.
This team, like in Game 2, underestimated the grittiness and the abilities of the LA Clippers. However, if Game 2 and 3 showed us anything, it’s that this team will bounce back in a big way.
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Take Klay’s word for fact, this team will come out swinging on Friday and potentially win by 25+.