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Warriors with lack of focus in crunch time

By Steffen Pedersen

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 16: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts during their game against the New Orleans Pelicans at ORACLE Arena on January 16, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 16: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts during their game against the New Orleans Pelicans at ORACLE Arena on January 16, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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The Houston Rockets had every way to tie up the game Sunday, and Tuesday the Golden State Warriors almost gave it away again.

Sunday, the Golden State Warriors were up by three with 17 seconds to go. Durant had the ball! At the very least, he should have drawn a foul, but instead, he oversaw Chris Paul who poked the ball out of his hands and threw Houston in the other direction.

Harden missed his three-pointer, but Paul got the rebound and then turned it over. Warriors won by 4, taking a 1-0 series lead.

The end of the game led to concern for Golden State though.

Warriors have a strategy to either give it to Curry or Durant at crunch time. That’s understood! They know how to handle the ball and draw a foul if necessary. But, Sunday, Durant got taken by surprise – and that was truly surprising!

In a dramatic and intense game against one of the top contenders to dethrone the reigning champs, it is concerning to see one of your top-players lose focus in final and critical seconds.

But, this stuff happens! The Warriors had a crazy game against the Cleveland Cavaliers last year in their first matchup which had a similar result.

To think that the Warriors would almost repeat their mistakes Tuesday is truly astonishing.

With 22.3 seconds to go Durant got the lead up to 10 points – 112-102. The game seemed like a done deal! But, with nine seconds to go PJ Tucker grabbed the rebound after Durant’s missed free throw, and even though Warriors were still up with nine, Austin Rivers made it interesting with a quick splash from behind the arc.

What happened next was once again troubling. Iguodala gave the ball to Steph who immediately turned it over with Paul on his back. Harden easily pushed Iguodala away and dunked afterward – now narrowing the lead to 4 points with still three seconds on the clock.

Durant then finished it all with free throws – but again it didn’t end fulfilling.

The Warriors were only one possession away from overtime. A steal and a shot from Harden – the best in the league at drawing fouls – wasn’t impossible. It would’ve been a disaster.

Both Durant and Curry made pivotal errors in the dying seconds of both games 1 and 2. And even though the Warriors reduced their turnovers from 20 to 12 – two crucial ones still occurred from the leading stars late and unpleasant in both games.

Steve Kerr will need to emphasize to players how important cool and poised decision-making is – no matter how big your lead is.

dark. Next. Warriors: 15 Greatest NBA playoff moments

Lack of focus won’t cut it, in the long run, against the Rockets!

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