If there’s one thing the Golden State Warriors don’t like it do, it’s lose. They bounce back better than almost any other team in the NBA.
For the Golden State Warriors, after losing Game 3 in overtime, there’s a good reason to believe they’ll come out with a dominant performance in Game 4. Let’s just remind ourselves of their first-round series for evidence of their post-loss dominance.
The Warriors dropped two games in their opening round series. Obviously, most of us remember the 31-point comeback by the Clippers in Game 2. What won’t be in the history books in the 27-point victory in Game 3.
What about after Golden State’s Game 5 loss to the Clippers?
Yeah, they came out firing in Game 6 as Kevin Durant put up 50 points and the Warriors took home a 19-point victory. They’re fired up after they lose, and it’s displayed in their dominant play.
Even in last year’s playoffs, the Warriors were a different team after a loss. They went 4-1, with their only back-to-back losses coming at the hand of the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Finals.
Prior to those two games, you’d have to date back to the 2015-2016 Finals where the Warriors blew their historic 3-1 lead to see where the Dubs had lost back-to-back postseason games. Only losing one back-to-back in two-and-a-half postseasons is extremely impressive.
On top of that, both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson haven’t played up to expectation. A big-time game from the Splash Brothers will almost certainly allow Golden State to deliver a crushing blow to the Houston Rockets.
Curry, who scored just 17 points last game, has many questioning whether or not he can bounce back and be his former MVP self in this series. Can he finally break out of his shooting slump? Curry is just 8-for-32 from deep in the series’ three games.
That must change if Golden State wants a blowout Game 4 victory.
Combine Curry’s poor play with the fact that Thompson is averaging just 16.7 points per game, down almost five from his season average, and it’s clear why Golden State hasn’t put on performances like the rest of league has become so mundane to.
The Splash Brothers started this dynasty. Now, their dynasty needs them. Will they deliver in Game 4?
I wouldn’t bet against it!