The Golden State Warriors must win Game 4 of the 2019 NBA Finals. They do not want to be starring a 3-1 Finals deficit in the face.
Having been on both sides of the pendulum, the Golden State Warriors first-hand know that they don’t want to be down 3-1 in any series. However, they also know that even if they somehow lose Game 4 it’s not the end of the world.
The Warriors are down 2-1 and have played one of the three without Klay Thompson and all three without Kevin Durant. They’ll also be without Kevon Looney.
For the first time in the last few postseasons, the Warriors injuries are mounting and it’s starting to impact their on-court performance. Last season, the only injury they really saw impact the game was Andre Iguodala who missed several games in the Western Conference semifinals.
There has only been one team in league history to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals. That was the 2015-2016 Cavs who coincidently did it to the Curry-Thomson-Greed-led Warriors that won a league-record 73 games.
That to say, it’s ultra-rare for it to happen.
But, at the same time, it’s also rare to get a top-five player back midway through the series. Durant may not even return in Game 4. We don’t know when he’s bound to make his comeback.
We do know that the Warriors don’t plan on making excuses for their play without him. They want this three-peat. Unlike many Warriors, Curry is at the top of his game. He’s been dominant in the Finals, pouring in 47 points in a Game 3 loss.
He can be as dominant as ever, and he still won’t be able to down Toronto on his own. He needs Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and even Quinn Cook to step up. If they don’t, the Warriors will likely head to Toronto in an almost unrecoverable pit.
Game 4 isn’t technically a must-win, but if you’re the Warriors and at home, you’ll want to take down Toronto or risk having your backs truly against the wall. Much of their success will depend on their injured players to make a comeback.
They need them, and they need Game 4.