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Kendra AndrewsESPN
The Boston-Golden State Warriors have found themselves in a position they’ve been to many times before. I won one from the NBA title.
The Warriors’ locker room, playing in the sixth NBA Finals in the last eight years, led Boston in a 3 to 2 series on Thursday night, with cautious optimism for Game 6 (9). PT on ABC). But the Warriors also revealed that no one was celebrating yet.
“Given that it doesn’t exist yet, I’m unhappy myself.” Klay Thompson Said.
The Warriors struggled with this postseason close-out game and couldn’t finish each series they played on their first chance.
Betting waiting for them on the other side of the next match against the Boston Celtics only makes it more difficult.
“Clinch is probably the most difficult game you play” Andre Iguodala Said.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he couldn’t find a common thread in the games that the Golden State dropped.
Perhaps it’s about the enemy’s survival instinct.Before Game 4 of the first round, Denver Nikola Jokić He said he didn’t feel his team deserved to be wiped out when he finished 3-0 in the series. That drove the Nuggets to victory in Game 5. In the second round, Memphis outperformed the Warriors from the beginning. In the finals of the conference, the Mavericks were trying to avoid sweeps like the Nuggets.
At each of the Warriors’ three failed closeout opportunities, they dragged in half and two digits. They managed to stay close to the first quarter, but the second quarter was a big problem, especially for Memphis and Dallas.
The Golden State also had problems defending the boundaries. The Warriors’ opponents shot 53 to 115 (46.1%) across the 3-point line in these three defeats. This could cause problems for the Celtics, as Boston achieved 317 three points this postseason. This is the most frequent year in a single playoff.
In this series, Games 4 and 5 were the first set to lose in a row since the Celtics lost to the Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat in late March. Prior to that, I hadn’t dropped games in a row since January.
“We know [the Celtics are] I’m going to play with hopelessness, “Thompson said.
When the Warriors conclude the series against Denver Stephen Curry Golden State said he may have forgotten the grit needed to put the series together, especially to start the game. That trend continued in the semi-finals of the Western Conference and the finals of the conference. But now, the Warriors rely heavily not only on their playoff experience, but also on their victory in the title clinching game.
“You just understand what your nerves are,” Curry said. “We understand the details of how we need to approach the game from a physical perspective. Adjusting the game plan from Game 5 to Game 6 is the energy of how the building feels. I understand that is being prepared. “
Curry said he and his inexperienced teammates would be reminded of their direction towards the game. But after that, it’s about the idea that the Warriors have preached all year round. Stick to what’s happening in front of you.
“At the end of the day, when you get there, you just have to be at that moment,” Curry said. “You need to be with as many people as you can without worrying about the outcome of winning or losing. The only chance is that 48 minutes. If you can trick your mind and stay at that moment and stay there, that’s it. The best advice anyone can give in such a situation is probably the most difficult game I’ve ever played in my career because of what my stakes are. “
