The Golden State Warriors continue to amaze everyone with their skills on the basketball court. In their latest game against the Lakers, they had the whole team working together like a well-oiled machine. JaMychal Green said that the team was all about the “produce” after hearing some powerful words, and it showed on the court.
In their previous win, it was all about the superstar, Curry. But this time, the Warriors showed their strength in numbers and depth. They had Juan Toscano-Anderson, Quinn Cook, Shaun Livingston, and Leandro Barbosa out there…well, not literally, but it felt like it. Even Marresse Speights was feeling nostalgic about the good old days.
The Warriors dominated so much that the Lakers’ stars got some much-needed rest. LeBron James played only 28 minutes, and Anthony Davis only played 33. They didn’t even bother showing up in the fourth quarter. The Warriors, on the other hand, were fresh and activated.
The Lakers got big performances from Dennis Schröder and D’Angelo Russell in Game 1, but the question is whether they can produce consistently. Draymond Green drew the assignment of guarding Davis and held him to 11 points on 11 shots. They needed more than just a rolling LeBron, who scored 21 of his 23 points in the first half.
Rui Hachimura came off the bench to score 21 for the Lakers. But that was no match for the Warriors, who came in waves and showed off their depth and youthfulness.
JaMychal Green led the way in this game and appeared in his fewest games in a regular season. But he came through where it counted, knocking down half of his six 3-pointers, converting another three baskets in the paint, and finishing with 15 points. He punished the Lakers’ defense, which was too busy parking Davis in the paint to protect the rim.
Curry was content being a more traditional point guard, racking up 12 assists. He gets satisfaction out of racking up assists, as evidenced by the hand goggles he kept throwing up. It was a sacrifice not to shoot, but the ball found its way to the right person, and good things happened.
The Warriors’ “others” also contributed as Donte DiVincenzo looked like the player who became beloved during the regular season, and Jonathan Kuminga got some burn. The Warriors had 34 assists on 42 baskets, and they started things off well on the defensive end.
The Warriors are known for making adjustments and figuring out the opponent’s weaknesses. It’s too early to know if they’ve already done that, but they’ve got a deeper well and stand to be fresher in the end if this series becomes a battle of attrition. The Warriors are all about the “produce,” and as long as they keep it fresh, they’ve got this in the bag.
Serious News: nytimes
