Apr 10, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) passes the ball to forward Kevin Durant (35) against the Utah Jazz during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Golden State Warriors looked just fine against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1, here’s a look at some of the biggest takeaways
The Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers put on a show in Game 1. To the credit of the Blazers, both C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard were unstoppable and looked poised to steal homecourt advantage. In the end, though, the Warriors did what the Warriors always do in the fourth quarter – separate.
With the Warriors taking a 1-0 series lead over the Blazers, let’s take a look back at how it all happened.
Chemistry
If there was one question mark about this Golden State Warriors team, it was how would Kevin Durant’s return would affect a team that seemed to find its rhythm with him being out of the lineup.
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Stephen Curry looked like his old MVP self and played some of his best basketball of the season while shifting back to being the leading man. Not to say that Curry played poorly with Durant in the lineup or that the team struggled as a whole, but everything seemed to flow while Durant was out.
They quite frankly looked like a title contender even without him. Game 1 against the Blazers put that notion to bed. Everyone was firing on all cylinders. The Blazers’ best hope was that the Warriors hadn’t fully integrated Kevin back into the lineup and that they would struggle as a whole trying to find their rhythm together.
For the first three quarters, it seemed like an accurate statement as the Blazers kept up with them all night. In the end, however, the Warriors had no problem fitting Kevin back in. That’s a bad sign for the Blazers.
Kevin Durant’s Knee
Kevin Durant sure didn’t seem like a guy that missed 20 games with an MCL sprain in his knee. Nor did he seem to be rusty whatsoever. Instead, he picked up right where he left off dropping a game-high 32 points on an efficient 12-20 from the field while also grabbing 10 boards.
He didn’t seem hesitant or unsure of himself. Kevin Durant is arguably the second best player in the world but, like many others coming off of an injury, sometimes it takes a while to find a rhythm in the game and confidence in your knee.
Not for KD.
Draymond Green Was Sensational
The Golden State Warriors have a ton of firepower on the offensive end as Steph, Klay and Durant combined for 76 points. The Blazers, on the other hand, aren’t slouches as Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum combined for 75 points of their own.
The difference was Draymond Green as the Blazers simply had no answer for the versatile big man who he dropped 19 points, grabbed 12 boards, dished out nine assists, blocked five shots and got three steals.
In short, he was all over the court. Both CJ and Dame have proved all year that they can keep up offensively with anyone but with the absence of Jusuf Nurkic, the Blazers just didn’t have anyone that Draymond had to worry himself with.
Hoops Habit
Jusuf Nurkic
The big man has been great since arriving in Portland, averaging 15 points and 10 boards. But it goes beyond the numbers, his mere presence would make all the difference.
Having Nurkic out there has forced teams to stay home with the shooters. The big man can score inside and stretch the defense out up to 15 feet.
More than anything, Nurkic commands respect out there on the court and with the Warriors often shifting to small ball, that would play right into the big man’s hands. Draymond is a great defender but he doesn’t have the size and strength to deal with Nurkic.
If he somehow manages to come back from a fractured leg soon, he can make things a bit more interesting.
Transition
The Golden State Warriors outscored the Blazers in fastbreak points 24-10. The Warriors have the best offense in the league so limiting them in transition is a must for the Blazers. A lineup consisting of Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Steph is gonna score in a multitude of ways.
What the Blazers can’t afford to do is give them easy buckets as well. Force them to score in a half court set. With that being said, the Warriors are gonna score no matter what and they have absolutely no problems scoring in a half court set.
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But when you combine transition opportunities with three-point and free throw attempts, the task of stopping the Warriors then becomes impossible.