In Game 1, the Golden State Warriors slowed down Luka Doncic en route to blowing out the Dallas Mavericks to open the Western Conference Finals.
At least through one game in the Western Conference Finals, it appears that the Golden State Warriors will be too much for the Dallas Mavericks to overcome. A lot can change between now and Game 2, but the Warriors looked pretty convincing in their 25-point victory in Game 1.
But the story of Game 1 is not just that the Warriors shot 56 percent from the field. In fact, they needed to after only making 10 3’s in the game and showing 34 percent from deep. Instead, the story from Game 1 is going to be their impressive showing on the defensive end.
Specifically against Luka Doncic.
Against the Phoenix Suns, Doncic averaged 33 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists per game. In Game 1 against Golden State, Luka only scored 20 points on 33 percent shooting from the field and 30 percent from deep.
All in all, it was a masterful job that the Warriors did on Luka.
Mavs coach Jason Kidd noted that the Warriors through some old-school defensive schemes at Doncic in Game 1, including bod-and-one. Golden State went throwback with their defensive mindset, along with great individual defense from Andrew Wiggins, and it resulted in a convincing win to set the tone for the series.
"“They did a really good job. Wiggins picking him up full court,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “They went box-and-one, they went zone. We understood coming into the series that we were going to see that. We’ll go back and look at the video and see what we can do better.”"
The result, of course, was a struggling Mavs offense. Luka is the straw that stirs the Mavs and when he’s struggling, that generally reflects the rest of the team. And that’s exactly what happened in Game 1.
Overall as a team, the Mavs scored just 87 points on 36 percent shooting from the field and 23 percent shooting from 3-point range. The Warriors made Luka uncomfortable and that translated to the rest of the team’s offense.
Once Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson got it going offensively, the Mavs had no chance. It’s just Game 1, but the Warriors looked like the deeper and more talented team. Heading into Game 2, it’ll be interesting to see how Kidd and the Mavs adjust. There will be an adjustment. There has to be.
And if there’s one thing we know about Luka, it’s that he’s not going to go away quietly. He’ll have a response in Game 2. Question is, will it be enough to offset the Warriors?