Can the Lakers’ guards come up big again?
The contributions of D’Angelo Russell helped give the Lakers the edge in Game 1 and his performance helped to seal the win. Russell made the huge shot that stopped the 14-0 run by the Warriors which ended up stopping the Warriors’ momentum late in the 4th quarter.
He had a great impact on the game with his timely scoring as he also found his teammates setting them up with his assists on important possessions throughout the game. Russell would’ve easily scored over 20 points if not for some missed opportunities but ended up finishing with 19 points, three rebounds, and six assists.
Russell can knock down the midrange jump shot at any given time and he should consider using his floater more often because he is too talented to just be a catch-and-shoot type of player. He is a shifty player who can change speeds quickly and makes the right reads on plays. Russell did a great job at setting up the Lakers’ halfcourt offense and showed great chemistry with Davis.
Dennis Schroder’s performance was also a huge reason why the Lakers won in Game 1 as he poured in 19 points, two rebounds, and three assists off the bench. He also played great defense on Curry, and if Schroder continues to play as he did in Game 1 throughout the series, the Warriors have a real problem on their hands.