LOS ANGELES — I can't write off the Warriors, who at the moment are down 3-1 of their second-round playoff sequence with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Not but, no less than.
As a result of till the Warriors are literally eradicated, with the ultimate shovel stuffed with filth hitting the highest of the Warriors’ coffin coming within the type of a fourth loss within the sequence, I refuse to imagine this dynasty — undefeated within the Western Convention playoffs since 2015 — is lifeless.
However I gained’t misinform you, both. Issues are wanting fairly grim for the Dubs.
And whereas we’re telling unsavory truths, right here’s one other: The Warriors discover themselves on this probably (seemingly?) season-ending predicament as a result of Steph Curry’s teammates failed him in Recreation 4.
He was failed by Klay Thompson, who solely scored 9 factors and took a number of unhealthy photographs in crunch time. He was failed by Jordan Poole, who was downright unplayable on Monday. He was failed by Draymond Inexperienced (5 turnovers) and Andrew Wiggins (as many turnovers as defensive rebounds), too.
Curry wasn’t good on Monday — he shot 3-for-14 from past the arc, and missed two go-ahead photographs within the remaining 30 seconds — however in a recreation the Warriors wanted to win to keep away from the brink, he practically carried his crew over the end line, registering a triple-double with 31 factors, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists.
He had that look in his eye — the type we noticed in final yr’s NBA Finals and in Recreation 7 of the Warriors’ first-round sequence with the Kings.
He was one of the best participant on the ground Monday, by a large margin. Even his protection was glorious.
That ought to have been ok.
However the different Warriors didn’t decide up even the tiny quantity of slack Curry left them. Skilled basketball is perhaps outlined by superstars, however it’s nonetheless a crew recreation.
“We simply attempt to make it simpler for him,” Gary Payton II mentioned.
As a substitute, they’re making it tougher.
In Recreation 4, the Lakers’ LeBron James and Anthony Davis had one another, Austin Reaves (21 crowd-pleasing factors), and Lonnie Walker IV, a task participant who scored all 15 of his factors within the fourth-quarter factors to elevate the Lakers.
Curry had second-year, often-marooned-on-the-bench ahead Moses Moody and Payton, who vomited mid-game, as his high assist.
That has been the story of this sequence — and the postseason — for Curry.
The playoffs are all about two-way gamers, and the Warriors have lacked them.
Thompson has been a one-way participant on this sequence — offense or protection, however by no means each. Monday, it was simply protection, and that ebbed, too.
, in the meantime, was a no-way participant as of late. Warriors coach Steve Kerr most likely performed him too lengthy, and he noticed his final taking part in time in the midst of the third quarter.
Inexperienced was stable for many of the recreation, however his turnover on the Warriors’ remaining possession was unforgivable. That was not the time to make a move to nobody.
And Wiggins, one yr after controlling the postseason, is just not doing the identical in these playoffs.
The margin for error for this Warriors crew has been slim all season.
Now it’s zero. One other loss and it’s season over.
So as to add insult to damage, the Warriors had been unable to complete their postgame press convention, too.
The Lakers’ enviornment was evacuated throughout Curry’s press convention Monday night time. As quickly as Wednesday, the Warriors may equally inform a very good portion of their roster to go away.
In any case, if this sequence proves to be the tip of the Dubs’ undefeated run within the West, these within the entrance workplace in search of that sort of shakeup may have ample ammunition.
However this sequence is just not but over.
Whereas these Warriors are inferior — aside from Curry — to the 2016 version of the crew, that record-setting squad did come again from a 3-1 deficit to win the Western Convention finals.
That sequence performed out in the very same order as this one, although one may argue the state of affairs was extra dire for the Warriors in 2016 — they misplaced Recreation 3 by 28 factors and Recreation 4 by 24.
And identical to in 2016, the Warriors will play Recreation 5 at house.
Win that one, and the stress falls again onto the Lakers, whose high gamers, James and Davis, are already displaying loads of fatigue late in video games.
It’s a tall order and maybe a foolhardy one, however the Dubs have run out of options. A crew that has dabbled with brinksmanship all season — largely out of boredom — might want to lean on that have to do the unbelievable.
Be aware that I didn’t name it “the not possible.”
“Simply deal with profitable Recreation 5 and take it from there. You may’t fast-forward to the tip,” Curry mentioned. “I've confidence in our capability to take the great issues from tonight and defend our house court docket … If we’re going to get out of this gap, all of us must play higher.”
