The Golden State Warriors play a pivotal Game 6 tonight at Staples Center against the eighth seed, Los Angeles Clippers. The Warriors maintain a 3-2 series lead on the Clippers in large part due to their fast starts in the first quarter.
Before Game 5, the Warriors were leading the Clippers by an average of 11 points after the first quarter and, if it was not for the Game 2 debacle, this series would be over already. With those previous fast starts, it was expected that the Warriors would come out with the same energy as the previous four.
This was not the case.
The Warriors seemed disinterested on defense, allowing the Clippers 37 points in the first quarter. The Warriors had energy, but only on the offensive end, as they dropped 41 points of their own in the same quarter.
With the success the Warriors had in the first quarter, it was evident they just tried to outscore the Clippers for the rest of the game. It did not work. The Clippers played their best game of the series, shooting 54 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range, while only turning the ball over 10 times.
Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell were unstoppable in the pick-and-roll, combining for 57 points, shooting 23-for-33 from the field, often finding no resistance from the Warriors’ lacking defense.
On Friday, Kevin Durant was asked about the Warriors’ energy in Game 5 and he did not mince words to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater.
Let’s just be real. It was a perfect storm for the Clippers last game. We came out with (expletive) energy at the start. I mean, I wouldn’t say (expletive), but a little bit relaxed than the two games before.
(Warning: Video contains profanity.)
Kevin Durant is absolutely right.
The Warriors did come out with (expletive) energy, allowing the Clippers to get in a rhythm, which they never lost for the remainder of the game. Expect the Warriors to come out focused from the start on their defensive assignments and play more like they did in Game 3 when the game was over in the first quarter.
If the Warriors come out with (expletive) energy again tonight, we will see a Game 7 on Sunday afternoon. The Warriors do not want this so expect much better focus tonight at Staples Center.
