In this round of NBA focus battle, the Golden State Warriors challenged the Los Angeles Clippers away. The Warriors' two main players, Paul and Wiggins, are out due to injury, while the Clippers are strong. I thought it would be a close match, but the process of the game was a big surprise.
The Warriors showed great form in the first quarter, leading by 11 points at 33-22. Heading into the half, they were ahead by as many as 19 points. It seemed that they had taken the initiative of the game, but in the first half of the third quarter, the Warriors suddenly lost power and were beaten by the Clippers 37-25, only entering the fourth quarter with a 7-point advantage.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Warriors still led by five points at 111-106 and seemed to be in sight of victory. However, in the last 8 seconds, Paul George faced Thompson's defense and hit a three-point shot directly to kill the Warriors. The result was shocking and regrettable, as the Warriors dominated most of the game but were overturned at the last minute.
Curry's performance is worth mentioning. He finished with 22 points, 4 rebounds and 11 assists on 7-of-18 shooting, which seemed to be a decent stat. However, in the second half, Curry's performance was subpar. He scored just four points on 1-of-6 shooting. Despite Curry's contributions on the offensive end, his performance on the defensive end has been less than satisfactory. Leonard's one-ons against Curry in the fourth quarter were key to the Clippers' comeback. Leonard scored eight points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field. This speaks volumes about Curry's problems on the defensive end.
Aside from Curry's performance, the Warriors' problems aren't just that. They start to be careless after taking the lead, popularly known as "waves". This Xi has plagued the Warriors for years. Whether it's in the Finals or in the regular season, they can't always stay focused and cautious while leading. And this Xi eventually led to their defeat in this game.
The impact of the absence of Paul on the Warriors is also obvious. After Paul's injury, the Warriors' second-team plus/minus was lower than the first. This means that even if he can't win a point, Paul can control the tempo steadily, extend the game time, and not let his opponent get up in a short period of time. His absence deprives the Warriors of an important fulcrum in controlling the tempo of the game and stabilizing the situation.
After losing this game, the Warriors have dropped to 11th place in the West. And behind them are the rotten pioneers. Such a result is undoubtedly a wake-up call for the Warriors. They need to recognize their problems and actively seek change. At the same time, they also expect Paul to return as soon as possible to help the team stabilize the situation and regain the winning feeling.
As regrettable and regrettable as the loss in this game is, we also see the Warriors' effort and potential. They need to find a way to overcome their weaknesses and play to their strengths better. Hopefully, in future games, we can see a more mature and consistent Warriors get back on winning track. ways to overcome your weaknesses and play to your strengths better. Hopefully, in future games, we can see a more mature and consistent Warriors get back on winning track.