Clippers vs. Warriors: Game 1 Thoughts

Game one of the opening round playoff series between Golden State and Los Angeles did not disappoint.

Despite talk of a diminished rivalry, there was no love lost between the two, combining for six technical fouls and many high-intensity moments. 

Here are some of the key takeaways from the 121-104 Warriors win. 

Steph loves playing the Clippers

Curry putting up other-worldly shooting numbers is nothing to fret about after nearly a decade of it. 

But his all-around game and efficiency on Saturday night represented one of his best playoff performances ever (his 36.5 game score is the second-best in his career, behind game three against the Rockets in the 2015 WCF when he scored 40 in a win). 

38 points on 11-16 shooting, a career-high 15 rebounds and six assists – all coming in the first quarter – tole the show. 

But his numbers fall right in line with his recent play against the Clippers. 

As I wrote in the series preview, Steph has scored over 30 points and shot over 52% from the field. But his even more impressive run has been in the past 10 games (including game one), during which he has put up 36.2 points, 5.8 assists, 6.7 rebounds with six made threes and 59% shooting with a plus-minus of plus-219. Absurd.

Another three-point record falls

With 6:40 left in the fourth quarter, Klay dropped a pass off to a trailing Curry – who was somehow wide open – for his eighth three of the night and 386th of his postseason career, breaking Ray Allen’s NBA record. 

As Steph continues to hit threes at one of the highest paces of his career, his playoff record will rise and rise.

It was just another three-point record to fall to the Splash Brothers, who also hold the record for:

Three-pointers in a season (Steph, 402); Teammates in a season (Steph/ Klay, 678)

In a game (Klay, 14); In a playoff game (Klay, 11)

In a Finals game (Steph, 9)

In a playoff series and Finals series (Steph, 32)

In a single playoffs (98, Steph/ Klay)

The only major records they have left are three-pointers made in a career and consecutive three-pointers made in a playoff game. 

Draymond flashing back

Is it possible Draymond Green heard the other players when he was voted the most overrated player in the NBA and only the tenth-best defender? Because he showed out, posting his first game with 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists since the Western Conference Semifinals last year and was all over the place on defense. He also committed six turnovers, but he was not alone as the Warriors had 21 total turnovers.

KD + Pat Beverley = trouble

Doc Rivers is one of the best coaches in the NBA as this season has shown. And he made a tactical move in this game that will have ramifications going beyond this series by moving Beverley off of Curry, who is only further motivated by his antics, and onto Kevin Durant. The two have a history stemming back to the 2013 playoffs, and possibly the most entertaining part of game one was the back-and-forth from the two players. Beverley was active defensively, pushing up against Durant, imitating his reaction to getting fouled and jawing at him all game, eventually overflowing and spilling on the floor, leading to Ed Malloy throwing them both out of the game. 

This may not matter for this series unless Beverley is able to intice Durant into an early-game argument, but for later in the postseason, if Durant continues racking up technical fouls, he will risk breaking the seven-tech cap and will (like Draymond in the 2016 Finals) face a suspension. 

Cousins’ debut rocky

Demarcus Cousins started his first playoff game hitting a three and getting an easy score inside, notching the first five points for the Warriors.

After those first two buckets, Boogie shot 2-8, committed six turnovers and fouled out of the game with 7:16 left, posting a minus-17 plus-minus. 

This team was built for Cousins to be able to struggle here and there – much of the reason of him coming to Golden State was to slowly rehab from his injury and ease back into form – but games like this will be harder and harder to overcome as the playoffs move along, even as quickly as the second round.

With Looney impressing in 17 minutes off the bench (plus-30, team-best 86 defensive rating) Cousins’ minutes might dwindle as this series continues. 

Clippers’ starting unit struggles

As expected, the Clippers’ second unit was by far their best lineup. 

The bench duo of Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell outscored the entire LA starting unit – 51 to 39 – and helped keep them in the game until the Warriors finally pulled away late in the game.

The brightest spot from the starting unit was rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 18 and blocked three shots in 34 minutes, the most for any Clipper. 

The second unit – the one that will match up with some mix of Shaun Livingston, Quinn Cook and Cousins without the protection of Curry and Durant – will be their best chance at making runs and taking control of the game.