Warriors Set The Tone with Game 1 Victory over Nuggets

The last time the Golden State Warriors were in the playoffs — it wasn't pleasant. The Warriors slumped off the Oracle floor after the Toronto Raptors bested them in the 2018 NBA Finals in six games.

Fast-forward three years later and the Warriors are officially back in the playoffs with a vengeance. Looking to set the tone early against the MVP candidate Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets — the Warriors came out firing.

Jordan Poole continued to make his case for MIP and finished with 30 points on an impressive five-for-seven shooting from deep — while going perfect in the first half with 17 points.

“He’s not afraid of the moment,” Head Coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s earned the respect and the trust of his teammates and they believe in him. So there’s no hesitation to put the ball in his hands.”

The Steph Disciple demonstrated why he’s worth the extension coming in the future. Poole did his best Curry impersonation by launching threes from beyond 30 feet, controlling the pace and always keeping his foot on the gas pedal by attacking the Nuggets drop coverage.

With Jokic unwilling to venture out beyond the paint — Poole took advantage and continued to read the defense while making the right play out of pick-and-roll action but also making plays for himself when the time came.

“There’s no better feeling than having the guys behind you who have already been through the fight,” Poole said.

One of Poole’s unique attributes is his explosive first step. His in-and-out dribble freezes the defense and Poole utilizes that advantage by kicking into that extra gear.

In the late second quarter with the game tied at 43 and hanging in the balance, Poole demonstrated his growth by exploding into a left-to-right crossover into a Euro-step and took the contact.

The Warriors prestige ball movement and man movement was present. As a team, they finished with 33 assists on 43 field goals. This looked like the Warriors that went 18-2 to start the regular season.

As for guard Klay Thompson, his first playoff game back from Game 6 of the NBA Finals proved that Thompson hasn’t missed a step. The splash brother connected on 50% of his threes, and got the Warriors on track in the first quarter with his shooting.

To see the splash brother get his confidence back with a strong playoff game in a little over two years was a sight for sore eyes. With the return of superstar Stephen Curry — the Warriors finally got the band back together, after only having 11 minutes on the court during the regular season.

As for Curry’s return, the two-time MVP shook off the rust when he made his first three. A simple give-and-go with his favorite partner forward Draymond Green got him going. Most of his shots were short — which was to be expected after missing the past two weeks with an ankle injury.

Though Curry experienced injuries in the past, Curry said he learned a lot watching Klay come back from his injuries in regards to dealing with his own return from injury.

The Warriors received contributions up and down the roster — as even forward Nemanja Bjelica showcased his ability to be aggressive off the bench with a flurry of moves. The bench mob tallied 40 points and showcased why the Warriors are one of the deepest teams in the league.

With the Warriors striking the first blow in Game 1, look for the Nuggets to make Game 2 more interesting Monday, April 18.

(photo credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty images)