Warriors Continue Championship Hunt versus Mavericks in WCF
After a series full of drama and intense playoff basketball — the Warriors welcome the Mavericks to the Chase Center in their first appearance to the Western Conference Finals in over two years.
The Warriors depth will be tested in this series, but their main focus should be containing Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic while limiting turnovers and playing smart Warriors basketball.
“We have an opportunity to play in the NBA Finals,” Warriors superstar Stephen Curry said. “For the guys in the rotation tonight — everybody’s going through this for the first time, and it’s a pretty cool vibe when you figure it out as a group because we haven’t done it with this group together.”
The Mavericks have bested the Warriors 3-1 in the season series, but the Mavericks switched up their roster by trading center Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards for guard Spencer Dinwiddie during the trade deadline.
The Warriors will miss two key rotation players to start the series. The return of Warriors guard Gary Payton II is still on the table, per Steve Kerr, but certainly out of the discussion early in the series. Their depth is also tested with Warriors forward Otto Porter Jr. still uncertain for Game 1 following foot soreness in Game 5 of the Grizzlies series although after practice today Kerr noted that Porter Jr. is now probable for game 1.
After a sub-par performance throughout the Nuggets series, Porter Jr. came alive for the Warriors in Games Three and Four of the Grizzlies series. Porter Jr. registered 13 points in Game 3 — and in Game 4 — Porter Jr. kept the Warriors in the game within reach by nailing 4-for-6 of his 3-point attempts. While it seemed like everyone in a Warriors jersey couldn’t throw the ball into the ocean, Porter Jr. continued to nail timely shots.
As for Payton II, his presence has been sorely missed throughout the Grizzlies series. A rare defensive talent — Payton II brings energy and hustle that was lacking in the remaining games. In this series, it’ll be interesting to see who Head Coach Steve Kerr turns to when stopping Doncic.
Speaking of Doncic, the Slovenian native has been on an absolute tear in this year’s playoffs. Doncic is averaging 31.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists, carrying the Mavericks past the Phoenix Suns.
What Doncic did in Game 7 versus the Suns was reminiscent of LeBron James’ Game 5 performance versus the Detroit Pistons in 2007. His ability to completely take over a game and have his teammates come along for the ride is what makes the Mavericks so dangerous.
Players like guard Jaylen Brunson and guard Spencer Dinwiddie improve the Mavericks perimeter play, and can be proven real threats on the offensive end. No doubt — the trade for Dinwiddie made the Mavericks more dangerous.
The final key in defeating the Mavericks would be to limit the turnovers.
Though the Warriors took care of the Grizzlies, one glaring issue in both Games 5 and 6 were the turnovers. In game 5, the Warriors had 22 turnovers — 14 in the first half. Game 6 was slightly better, but the problem was still present with 17 empty possessions.
It’s one thing to make the wrong read in a read-and-react offense, but most of these turnovers were lazy, one-handed passes that Steve Kerr jokingly said almost caused him to shatter some beer mugs he was holding while watching the game at home. In the last 7 minutes of Game 6, the Warriors finally locked in and were able to put the Grizzlies to sleep when they played Warriors basketball.
The series starts on Wednesday, May 18 at the Chase Center.
(Photo credit: Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)