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Cast of hot shots6/28/2023 Both numbers are substandard for him as he’s never shot lower than 37.7% on 3-pointers in any postseason (2018-19). After another mild effort (3-for-11) on Wednesday, Curry is now 6-for-25 in his last two games and shooting 35.8% on 3-pointers for the series and 37.1% overall in the 2023 playoffs. So you expect him to bring it.”ĭraymond Green cranks up the defensive intensity and adds 20 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in Game 5.Ĭurry has gone chilly on 3-pointers, a rare sight shown by a player who often goes entire halves without missing. Draymond is one of the greatest competitors I’ve been around. I loved his approach to the game tonight. When he’s aggressive like that, looking to attack, it adds another dimension to our team. Said Warriors coach Steve Kerr: “When he scores a certain number of points, we usually win. The sense of urgency had much to do with his about-face. That changed suddenly on the offensive end Wednesday for Green when he took most of those open shots - and was successful enough to score 20 points, breaking 20 for only the second time in 12 playoff games in 2023. When Green isn’t a threat to score, the defense gives him plenty of disrespect and turns its attention on Curry and Thompson, as the Lakers have wisely done to take control of the series. He clearly doesn’t feel comfortable doing anything with the ball except passing it, especially when he’s left alone at the 3-point line. Throughout his career, Green has had a tendency to pass up open shots, even when he’s in the paint, and a reluctance to post-up smaller players. But that basketball rage doesn’t always equate to a determination to shoot or at least be a threat to score. It’s surprising, given his role as the Warriors’ fiery leader. A good case study is Green as his energy level in this series has run hot and cold. Someone will someday conduct a study on NBA players to learn why those players are aggressive one night and passive the next. That’s what matters the most.”Ĭhris Haynes provides a postgame update on Anthony Davis, who left Game 5 with a head injury. “The medical team said he’s doing better,” James said. The Lakers downplayed the significance of Davis’ injury - he wasn’t made availability for comment - and gave no indication that this would be a Game 6 issue. It’s never good news when Davis heads to the locker room to get examined - just check his injury history - and there’s only one day to rest and recover for another game.īut a bigger story would be Davis suiting up Friday, spooking the Warriors on defense as he has all series, drawing enough contact to get to the line and get Green complaining to the referees, and pushing the Lakers to the West finals. Until then, Davis was on pace for another solid night (23 points, nine rebounds). He took an inadvertent elbow from Kevon Looney in the fourth quarter and exited with a head injury evidently bad enough to prevent him from returning to a game that was still within reach. The stage is set for Anthony Davis to kill the narrative and demonstrate that a fall to the floor won’t keep him down for the count. It’s 3-2, still in favor of the Lakers, after Golden State’s breezy 121-106 victory and here are five takeaways from it all: We will then learn if the Warriors, suspiciously lame on the road all season, can muster the heat needed in what will be another elimination game for them if LeBron James can add to his close-out legacy with an epic performance if Klay Thompson can have a Game 6 like he did once upon a time on a ballistic night in Oklahoma City. So, yes, Warriors-Lakers was all but destined to return to Los Angeles (where the Lakers haven’t lost in these playoffs or the AT&T Play-In Tournament) for what will be the biggest game of the series - at least until Game 7, should that happen. There was really no suspense in Game 5, especially when Draymond Green brought the contagious energy, when Stephen Curry swished a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in the first half for a double-digit lead and momentum-grabber, when Anthony Davis got clubbed on the head midway through the fourth quarter and called it a night. Like, what else could be advantageous for the Warriors? Why? Because the defending champions were down, they were desperate, and they were home. SAN FRANCISCO - In a series loaded with unpredictability at every turn and in pretty much every night, Game 5 was probably the easiest to forecast of them all. Facing elimination at home, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green set the tone in a Game 5 win against the Lakers.
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