Warriors’ venerable championship core knows what time it originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
After winning a game they absolutely needed, the Warriors can continue chasing that coveted No. 6 seed in the Western Conference while also rationally believing they have enough to get there.
But any real chance of making that move in the remaining 16 games will require much more of what they got Saturday night in a 128-121 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
This much-needed victory was built on the backs of their venerable championship core: Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. They knew the big implications of the game and responded wonderfully.
With a push from coach Steve Kerr, who reminded the Warriors of the commitment during practice on Friday, the Vets put together one of their cleanest games this season against an opponent tied with them in the standings.
“We know what it takes,” Green told reporters in Los Angeles. “We understand. We have a good balance on our team with guys who have to bring energy, and they bring that energy. Sometimes you get into these situations and, ‘Are you talking about it? Does it add more pressure?’
“I loved that Steve came in and said, ‘Listen, this is a big game. “It’s a play-off game and we’ve got to come out here with that kind of focus and win.” Guys got locked up and got the job done.
Green, listed as “questionable” on the injury report due to back pain, felt well enough to start and produced 13 assists, 12 rebounds, six points and quick defense to finish plus-12 in 34 minutes.
Curry, returning after a three-game absence due to a sprained right ankle, warmed up during a scoreless first quarter before pouring in 31 points in 26 minutes over the final three quarters.
“He had a slow start, but he never worries – and we never worry either,” Kerr said. ‘You know he’s going to get started. And what he does just opens the floor for everyone else as well. It’s not just his shooting style, but it’s also his threat that gives us so many easy looks.”
That brings us to Thompson, the third member of the core, the first to loudly announce his presence to the Lakers — and the one whose production will likely determine Golden State’s direction over the past month.
Returning from a subpar game after a loss to the Mavericks on Wednesday night in Dallas, Thompson came off the bench to score 21 points in 14 minutes in the first half, propelling the Warriors to victory. He totaled 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc.
“I just take what the defense gives me,” Thompson said. “And if they give me permission to let go of pindowns or shoot some transition threes, I’m going to shoot it. I try not to think too much. Keep it simple, and that’s usually when my game tends to flourish.
Thompson played at a comfortable pace, taking smart shots, adding four rebounds and three assists, all while making it look effortless.
Golden State’s recent history shows that Thompson is the scorer who most determines the outcome of a game. We’ve seen Curry grow up and that’s not enough. When Thompson goes big, it usually results in a W, positioning him as the team’s X-factor.
When Curry scores 25 or more points, the Warriors win 70.4 percent of the time (336-140). But if Thompson scores at least 25 points, they have the upper hand 80.2 percent of the time (163-40). (Stats courtesy of the good folks at statmuse.com.)
To give the Warriors a reasonable chance to create the kind of finish that pushes them above the NBA’s play-in box and into the guaranteed playoff berth the top six finishers deserve, they need Thompson in his new Sixth Man role. opposing defenses.
“I can really feel his power coming off the bench and we’re going to go right to him,” Kerr said. “We’re calling plays for him. It’s a different atmosphere now that he’s coming off the bench. He’s there with Steph, but then Steph goes to the couch. The fact that we always have one on the floor for the most part is very important to us.”
Although Jonathan Kuminga’s 23 points were needed, this was a night where the team’s experienced vets did what they had to do. They knew a win would give them an edge over the Lakers and move one step closer to their goal of avoiding the play-in tournament.
They knew this even without Kerr’s memory.
“He didn’t have to tell me anything,” Curry said. “I just missed the last three [games]so I was excited to be back.
“But you obviously understand the implications of every game we play… Every game, especially against teams that are, you know, in the middle of the standings, you know, where it’s all mixed up, matters.”
This game needed playoff intensity. It brought the core of the championship. For their next battle, they will look to keep it going for the next 16 games.
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