GarageGabs

 

After losing to Utah 115-101 last night, the Golden State Warriors are now looking at a 3-1 series deficit as they travel back to Utah.  A little composure, and they would be holding a 3-1 advantage.  The Warriors totally blew game 2 of the series, missing 3 key free-throws and turning the ball over down the stretch.  Last night, Baron Davis & Company were at it again, this time missing 13 free-throws and breaking down defensively in a game that was MUCH closer than the score indicates.

Utah is obviously the better team.  The Jazz run a well oiled system, methodically getting the ball into Carlos Boozer in the post.  Golden State, as Coach Don Nelson put it, “has no plan B”.  They run and shoot 3’s until the wheels fall off.  Nice concept, and it actually works from time to time…..add a little bit of focus and control to the mix and they would have won last night.  As the Warriors began to fall into a hole last night they immediately began hoisting up bad 3’s, missing free-throws, and losing their cool.  Baron Davis missed 2 key free throws and elbowed Derek Fisher; Jason Richardson hoisted up bad 3 after bad 3 and slammed Okur as he went in for a late game dunk; Matt Barnes heaved up a couple off balance NO CHANCE type 3 pointers.  The Warriors need to understand…as a playoff game moves past the 6 minute mark in the 4th quarter, each and every possession  becomes important.  They are an athletic team.  Keep attacking the rim.  Get to the free-throw line and actually make your free throws.  Play with composure.  It’s time to shut the whirling derby down during the 4th quarter of close games.  Only then will they be able to finish.

It won’t matter.  This series is over.  Golden State is beaten, tired, and demoralized.  They’ve gone to the well one to many times and come up empty.  Utah finishes this series out at home, 4-1.  Oh, and I hate to finish this post up without mentioning this guy; Derek Fisher has been flat out amazing.