Kyle Terada- USA Today Sports
After what was supposed to be a hard fought series, the Warriors’ creativity and depth propelled them into the conference finals. Golden State was going to be tested in the second round by Memphis. It took solid interior defensive play and better passing to break down the Grizzlies stout frontline. In a pivotal game five, Golden State took a crucial 3-2 lead through a dominant 98-78 victory. Andrew Bogut only played 24 minutes, yet still contributed with six points, nine rebounds, and four blocks. The seven foot center forced Marc Gasol into 22 shots with many of those shots contested. Golden State connected on fourteen three-pointers, which pushed them to a seventeen point lead going into the fourth quarter.
Memphis has become one of the best home court advantages in basketball. It wasn’t much of a factor in Golden State’s 108-95 win. The Warriors got off to a fast 32-19 start led by Stephen Curry. They never looked back through Curry’s 32 points and ten assists. For the third consecutive game, the Grizzlies shot under 40 percent. That doesn’t translate well against an offensive juggernaut like Golden State. Bogut only played 24 minutes again, although foul trouble hindered him this time. It was a disappointing game from his stat-line of four points, three rebounds, and three blocks. Two of those three blocks were against Zach Randolph in highlight-reel fashion.
Andrew Bogut sends Zach Randolph’s shot the other way.
AP Photo/Tony Avelar
The Golden State Warriors opened up the Western Conference Finals on a sour note after falling behind to the Houston Rockets by as many as 16 points early on in the second quarter at Oracle Arena on Tuesday night. However, the Warriors would rally back with league MVP Stephen Curry’s 34 points to win game one 110-106. Andrew Bogut started for Golden State at center and had a difficult time guarding Dwight Howard in the first quarter. With Bogut in early foul trouble, the Warriors decided to play small ball the rest of the way as Bogut finished scoreless on three shot attempts in 16 minutes of action.
Houston and Golden State both like to play small and spread the floor with three point shooters. Expect a high scoring series with Andrew Bogut getting plenty of rest.
Game two will take place tomorrow night. The series shifts to Houston for game three on Saturday and game four on Monday. After expecting to face the Clippers, the Warriors seem to match up far better against the Rockets. It’s been well documented that the Clippers-Warriors rivalry has become the most intense rivalry in the NBA. Instead, they face a team without a true point guard and a short bench. Bogut will be battling against Dwight Howard in another fascinating matchup of top NBA centers. It’ll be important for Bogut to avoid foul trouble, which the big man struggled with last series against Gasol.
Twitter: @Allen_Strk
@Ante B,
I’m not saying that I’m jumping ship, just saying that I am rooting for the Warriors. Lakers are my #1 and will always be my #1.
@Ziva,
I prefer Towns as well, but I would take Okafor in a heartbeat. Both are 6’11” and would fill the center void nicely.
I dont rate DeAngelo, but I do see potential.
where do you see Mario Hezonja going?
Towns will be much better than Okafor long term. I don’t know if Okafor is a good fit for LA with Randle coming back. Neither guy can shoot outside the line. Hard for two guys to play well together when both need to be in the lane.
You live in America. You can do whatever you want. But deep down you’re a Lakers fan and you can’t jump ship like that. Congrats on the 2nd pick though!
@JP,
The gods have smiled on the Lakers. Towns or Okafor guaranteed. As long as we don’t sign Rondo, we’re in business.
Towards the end of the season, I thought this would be a huge offseason for the lakers. Now, with the #2 pick, the lakers don’t need much this offseason and could be in the mix in 2016 when Durant comes off the books.
Even if the Lakers don’t pick up one of the big boy free agents this offseason, we still have (Towns/Okafor) Randle and Clarkson. Kobe will come off the books and Lakers will be a #1 free agent destination.
The Clippers on the other hand might turn into the dallas mavericks if they fail to resign DeAndre jordan. They dont have any cap space to sign a replacement which means that spencer hawes starts next season. CP3 and Blake could only do so much defensively. No rebounds = No wins.
Dallas will be in the mix for DeAndre. Monte Ellis is most likely gone to Denver.
@Ante B,
Can I claim the Warriors since I lived in San Francisco for 6 months? Also, we do have a Croatian on the team.
Denis, you must be happy about the 2nd pick!!!
Houston is surprisingly good, when you watch them they look mostly terrible, but they somehow always get major contributions every game from someone different. They spanked my Mavs, though it was much closer than the outcome looked, and the Mavs couldn’t handle the loss of Chandler Parsons, especially amid all that Rondo crap going on. then they went on and broke the Clippers’ will, likely for the long-term.
Anyway, the fact that they hung with the dubs last night without really any contribution from Howard should be scary for the dubs. Interesting to see what happens here going forward.
With my Bulls out, I’m wanting the Dubs to take it all. I still can’t believe it though. The Warriors were a joke for the better part of 30 years and they’re killing it. Last night was a doozy of a game though.
Cavs vs Warriors will be an interesting final
If Dwight Howard is out for a couple of games, look for both teams to play small ball and Bogut will be ineffective in this series. Bogut will be an important piece for the Warriors against the Hawks or the Cavaliers in the final.