Clay Thompson was splashing 3-pointers. Tremond Green created stops and cleverly invented open cuts. Stephen Curry pulled several defenders in no time to touch the ball.
The trio, who redefined basketball on their way to winning multiple championships with the Golden State Warriors, reunited in the playoffs on Saturday for the first time since 2019. And like many games of that era, the high-octane Warriors dominated and defeated the Denver Nuggets. In the opening game of their first-round playoffs, 123-107.
In a surprising move, Charcoal started playing on the bench. In his place, coach Steve Kerr started third-year guard Jordan Poole, who he poured this year. This action was taken with the aim of keeping the curry within a strict minute limit. This will be his first game against the Boston Celtics on March 16 after a left leg injury.
The relocation paid off. Poole scored an exceptional 30 points in his first career playoff game – one game high – by 9 runs in 13 shootings, electrifying the Chase Center crowd in San Francisco. He played for a long time as if he were the mainstay of post-season basketball. At one point, he danced after hitting the hard basket. It was such a night. The 22-year-old was selected to the team of stars who have played for some of the most talented teams in league history. 28th Exam of 2019 Draft Who stole the show when Golden State tried to recapture the NBA throne.
“Jordan Pool, aha, what a playoff debut,” Thompson told reporters after the game: “We have to be very grateful for Jordan’s growth and the kind of player he’s incredibly good at, that is, what a star is in production.
Charcoal last left the bench during the playoffs on May 1, 2018, the second game of the Western Conference semifinals. New Orleans PelicansWhen He returned from a knee injury. Saturday against Denver was Curry’s third career playoff game in which he played, but it did not start.
He entered the match in the first half of the quarter with loud applause. Almost immediately, Curry realized his presence, found Thompson for an open 3-pointer from the corner and slammed a pass between two defenders into an open green. Otherwise, he struggled and was dismissed for 5 for 13 and 16 for 16. But his presence alone still drew attention from the Nuggets, and the Warriors outscored Denver by 17 points.
“I was happy to feel the playoff vibe again, apparently it’s different, now trying to make the best use of the appropriate minutes,” Carrie said.
Pool’s strong play puts Kerr in a precarious position to move forward – good kind. Once Charlie returns, can he send Poole to the bench for the rest of the playoffs?
“We’ll cross it when we get to that bridge,” Kerr said.
Pool’s strong play will give Kerr extra options for the rest of the series. For one, he could line up a three-guard lineup of Curry, Thompson and Poole – three playmakers and shooters. It is reminiscent of the final mini-ball series that the Warriors used best during the Championship runs of the last decade – the pool now plays a minor role, apart from the role of Andre Igudola.
An added benefit of pool exposure is that it allows the Golden State to ease the curvature of the charcoal coming from the foot injury. Kerr declined to say whether Charcoal will return to Game 2 on Monday.
Thompson, meanwhile, looked like the player he was before the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the 2019 NBA Final. On the way to five 3-pointers and 19 points overall, he moved quickly to find an open look for himself.
“I thought about the days I was in the gym, the days I was in the doctor’s office, the days I was at the operating table, then flying up and down the court, tapping shots, and playing solid defensive games. For me, “Thompson said after the game.
Denver, on the other hand, has to go back to the drawing board.
Golden State was able to turn its second most prestigious player award-winning favorite, Nicola Joachim, into the Knights’ best star. The Warriors continued to force the jockey for tough shots and frustrated him with a steady stream of doubles. They tried to weaken him defensively by setting up possessions with him as the primary defender. In possession after possession, the jockey was sent off hastily after the fast-paced Golden State bowlers.
“They were better than us in every aspect of the game,” Jogik said.
But the Warriors also have Green, who won the 2016-17 Best Defensive Player award. He was able to do something most defenders could not do: he defended each other for many possessions, freed his Golden State team and sent the jockey to join the other Knights players.
By the fourth quarter, Jogik looked tired. He finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. He went for the free throw line twice, despite trying 25 shots. Denver was frustrated with the exercise of power.
“I think a lot of his jersey was taken out at times, ”said Nuggets coach Mike Malone. “It simply came to our notice then. We need to see how they protect him and how we can pay for how they protect him.. “
When a reporter asked the jockey about his inauguration after the game, he said, “My friend, I think I will be fined if I respond.”
The playoff opening game for the key Golden State players, who won the championship in 2015, 2017 and 2018, returned to the spotlight last season. Curry, Green, Thompson and Iguodala are the top four leaders in owner history who have played in games since last season. But due to injuries, this is the first time for the Warriors Made playoffs from 2019, When the team lost in the final to the Toronto Raptors in six games. All four are the same time Played the same game this year On January 9, Thompson missed his first game of two seasons with a leg injury. Green started the game only briefly, in favor of Thompson, before sitting up all night.
Both teams had significant injury issues during the season. Green missed more than two months of the regular season for the Golden State due to a back injury. For Denver, Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray missed the entire season; They can reduce the jockey’s pressure to play more often.
This is Denver Fourth year in a row Creating playoffs; The team has been knocked out in the first round for the past three seasons.
There is comforting evidence for Denver: in each of those series, the Nuggets lost the first game. The Nuggets will try to tie the seven-game series at one point each on Monday. But on Saturday night they were found to be very inappropriate.
“We can’t beat ourselves and the Warriors in the same game,” Malone said. “We did it tonight.”
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