LOS ANGELES — With 37 seconds left within the fourth quarter on Monday, Stephen Curry was remoted with the Los Angeles Lakers heart Anthony Davis guarding him one-on-one.
The Lakers have been up by 1 level in Recreation 4, and the Golden State Warriors wanted a basket to maintain from being pushed to the brink of elimination. It ought to have been a mismatch: one of many biggest scoring guards in league historical past matched up in opposition to a slower heart. However Curry was stymied twice on the identical possession. First, Davis, a high defensive participant, poked the ball away. After which Curry missed a fadeaway. After an offensive rebound, Curry missed a 3-pointer over Davis once more.
These have been two of a number of fumbles by Golden State within the closing moments of an unpleasant affair through which the workforce didn’t present the championship mettle that has gained it 4 championships since 2015.
With 9 seconds left, ahead Draymond Inexperienced threw away the ball with Golden State down 3. On an ensuing bounce ball, Curry got here down with possession, and as an alternative of calling a timeout, he threw the ball away.
“I truly felt like any individual was behind me,” Curry stated after the sport. “I sort of simply let it go. However, bang, bang play. I want I had slightly bit extra consciousness to perhaps name a timeout figuring out we’ve bought sufficient time, however, you already know, it simply didn’t go our means.”
Golden State let a possibility slip by way of its fingers, having led by as many as 12 within the third quarter. As an alternative, the Lakers gained, 104-101.
Curry completed the sport taking pictures 12 for 30. Klay Thompson, Curry’s Splash Brother, was 3 for 11. That, mixed with not getting playmaking from Golden State’s function gamers, has positioned the workforce in dire straits, down three video games to one in a convention semifinal collection in opposition to a rejuvenated Lakers workforce. The late possessions have been emblematic of a season-long deficiency that has plagued Golden State, notably on the street: an lack of ability to maintain effort by way of lengthy stretches.
Maybe that is the truth of getting a core anchored by Curry, 35; Thompson, 33; and Draymond Inexperienced, 33: It’s simpler to get drained and make psychological errors. But when Golden State doesn’t dig deep to resurface the magic of the final decade, its dynasty might be extinguished on Wednesday in San Francisco.
This isn’t the primary time Golden State has been down 3-1 in a playoff collection. In 2016, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook’s Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder went up 3-1 within the Western Convention finals earlier than Golden State got here roaring again and gained the collection. Three years later, Golden State discovered itself down 3-1 in opposition to the Toronto Raptors within the finals. However with accidents to Durant, then a teammate, and Thompson, the workforce misplaced in six video games.
“It looks like what it’s: three to one,” Coach Steve Kerr advised reporters after Recreation 4 on Monday. “You go residence and also you deal with enterprise and also you get a win and the momentum is correct again in your favor. In order that’s all it’s. Any individual has to win 4 instances and that’s why you play it out.”
It hasn’t helped that Golden State’s youthful gamers haven’t been capable of fill the void left by an off night time by Curry. For the Lakers, guard Lonnie Walker, 24, in his fifth 12 months, scored 15 factors, together with essential baskets within the fourth to maintain Golden State at bay. The second-year guard Austin Reaves, additionally 24, chipped in 21 factors.
These sorts of contributions have eluded Golden State this postseason. As an alternative, Golden State has needed to rely as a lot on Curry at 35 because it did when he was 25, a recipe for bother this late within the season.
For years, the Golden State entrance workplace has been promoting a two-timeline plan of growth. It could attempt to chase championships within the current on the backs of Curry, Thompson and Inexperienced, whereas additionally creating younger expertise like Jonathan Kuminga, 20, (drafted seventh in 2021); Moses Moody, 20, (14th choose in that very same draft); James Wiseman, 22, (second choose in 2020); and Jordan Poole, 23, (twenty eighth choose in 2019).
It was a dangerous maneuver with combined outcomes. It has meant not buying and selling younger creating expertise for veterans who might assist the workforce now, and putting extra of the load on Curry within the again half of his profession. Already, Golden State traded Wiseman this season as accidents and inconsistency left him and not using a agency function within the rotation. Moody and Kuminga, every of their second 12 months, have been yanked out and in of the lineup all through the season, although Moody has had enjoying time on this collection. He scored 7 factors in 19 minutes Monday night time.
That’s not irregular for gamers barely out of their teenage years. However Golden State has probably the greatest gamers within the historical past of the N.B.A. enjoying at a excessive degree proper now. It wants Moody and Kuminga to be higher instantly to benefit from Curry’s window.
Poole has been flummoxing. At instances in his four-year profession, he has been Golden State’s finest participant. When the workforce’s high stars have confronted accidents, Poole has been counted on to fill their absences as a dependable scorer. Final 12 months, he was a core a part of a Golden State workforce that gained a championship, and he began a majority of video games throughout the common season. Poole was a concrete instance of funding in a younger participant that labored for Golden State.
In October, Golden State invested in Poole further, rewarding him with an extension reported to be worth nearly $140 million. He was slated to be the bridge to the longer term — a possible All-Star substitute for a franchise wanting ahead to a life after Curry, Inexperienced and Thompson.
However Poole’s manufacturing has turn out to be as unpredictable as his decision-making on the ground. Whereas he averaged a career-high 20.4 factors a sport throughout the common season, his taking pictures percentages dipped and his turnovers elevated. His shot choice has drawn immense criticism.
Within the playoffs, Poole’s play has cratered. In opposition to the Sacramento Kings within the first spherical, Poole shot a dismal 33.8 p.c from the sector. On Monday night time, he missed all 4 of his photographs and performed solely 10 minutes. One shot was an air ball close to the basket.
His play was clearly a sore spot for Poole after the sport on Monday. When approached by a reporter within the locker room, a annoyed Poole tersely stated, “I’ve bought nothing for you, huge man.”
After being cajoled by a Golden State press consultant, Poole took questions, although he wouldn’t bodily face reporters, creating an odd spectacle of reporters aiming recorders on the again and aspect of his head.
“Work ethic doesn’t change,” Poole stated. “Routine doesn’t change. Possibly alternative modifications. However you’ll be able to solely management what you’ll be able to management. We’ve bought one other sport in a pair days at residence.”
Curry, requested about Poole, stated it wasn’t about anybody participant.
“We get questions on him so much and it’s our entire workforce,” Curry stated. “We’re all collectively within the sense of making an attempt to determine easy methods to win playoff video games. And all of us must make changes. All of us must play higher, contemplating we’re in a 3-1 gap. So there’s no sense of isolating him on this scenario.”
Golden State has already overcome one playoff deficit this postseason. After being down by 2-0 within the opening spherical in opposition to the Kings, Golden State discovered its footing. Nevertheless it took Curry scoring 50 factors within the deciding Recreation 7 for his workforce to win the collection, probably the most he had ever scored in a playoff sport.
If Poole or the remainder of Curry’s teammates don’t supply extra help, Curry may have to achieve into reserves that the majority 35-year-olds don’t have. And which means the Golden State dynasty could exit with a whimper reasonably than a bang. When Curry was requested after the sport whether or not he let himself take into consideration the bigger implications of a collection loss, he didn’t let the reporter end the query:
“No,” Curry stated.
“Only a 3-1 collection deficit?” the reporter requested.
“Sure. Thanks.”
