5 Takeaways from The Warriors’ Victory Over Mavericks in Game 1!
The Golden State Warriors take the lead in the Western Conference finals with a 112-87 win over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1. The Warriors played a complete game, with solid performances from Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green…
The Warriors demonstrated a complete team effort, with everyone playing their part. Still, it’s anyone’s series. The Mavericks have the talent to compete with the Warriors, and we’ll see if they can make the necessary adjustments.
Here are five takeaways from the Warriors’ Game One victory for a quick recap.
Stephen Curry’s Cunning Playoffs
Stephen Curry is known for making incredible three-point shots. During the Western Conference finals Game 1, where the Warriors opened with -5.5 NBA spreads, there was a point where he missed four consecutive three-point attempts, clanked three free throws out of five, and had just one basket.
And each time Curry tried to score, the crowd gasped in anticipation because they knew he was capable of hitting an impossible shot. But then, further down the game, he awakened and went automatic on the Mavs.
Curry began dancing after one three-pointer that pushed the Mavericks off the cliff. The same step, over and over, a little shimmy of the shoulders. It was as if he were saying: I’m back. Fear me. We all know that Curry had a mini-slump this postseason. But he has a knack for coming out of it when it matters most. And that’s what makes him one of the best players in the NBA.
The Warriors Held Luka Doncic In Check
The winning strategy for the Warriors during Game 1 was probably locking-in Luka Doncic. The Dallas Mavericks point guard held his lowest scoring night of the season, earning seven turnovers, one steal, four assists, and 20 points.
The Mavs needed him to step up and attack the Warriors’ defense, but Luka seemed lost that night. He didn’t scare or hurt the Warriors in any way. For the first time in this NBA postseason, Luka was mainly held down.
The Slovenian professional basketball player struggled defensively as well. Andrew Wiggins had a total of 19 points coming against Luka. It was an uncharacteristically poor performance from Luka, and the Mavericks will need him to step up if they want to win this series.
Andrew Wiggins Was Helpful In Multiple Ways
Andrew Wiggins was a name to remember in Game 1. He put in some critical work that allows the Golden State Warriors to take the lead in the Western Conference finals series.
Wiggins was successfully on the offense and even took more shots than Curry. Best of all, he did a great job defending Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. The Warriors will need Wiggins to keep up his great play if they want to have any chance of winning the series against the Mavericks. Dallas is a tough team, and they won’t go down without a fight.
The Dallas Mavericks Can’t Connect From Deep
The biggest problem the Dallas Mavericks experienced during Game 1 was that they couldn’t seem to connect from deep, losing three-pointer opportunities. The Mavs took 48 three-pointer shots from deep but missed 37 of them.
And that’s a huge issue for an NBA team trying to win a championship. The connection just wasn’t there that night. The guys who usually make these shots were off, which needs to be fixed.
It’s not just one player either. The whole team struggled with their long-range shooting, which ultimately cost them the game. The Mavericks will need to find a way to fix this issue if they want any chance of winning the series. Otherwise, the Golden State Warriors will take full advantage and make quick work.
Championship Experience Matters
The Western Conference finals Game 1 showed that experience matters. It was clear that the Warriors had the edge over the Mavs in terms of playoff and championship experience.
The Warriors have won 6 Western Conference finals, while the Mavs have 2. In addition, the Warriors have been to the NBA Finals for the past five years straight. On the other hand, the Mavs haven’t been since 2011.
The Warriors’ roster knows what it takes to win a championship, while the Mavs have several players who are still learning what it means to be a playoff contender.
Still, it’s not all doom and gloom for the Mavs. They have many young, up-and-coming players who have shown they can compete with the best in the league. Nevertheless, the Mavs will need to learn from their mistakes and become more robust for their upcoming games.
Takeaway
The Dallas Mavericks must find ways to improve their game if they want to tie the game in the series. The Golden State Warriors are a fully stacked team, and the Mavericks will have to play their best basketball if they want a chance to win. The Warriors have shown they can beat anyone in the league when they are playing their best, and the Mavericks will need to be at their best to compete.
