Five takeaways from warriors' must-win game 5 victory over lakers

 5 takeaways from warriors' should-win recreation five victory over lakers

San francisco — in a series loaded with unpredictability at every flip and in pretty a lot every night time, recreation 5 became probable the very best to forecast of all of them. Why? Due to the fact the protecting champions have been down, they were determined, and they were domestic.

Like, what else could be fine for the warriors? There was truely no suspense in game five, particularly while draymond inexperienced introduced the contagious power, while stephen curry swished a 3-pointer with 1. 7 seconds left within the first half for a double-digit lead and momentum-grabber, whilst anthony davis got clubbed on the top halfway through the fourth region and referred to as it a night time.

So, sure, warriors-lakers was all however destined to return to l. A. (where the lakers haven’t misplaced in these playoffs or the at&t play-in event) for what's going to be the most important game of the collection — at the least until game 7, have to that happen.

We can then examine if the warriors, suspiciously lame on the road all season, can muster the heat wanted in what will be every other removal recreation for them; if lebron james can add to his close-out legacy with an epic performance; if klay thompson will have a sport 6 like he did as soon as upon a time on a ballistic night in oklahoma city. It’s three-2, still in choose of the lakers, after golden kingdom’s breezy 121-106 victory and right here are 5 takeaways from all of it:

1. Can davis shake it off? The degree is about for anthony davis to kill the narrative and demonstrate that a fall to the ground gained’t keep him down for the count number. He took an inadvertent elbow from kevon looney in the fourth quarter and exited with a head injury certainly bad enough to prevent him from returning to a recreation that changed into still inside attain.

Until then, Davis was on pace for another solid night (23 points, nine rebounds). It’s never good news when Davis heads to the locker room to get examined — just check his injury history — and there’s only one day to rest and recover for another game.

But a bigger story would be Davis suiting up Friday, spooking the Warriors on defense as he has all series, drawing enough contact to get to the line and get Green complaining to the referees, and pushing the Lakers to the West finals. The Lakers downplayed the significance of Davis’ injury — he wasn’t made availability for comment — and gave no indication that this would be a Game 6 issue.

“The medical team said he’s doing better,” James said. That’s what matters the most.”

2. Draymond was dialed in

Someone will someday conduct a study on NBA players to learn why those players are aggressive one night and passive the next. A good case study is Green as his energy level in this series has run hot and cold.

It’s surprising, given his role as the Warriors’ fiery leader. But that basketball rage doesn’t always equate to a determination to shoot or at least be a threat to score. Throughout his career, Green has had a tendency to pass up open shots, even when he’s in the paint, and a reluctance to post-up smaller players. He clearly doesn’t feel comfortable doing anything with the ball except passing it, especially when he’s left alone at the 3-point line.

When Green isn’t a threat to score, the defense gives him plenty of disrespect and turns its attention on Curry and Thompson, as the Lakers have wisely done to take control of the series. That changed suddenly on the offensive end Wednesday for Green when he took most of those open shots — and was successful enough to score 20 points, breaking 20 for only the second time in 12 playoff games in 2023. The sense of urgency had much to do with his about-face.

Said Warriors coach Steve Kerr: “When he scores a certain number of points, we usually win. When he’s aggressive like that, looking to attack, it adds another dimension to our team. I loved his approach to the game tonight. Draymond is one of the greatest competitors I’ve been around. So you expect him to bring it.”

Three. Curry nevertheless struggling from deep

curry has long past chilly on 3-recommendations, a unprecedented sight proven by means of a participant who frequently is going whole halves without missing. After any other moderate effort (three-for-11) on wednesday, curry is now 6-for-25 in his ultimate two games and taking pictures 35. 8% on 3-guidelines for the collection and 37. 1% typical inside the 2023 playoffs. Both numbers are substandard for him as he’s never shot lower than 37. 7% on three-recommendations in any postseason (2018-19). It’s confusing, but curry’s three-factor percentage changed into only barely better (37. 8%) in the seven recreation first-spherical series towards the sacramento kings. The lakers are making him work for his seems, for positive, giving him few smooth ones. But that rarely stopped curry before and he actions without the ball better than maximum. Right information for the warriors: curry wasn’t harmed too much in game 5 — he finished with a recreation-excessive 27 factors — specially because his dribble game stays robust and facilitates him reach the rim. Even better: curry’s passing is leading to smooth hoops for his teammates (had 8 assists wednesday, two nights after he managed 14). Wonderful players locate other methods to make contributions whilst their distinctiveness isn’t working and curry is not any exception.

“if he gets beyond one defender they’re sending 4,” inexperienced said. “however he’s been an terrific passer all the time. He’s always a inclined passer.”

4. Lakers’ assisting cast disappears

the essence of the lakers is james and davis, but the reason they’re in this role is due to every person else. Their function gamers have made this appear, with l. A. One win away from the west finals. The ones equal gamers, though, became lower back into pumpkins, at least for one night. And this was one sport removed from lonnie walker iv outscoring all people inside the fourth sector of game 4. It became a special tale for sport 5 in that no one accelerated themselves. Now not rui hachimura, no longer d’angelo russell or jarred vanderbilt and not even walker, who scored 4 factors for the game and zero on this fourth quarter. Here’s what this series desires to understand: turned into this a brief vaporization, or is the stage abruptly too big? They’ll get any other threat, and they’ll be lower back domestic, and the lakers don’t want satisfactory from all of them, simply from enough of them to make a distinction. So who will or not it's? And will they do enough to deny curry, thompson and green from bringing the collection returned to san francisco, in which the lighting fixtures could be at their brightest?

“there’s manifestly matters we will do better,” said lakers defend austin reaves. “we’ll come out with a bit extra firepower and notice what we've got.”

5. Warriors welcome wiggins to the series

this became by a long way the most impactful and energetic attempt by way of andrew wiggins within the semifinals. Absolutely, this became a model of wiggins the warriors haven’t visible since the 2022 nba finals. The remaining time wiggins turned into arguably the warriors’ pleasant player at the court was in the 2022 west finals while he dunked on luka doncic’s head. Besides, sufficient of the flashbacks. The soldiers wanted more from wiggins and he added. The handiest nitpick wednesday turned into his incapacity to hit the open 3. Otherwise, wiggins gave 25 points (on 10-for-18 shooting), seven rebounds, six assists and a player at the floor the lakers had to appreciate all sport. Keep in mind that wiggins is also guarding james, that means he’s burning electricity at both ends. Lebron by no means harm the soldiers wednesday at the same time as wiggins eventually punished l. A. Offensively.

“i was locked in,” stated wiggins. “i’m a competitor. This become d

o or die.”