Warriors look to use finals road experience
BOSTON — Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors
have no problem playing on the road. The Celtics, meanwhile,
haven’t been lightsout in Boston during these playoffs.
As the NBA Finals shift to TD Garden for Wednesday’s Game 3
with the series tied at 1, the Celtics ought to have the advantage, but recent numbers
suggest otherwise. Boston is 5-4 at home and 8-3 on the road this postseason.
The Warriors, meanwhile, have won at least one away game in 26 consecutive playoff series.
“We always know how to find a way to win games no matter what style it is, high
scoring, low scoring, defensive battle,
shootout, whatever it is,” Golden State guard Stephen Curry
said. “We find another level of grit and determination, just an ability to find a way to get it done. Being in hostile environments, you get tested, you get pushed. Our experience kind of shows at the right time.”
The previous 39 times teams have split the first two games of the Finals, the winner
of Game 3 has gone on to win the series 82.1% of the time (32-7).
“I think just our playoff experience, our guys understand the importance of making
sure you don’t let your guard down in that
first (road) playoff game,” Warriors coach
Steve Kerr said. “We know they’re going to
bring a level of physicality that we brought last game. We got to be prepared for that.”
The Warriors rediscovered their defensive toughness in their Game 2 win, limiting
Boston to a playofflow 88 points. They
also forced the Celtics
into 19 turnovers. Boston is 1-5 in these playoffs when it’s had 16 turnovers or more; with 15 or fewer giveaways, the Celtics are 12-2.
“Unforced at times, but also over-penetrating. Have to have
carryover and consistency in that area,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. “That kind of tells a story.”
Boston guard Marcus Smart said the Celtics need to match the intensity of Golden State’s Draymond Green, who got into a
pair of skirmishes — first with Grant Williams and then with Jaylen Brown — that
seemed to fuel his team.
“You respond to fire with fire, right?”
Smart said. “We’ve just got to turn around and do the same thing. If he’s going to come
in here and try to be physical, this is our
house and we’ve got to protect it.”
NO WORRIES Klay Thompson doesn’t want anybody to worry about him.
The Warriors sharpshooter has struggled thus far this series, going 10 of 33 from the field and 4 of 15 from 3-point range.
But he trusts that his routine and history will shake him from
his latest slump. That, and watching some of his old highlights.
“That’s the beauty of playing in today’s age. You can go on Youtube and look up all your great moments,” he said.
His searches of choice?
“Probably just Youtube ‘Game 6 Klay’
because there were some very high-pressurized situations I was in,” Thompson said. “I ended up shooting the ball well. When you can do it when your back is against the wall, you can do it at any given
moment. It’s just about keeping that mental
strong.”