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 had been up by 1 level in Sport 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 towards a slower heart. However Curry was stymied twice on the identical possession. First, Davis, a prime 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 had been two of a number of fumbles by Golden State within the closing moments of an unsightly affair through which the crew 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 soar ball, Curry got here down with possession, and as an alternative of calling a timeout, he threw the ball away.
“I really felt like someone was behind me,” Curry mentioned after the sport. “I type of simply let it go. However, bang, bang play. I want I had somewhat bit extra consciousness to possibly name a timeout understanding we’ve obtained sufficient time, however, you recognize, it simply didn’t go our manner.”
Golden State let a possibility slip by means of its fingers, having led by as many as 12 within the third quarter. As an alternative, the Lakers won, 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 crew in dire straits, down three video games to one in a convention semifinal sequence towards a rejuvenated Lakers crew. The late possessions had been emblematic of a season-long deficiency that has plagued Golden State, significantly on the highway: an incapacity to maintain effort by means of lengthy stretches.
Maybe that is the fact of getting a core anchored by Curry, 35; Thompson, 33; and 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 sequence. 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 sequence. Three years later, Golden State discovered itself down 3-1 against the Toronto Raptors in the finals. However with accidents to Durant, then a teammate, and Thompson, the crew misplaced in six video games.
“It looks like what it’s: three to one,” Coach Steve Kerr informed reporters after Sport 4 on Monday. “You go residence and also you maintain 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 evening by Curry. For the Lakers, guard Lonnie Walker, 24, in his fifth year, 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 improvement. 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 pick in that same draft); James Wiseman, 22 (second choose in 2020); and Jordan Poole (28th pick in 2019).
It was a dangerous maneuver with combined outcomes. It has meant not buying and selling younger creating expertise for veterans who may assist the crew 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 with no 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 sequence. He scored 7 factors in 19 minutes Monday evening.
That’s not irregular for gamers barely out of their teenage years. However Golden State has the most effective gamers within the historical past of the N.B.A. enjoying at a excessive stage proper now. It wants Moody and Kuminga to be higher instantly to reap the benefits of Curry’s window.
Poole has been flummoxing. At instances in his four-year profession, he has been Golden State’s greatest participant. When the crew’s prime 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 crew that gained a championship, and he began a majority of video games in the course of 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 long run — a possible All-Star substitute for a franchise trying ahead to a life after Curry, Inexperienced and Thompson.
However Poole’s manufacturing has change into as unpredictable as his decision-making on the ground. Whereas he averaged a career-high 20.4 points a game in the course of 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. Towards the Sacramento Kings within the first spherical, Poole shot a dismal 33.8 p.c from the sphere. On Monday evening, he missed all 4 of his photographs and performed solely 10 minutes. One shot was an air ball close to the basket.
Poole’s play was clearly a sore spot for him after the sport on Monday. When approached by a reporter within the locker room, a pissed off Poole tersely mentioned, “I’ve obtained nothing for you, massive 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 mentioned. “Routine doesn’t change. Perhaps alternative modifications. However you’ll be able to solely management what you’ll be able to management. We’ve obtained one other recreation in a pair days at residence.”
Curry, requested about Poole, mentioned it wasn’t about anybody participant.
“We get questions on him lots and it’s our entire crew,” Curry mentioned. “We’re all collectively within the sense of attempting to determine how one can 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 towards the Kings, Golden State discovered its footing. Nevertheless it took Curry scoring 50 factors within the deciding Sport 7 for his crew to win the sequence, the most he had ever scored in a playoff game.
If Poole or the remainder of Curry’s teammates don’t supply extra help, Curry might have to succeed in into reserves that the majority 35-year-olds don’t have. And which means the Golden State dynasty might exit with a whimper slightly than a bang. When Curry was requested after the sport whether or not he let himself take into consideration the bigger implications of a sequence loss, he didn’t let the reporter end the query:
“No,” Curry mentioned.
“Only a 3-1 sequence deficit?” the reporter requested.
“Sure. Thanks.”