More at stake in Game 5 for Warriors than just season down 3-1 against Lakers
Let’s play seven in the Los Angeles Lakers-Golden State Warriors series. Better yet, make it a best-of-9. Or maybe it's just one more game.
Regardless, give us more of what transpired between the Lakers and Warriors, more of what Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Steph Curry delivered and more surprise performances like the one from the Lakers’ Lonnie Walker IV in Game 4 Monday.
In a classic throwdown involving NBA royalty − both franchises plus future Hall of Famer players on each side − the Lakers captured a see-saw slugfest, 104-101.
Curry threw down a triple-double, racking up 31 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds. Anthony Davis followed up a solid performance with another (23 points, 13 rebounds, three steals). James wasn’t perfect but he had 27 points on 10-for-25 shooting, nine rebounds and six assists, and he directed a fourth-quarter takeover with six of his points, three of his assist and his block coming in the final 12 minutes. Walker scored all 15 of his points in the fourth, as the Lakers outscored the Warriors 27-17 in the final quarter.
It was the most competitive game of this Western Conference semifinal series, and it was a treat. But it might not make six games.
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The Lakers took a 3-1 lead and can close out the series in Game 5 in San Francisco Wednesday (10 p.m. ET).
Anyone who knows basketball knows the Warriors, winners of four of the past eight titles, will make the Lakers work for that fourth victory.
"As hard as this game was, (Game 5) will be ever harder," James said.
Just as surprising as the Lakers needing one victory to become just the second No. 7 seed to reach the conference finals, it’s equally as sobering that there’s more at stake for the Warriors than just their season. The future is not secure.
Roster decisions, financial considerations and front-office uncertainty loom ominously in the offseason. Is this the end of Warriors championship dynasty? Are owners willing to commit massive luxury tax payments to a team that finished sixth during the regular season and lost in the second round? Will president of basketball operations Bob Myers return?
The Lakers have a lot to do with the situation the Warriors are in. The Warriors have a lot to do with that, too.
Golden State had just an 11-30 road record, and even though it won two in Sacramento in the first round, it lost both in Los Angeles.
The Warriors are prone to turnovers, and in year’s past, they have been able to overcome them. That’s not the case right now. They commit more turnovers per game (14.5) than any team remaining in the playoffs. They had 16 in Game 4, six coming in the fourth quarter and two in the final 9.2 seconds with the Lakers ahead by three points.
Golden State has been hammered at the free throw line, too. The Warriors attempted the fewest free throws per game during the regular season, and the Lakers were No. 1. That trend spilled into this series. Los Angeles has shot 52 more free throws and outscored Golden State 83-36 from the line, going 20-for-20 Monday.
Curry and Klay Thompson’s 3-point shooting percentage were anomalies, but when Curry goes 3-for-14 and Thompson 3-for-9 and team shoots 29.3% from that range, it makes it difficult to win in the playoffs. In the decisive fourth quarter, Curry and Thompson were a combined 5-for-14 shooting and 2-for-7 on 3s.
Jordan Poole's struggles continued. Los Angeles held him scoreless in 10 minutes, and Poole didn't play in the fourth quarter.
If there’s a team that can come back from a 3-1 deficit, the Warriors are a prime candidate. They did in against Oklahoma City in 2016. That was also seven seasons ago. Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green, they were all so much younger then.
And are we down to the last time watching Curry, Thompson and Green on the same team?
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Warriors have backs against wall vs. Lakers heading into Game 5
