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Golden State Warriors: 5 Areas To Improve In Second Round

By Gerald Bourguet

April 18, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (left) instructs forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the third quarter in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 18, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (left) instructs forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the third quarter in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Golden State Warriors
Apr 25, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Gordon (10) shoots over Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala (9) during the second half in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at the Smoothie King Center. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 109-98. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Protecting Leads

On average, the Golden State Warriors outscored their opponents by 10.1 points per game during the regular season, so they’re used to playing with leads. But in the playoffs, when teams are desperate and the rotations shorten up, no lead is safe. Hell, the Warriors should know that better than anybody after their epic Game 3 comeback.

Golden State may have gone 4-0 in the series, but they didn’t always do a great job of protecting their leads. In Game 1, it seemed like the series was already over when the Dubs built a 71-48 lead halfway through the third quarter, but with a minute left, the Pellies had clawed their way back into a two-possession game.

In Game 4, the Dubs watched their 21-point lead heading into the final frame shrink down to seven with 1:49 to play. Golden State once again put the game away, but letting teams back into games isn’t a good habit to develop for a championship run.

Basketball is a game of runs, and in a 48-minute NBA game, you can’t be perfect all the time. But minimizing mistakes, especially when guys like Curry, Thompson or Draymond Green are resting, is one area where this team can improve moving forward.

Next: No. 2

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