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2017 NBA Playoffs Roundup, Day 17: Isaiah Thomas’ career night, Warriors feast inside

By Gerald Bourguet

May 2, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (4) reacts after scoring a three point basket during the fourth quarter in game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Washington Wizards at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (4) reacts after scoring a three point basket during the fourth quarter in game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Washington Wizards at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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2017 NBA Playoffs
May 2, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots the basketball against Utah Jazz center Boris Diaw (33) during the second quarter in game one of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Warriors Feast Inside

Because the Golden State Warriors are so damn good at lighting opponents up from the outside, people often forget that their offensive firepower extends far beyond being a three-point shooting team.

In Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series against the Utah Jazz, the Dubs surprised the NBA’s third-ranked defense by absolutely obliterating them inside.

Though the Warriors were actually outscored 46-44 in points in the paint, everyone knew the Jazz were going to try and capitalize on their size advantage. With bodies like Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert and the ever-rotund Boris Diaw, Utah’s best chance at making life difficult for Golden State was to punish them on the boards and in the paint.

Unfortunately for Utah, the results didn’t quite follow.

In a game where the Warriors only made seven of their 29 three-pointers — compared to 9-of-29 for the Jazz — they were still able to comfortably lead thanks to 62.3 percent shooting from inside the arc.

Golden State blitzed one of the league’s slowest teams for 29 fast break points and turned only 13 Utah turnovers into 20 points. Every slight miscue the Jazz made, the Warriors punished them for it.

Stephen Curry in particular was incredible in this regard, blowing by Jazz who were playing him too close to take away the three-ball and finishing in the lane against a defense designed to keep people out.

Curry converted all three of his looks at the rim, pulled up to knock down three of his four midrange jumpers and still managed to lead his team in scoring on a night where he shot just 1-for-4 from downtown.

The Warriors will need to be better from three-point range moving forward, but it has to be dispiriting for Utah that their plan to limit Golden State’s long range attack worked on a night where they outshot the Dubs from downtown…and still lost by 12.