Golden State Warriors: Looking back at the 2013 NBA Playoffs

The first round

Matchup: (3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors opened up the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets were fresh off a 57-25 record. This was the third-most wins the Nuggets had ever tallied in a single season. Naturally, they were expecting a deep playoff run. However, Golden State had other plans.

Game 1 of this series was a thriller. The Warriors trailed for most of the fourth quarter, but miraculous plays by Stephen Curry kept the Dubs within striking distance. A last second 3-pointer from Curry would tie the game, but the Nuggets would go on to hit the game-winning free throws.

From this point on, the series took a drastic turn. Golden State exploded in Game 2 for 131 total points. Curry led the team in scoring with 30 as the Warriors tied the series 1-1. Games 3 and 4 were much closer, but the Nuggets fell short in both games. Suddenly, the Warriors held a 3-1 lead and were ready to advance to the next round. The Dubs won the series in six games.

The Warriors played a much different brand of basketball in this series than what we are accustomed to. With Andrew Bogut and David Lee, the Dubs still looked to pound the ball inside at a high rate. However, the team showed glimpses of their future “Death Lineup.”

For example, Draymond Green began to see an increase in minutes while Lee was used less often. The Warriors initiated a run-and-gun style of play. The 3-point shot quickly became their favorite weapon. This series acted as a beginner’s version of the fast-paced Warriors basketball we are seeing now.