Golden State Warriors: 3 takeaways from Game 4 nail-biter vs. Rockets
1. The Splash Brothers struggle
Throughout the regular season, the All-Star duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson was phenomenal. They averaged a combined 48.8 points per game, shooting 47.0 percent from the field and 42.0 percent from beyond the arc.
In the previous three games of this Western Conference semifinals battle, the Splash Brothers looked nothing like the guys who normally strike immense fear into the heart of opponents everywhere. Those elite-level numbers have gone down to 35 points with a field goal and 3-point percentage of 37.9 and 30.0 percent, respectively.
Through the first four games of this series, Steph and Klay have averaged making only five combined threes a game. That's often a QUARTER for those two. That's the biggest reason these games have been so close.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 7, 2019
Those struggles got marginally better in the Game 4 loss. Curry managed to hit 12 of his 25 shot attempts, but neither he nor Klay could get it going from behind the line. They shot a combined 5-of-20 from out there. Harden on his own hit 6-of-17.
Thompson and Steph have been the backbone of this Warriors run, long before Durant arrived. There’s nothing quite like witnessing either one of them get into a rhythm, seeing as how they have the special talent to fill it up quicker than just about anybody in NBA history.
Next. Each team's greatest NBA Draft pick of all-time. dark
Even with Durant playing at arguably the highest level of his career, the Dubs need their backcourt to hit shots and keep Houston fearful and honest. Golden State can’t keep up with the Rockets offensively when the Splash Brothers are struggling as they have so far, which could wind up being the team’s demise if not corrected quickly.