Golden State Warriors 5 keys to 2019 Western Conference Finals vs. Blazers
By James Grieco
3. Play at their own pace
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are not only two of the best shooters ever, but two of the most dangerous transition players ever. Alongside brilliant guys like Draymond and Andre Iguodala, the Warriors are at their best when they are running a fast free-flowing system. That’s the main reason how Golden State has long been able to overcome being a turnover-prone team.
During the regular season, the Warriors played at a pace of 101.78 possessions per game, good for 10th-fastest in the NBA. The Blazers, on the other hand, sat in 18th at 99.99 possessions per game. It’s not a huge difference, but it shows how the teams prefer to play, and that has been on display in the playoffs so far.
In Portland’s Game 7 win against the Nuggets, gaining control of the pace was vital to the victory. In the first 17 minutes of the game, in which Denver jumped out to a 17-point lead, the game’s pace sat around 101 possessions. Portland wrestled control of the game away halfway through the second quarter and into the second half by dragging the pace down to 90.3 possessions per 48 minutes.
The Blazers have proven they can win a rock fight against a high-powered offense. The Warriors can’t let that happen again.