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Golden State Warriors: 3 takeaways from Game 3 of 2019 NBA Finals

By Daniel Lubofsky

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 05: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts late in the game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Three of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 05, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 05: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts late in the game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Three of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 05, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. 3-point defense dooms the Warriors

One would assume a little home cooking would do some good for the Warriors in energizing their banged up bodies. Without much offensive firepower, it also wouldn’t have been crazy to think the Dubs would exude more effort at the defensive end in order to stifle one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the league.

Instead, Golden State went through constant lapses defensively and paid the price. After shooting just 33.8 percent from downtown over the first two games of the Finals, the Raptors got loose in Game 3, canning 17 of their 38 looks from beyond the arc for a sparkling 44.7 percent conversion rate.

Danny Green, who made a grand total of four 3-pointers in the Eastern Conference Finals, knocked down six of his 10 treys. As mentioned earlier, Lowry regained his footing while Fred VanVleet hit half of his six attempts, including a rainbow heave towards the end of the shot clock that iced the game for Toronto late in the fourth quarter.

Part of the reason the Warriors were never able to complete the comeback was due to the untimely 3s they gave up. Some were simply tough shots made by the Raptors. Others could’ve been avoided altogether.

No matter who’s out there on the court for the Dubs, such a defensive effort is inexcusable for a team chasing its third consecutive championship. They’ve now put their season on the line heading into Game 4. If they really want to make history, it starts with a more concerted effort with their communication as well as running shooters off the 3-point line to avoid the shots that killed whatever momentum they had built up.

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