Steph Curry sight says it all in ‘very bad omen’ for Lakers as Warriors make statement in Game 2

The Golden State Warriors have handed the Los Angeles Lakers a actuality test, cruising to a 127-100 win in Game 2 to degree their Western Conference semi-finals sequence at 1-1.

Although, whereas it was definitely a disappointing solution to shut out the highway journey for the Lakers, the actual fact they took one sport from the Warriors at Chase Center stays a plus.

The problem for the Lakers and coach Darvin Ham might be to make the required changes, particularly in opposition to the Steph Curry and Draymond Green pick-and-roll.

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Conversely, Steve Kerr positively made adjustements, with the choice to place Green on Anthony Davis proving significantly efficient because the Lakers huge man was held to simply 11 factors.

It adopted a press release efficiency from Davis in Game 1 the place he erupted for 30 factors, 23 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks.

On Friday Green upped the physicality and took it to Davis, who additionally had seven rebounds, 4 assists and three blocks however turned the ball over 4 instances.

The different huge success story for the Warriors was JaMychal Green, beginning for Kevon Looney as the middle handled an sickness and managed to play solely 12 minutes.

The Lakers defence left Green open and he made them pay, going 3-for-6 from downtown to complete with 15 factors.

Klay Thompson (30 factors) led the way in which for the Warriors in scoring whereas Curry had 20 factors whereas doling out 12 assists in a playmaking masterclass.

Although as The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami identified, there has but to be an enormous Curry sport like that he had in Game 7 in opposition to the Kings, one thing which he known as a “very bad omen” for L.A.

Things had been really easy for Curry and the Warriors on Friday that the Golden State famous person might afford an early mark, picturing blowing bubble gum.

It wasn’t all unhealthy for the Lakers although, a minimum of early within the sport, carrying the momentum from a 117-112 win in Game 1 into the opening quarter to take a 33-26 lead.

Although this time it was LeBron James main the way in which as a substitute of Davis, with the Lakers famous person ending the quarter with 14 factors after going 6-for-8 from the sphere.

That wasn’t the one change within the second sport of the sequence because the Lakers went from dominating within the paint and on the charity stripe to as a substitute discovering success from downtown.

L.A. hit 5 3-pointers within the first quarter of Game 2 after draining simply six in your complete sequence opener, whereas additionally failing to earn a single free throw after making 25 in Game 1.

As for the Warriors, they had been getting clear seems with Green whereas excessive pick-and-roll with Curry and Green was additionally inflicting loads of issues for the Lakers.

But it was Thompson who caught fireplace to assist the Warriors to a 67-56 lead by halftime, with Golden State outscoring the Lakers 41-23 within the second quarter.

Thompson was scorching from deep, going 5-for-7 because the Warriors sharpshooter completed the half on 19 factors to assist ease the stress on Curry (eight factors), who had picked up three fouls.

Curry could have solely made three buckets within the half however he was dishing them out, ending the second quarter with eight assists.

Funnily sufficient, the Warriors had nicely and actually flipped the script after Game 1 to outscore the Lakers 30-12 within the paint whereas Thompson’s 3-pointers added steadiness to the offence.

L.A., then again, was largely counting on James and Rui Hashimura, who impressed off the bench with 14 factors and three rebounds.

James although led all scorers on the half with 21 factors, making up for a quiet exhibiting from Davis, who had simply 4 factors to go together with two rebounds and an help.

Davis had been challenged within the lead-up to the Warriors sequence by Charles Barkley, who questioned whether or not he would have the ability to persistently produce in opposition to the defending champions.

“My faith in Anthony Davis is … I can’t trust that dude,” Barkley stated on ‘Inside the NBA’. “He played great every other game. But can Anthony Davis dominate for four games? I think he has a huge advantage. I don’t think they have anybody that can guard him, but he’s so inconsistent.

“When he plays like he is capable of, he is great. Can they get four great games out of Anthony Davis? That’s what this series is going to come down to.”

While Davis answered the decision in Game 1, his extra tame efficiency on Friday solely additional backed up Barkley’s considerations over his inconsistency.

The Lakers scored the primary 4 factors of the third quarter nevertheless it was all of the Warriors from there, with the lead ballooning out to 90-69 with simply over 5 minutes left.

The choice to start out Green continued to show a masterstroke from Golden State coach Steve Kerr because the veteran opened the quarter with 10 factors and an help.

The scoreline solely blew out much more by the top of the third, with Golden State going up 110-80 because the fourth quarter grew to become nothing however a mere formality.

Alont with James, Hachimura was a shining gentle for the Lakers second unit with 21 factors and 5 rebounds from 22 minutes.

The sequence now heads to L.A. because the Lakers host the Warriors in Game 2 on Sunday at 10.3am [AEST].