With the game in hand in the third quarter tonight at Chase Center, the Warriors took an ultra violent green wave to finally bow to their home crowd 120-108. Golden State losing Game 1 of a series is rare, even more so at home and at the NBA Finals stadium.
Since the arrival of Steve Kerr and the start of their dynasty in 2015, the Warriors have taken the good habit of starting their Playoff series well while making their room a very often impregnable fortress. Not having the memory of seeing Golden State bow in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at home, we took a look at Basket-Reference to check all this and it is confirmed: in their five consecutive appearances between 2015 and 2019, the Warriors have never lost the first game at home. Each time, Stephen Curry and his buddies swept the victory against the Cavaliers at Oracle Arena to take control of the series 1-0. The only defeat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals before that night against Boston was in 2019, but the meeting took place in the far north of Canada, with the Toronto Raptors having the home advantage that year. If we then expand to all the Playoffs since 2015, we see that the Warriors have only been defeated in Game 1 in one other series, it was in 2016 against the Thunder at the Oracle. We are talking about the famous Western Conference Finals that the Dubs ended up winning 4-3 after being trailed 3-1 by the gang to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
- Warriors record since 2015 in Game 1 of the Playoffs: 21-3 (with the loss tonight)
- Warriors record since 2015 in Game 1 of the Playoffs at home: 19-2 (with the loss tonight)
- Warriors record since 2015 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals: 4-2 (with tonight’s loss)
- Warriors record since 2015 in an NBA Finals Game 1 at home: 4-1 (with tonight’s loss)
To recap it all, the loss to the Celtics is only the Warriors’ third in the Steve Kerr era in a Game 1 of a series, and only the second at home. It is also the first loss at home in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, and the second if we take into account the inaugural loss against the Raptors in 2019. Finally, it is also the first time that the Dubs bowed in their new room at the Chase Center on these Playoffs 2022who had won all of their nine games so far.
“When you win Game 1 at home, there is a feeling of comfort and you were able to take the temperature a bit from your opponent to make the adjustments. So it’s a different feeling here, obviously you’ll have to attack Game 2 with a sense of urgency, but that’s part of it. We’ve been in this position before, we’ve already won a series having lost Game 1, and we’ve won at least one away game in I don’t know how many consecutive series. »
– Steve Kerr, at the post-match press conference (via Warriors)
26 exactly Steve. If there is one stat that can reassure the Dub Nation today, it is this one. This makes 26 straight series Golden State has won at least one away game, NBA record please. Steve Kerr’s men have the experience and the DNA of champions to overcome this small air pocket. And when we know that the Celtics are more efficient… on the road (8-2 away record) than at home (5-4) on these 2022 Playoffs, there is reason to continue to hope for the Warriors . But for that, it will absolutely be necessary to react on Sunday because at 0-2 on the other hand, it will be utlra complicated to turn the tide. Among the adjustments that Golden State will have to make to equalize this weekend? In addition to limiting the rather crazy external address of the Celtics this night, Kerr notably pointed out the need to better involve Jordan Poole, who had been put on the spot among the X factors of the series and who was well in the hard during Game 1 (9 points to 2/7 in shooting, 4 turnovers).
By losing Game 1 of the NBA Finals at home, the Warriors are in an unusual position. But Steve Kerr says it very well, nothing insurmountable for all that. It’s time for adjustments, and we expect a big reaction from the Dubs from the first minutes on Sunday, just to definitely put this terrible fourth quarter behind them.
Source texte : Basket-Reference
That extends an NBA record of 26 consecutive playoff series that the Warriors have won a road game. This core will always get at least one in your building.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 23, 2022