Before delving into reflections on Los Angeles Lakers clap back Saturday evening versus the Golden State Warriors, I was seeing NHL playoff scores, upcoming games and was intrigued with Las Vegas Knights maintaining relevance and moving forward. I also observed a bit of news from Las Vegas with potential hesitancy on funding to bring the Oakland Athletics to tinsel town. Has Athletic’s owner John Fisher been conned into believing they’d be embraced with open arms?! I am looking forward to seeing how this story unfolds (my heart bleeds for Oakland fans enduring just shit owners that give a rats ass about their fans versus lining their pockets; yes, Mark Davis, I include you in the latter sentiment).
Okay, moving on to why I am typing a brief observation. Saturday’s game between Los Angeles and Golden State was definitely a reaction display and clapping back from a 27-point beat down in San Francisco forty-eight hours earlier. Having games spaced out going every-other-day is a challenging ask of elite players that are north of thirty years of age. Conditioning, consistency, perseverance and motivation have to be embraced for the primary thirty-something role players. Elite players, game-changing players must push through exhaustion after their grinding 82-game season, and a seven game first round grueling series win.
Above the physical challenges and expectations of 100-plus million dollar athletes on the floor, would be to update the next game’s plan in order to improve results as well as thwart repeat performances from role players of your opponent. The Golden State Warriors had absolutely anemic numbers regarding field goal percentage (39.6%), three point conversions (29.5%), assists (26) and turnovers (19!!!). The Lakers shot for 52.5%, 48% from the three-point line and had twice as many steals (10 versus 5)! When Golden State has 30 or more assists in a game, the result usually ends up with scoring more points than the other team, winning those games. Ball movement, quelling turnovers and stepping up on defense will be keys for the Warriors to show up at Crypto Arena and have an answer for the Lakers. Everyone needs to buy in, take some deep breaths and put the celebrities back in their seats with a confused look on their mugs of what they are seeing.
I’ve now been hearing on sports talk programs what I shared the other day with you, where network and media would like to see this fan-drooling ideal semi-final western conference matchup go seven games (are the refs playing a part to see this happen? Hmmmm…. Inquiring minds speculate) It’s Nor-Cal versus So-Cal where no love is lost, and each region argues their quality of air, life superior over the other. I am firmly rooted with the Warriors; may Lala-land falter and run out of breath chasing Curry, Thompson, Wiggins, Pool et al around the hardwood.
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