4 Things That Could Go Wrong and Doom the Warriors in Game 1
By Zack Jiang
The Golden State Warriors have won six straight and are overwhelming favorites in the NBA Finals once again. Their championship resume and recent dominance back up the favoritism, but many things can go wrong in a hurry. Here are four scenarios can lead to the Warriors' doom in Game 1 on the road.
4. Steph Cools Off
Steph Curry has been absolutely incredible since Kevin Durant went down with a fateful injury, posting five straight games with at least 33 points. It almost feels like he is due for a bad game, after such a long layoff especially. Curry relies on his shooting and can be victim to a poor shooting night. Let's not forget his 3-for-16 performance in Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Cavaliers last year. This time around, he won't have Durant bailing him out.
3. Boogie Messes Up Their Rhythm
DeMarcus Cousins is finally getting his shot to play in the Finals, but fitting him back into the lineup could be the Warriors' downfall. Boogie has been a hit or miss for the Warriors throughout the season. If he plays a major role for the team, Golden State will have to move away from the fast-paced offense they thrive on. This could severely limit their offensive flow, as it allows the Raptors to set up their suffocating half-court defense.
2. Kawhi Proves He's the Best Player on the Floor
Kawhi Leonard has come back to playoffs to remind everyone just how good he is. He is averaging 31.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in the postseason, and has been astounding on both ends of the floor. He defended Giannis Antetokounmpo essentially on one leg in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Klaw has created numerous miracle moments this postseason, and could have another one in his bag for Game 1.
1. One More Star Injury
The ultimate scenario that dooms a team is losing stars, of course, and though these Warriors proved their Death Lineup can return to prominence without KD, they likely don't have enough depth to survive another absence. If the injury bug bites again, it could be too much for their already-thin rotation. Curry and Thompson have both struggled with injuries this postseason, have been logging close to 40 minutes per game in the playoffs, and don't have younger versions of Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala behind them to carry the load.. If one of the Warriors stars is taken out, it's anybody's game.