Golden State Warriors 105 Final

Recap | Box Score

 109 New York Knicks
Harrison Barnes, SF 19 MIN | 1-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 3 PTS | -6Barnes did little on the offense and was eaten alive on the low block by Carmelo Anthony. He struggled on both ends, but perhaps asking him to defend the Olympian was a bit much.
Draymond Green, SF 27 MIN | 2-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 4 PTS | -7Green was fighting an impossible battle by trying to defend Melo in the low block where the Knicks’ superstar victimized him with brute force and strong moves that generated fouls. Mind you, out on the perimeter, the former Spartan was terrific at keeping Anthony away from the rim and forcing him to take jumpers.
Stephen Curry, PG 48 MIN | 18-28 FG | 7-7 FT | 6 REB | 7 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 54 PTS | -4Stephen Curry was unquestionably the best player on the court tonight, firing away from everywhere all over the floor and making the Knicks pay. This may have been the single best offensive performance of any NBA player this season.
Klay Thompson, SG 36 MIN | 3-13 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 6 PTS | -5Klay had a truly poor offensive showing, missing layups and open jumpers, but when called upon to defend Melo, he did an admirable job of forcing him into his help defense to lead to misses.
Jarrett Jack, PG 37 MIN | 6-15 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 14 PTS | -1Jack struggled with his decision-making tonight and inexplicably picked up his dribble a few times when trapped, resulting in turnovers. Steph needed support tonight and the one guy everyone assumed would give it to him just didn’t give him enough.
Mark JacksonMark Jackson’s curious decision to stick his rookies (Harrison Barns and Draymond Green) onto Carmelo Anthony was a disaster because he simply abused them down in the low block where the officials afforded them little to no respect. It would be one thing to give them the assignment with Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler in the game (Melo would be relegated to the wing), but to ask them to guard him down low was a fatal error that cost him tonight.

Three Things We Saw

  1. Knickerblogger’s Jim Cavan proved to be prophetic in his worries concerning Ray Felton’s inability to defend Stephen Curry. In short, he simply wasn’t able to.
  2. Tyson Chandler was amazing in tonight’s matchup, snatching 28 rebounds. The Warriors simply could not keep him off the glass and allowed him to grab 10 offensive rebounds.
  3. The Warriors inability to close out defensive possessions by grabbing rebounds cost them tonight in a game where the Knicks made a few open 3-pointers due to Chandler tapping offensive rebounds to wide open shooters.

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