Warriors Rewind: 10 Thoughts on Warriors 124, Celtics 119

Golden State survived this game more than they won it. Double overtime. Short two starters. The sixth game of a seven game road trip. Against a well-coached, quality opponent  This game had all the makings of a forgettable loss but the Warriors, as they have all season, played like champs down the stretch and were able to pull out a victory in a fun, well-played game. The perfect season rolls on. Next stop: Milwaukee. And a chance for 25-0.

Stephen Curry (30) throws a behind the back pass past Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

 

1. Stephen Curry got 38 points but Boston’s defense got the better of him on this night. Steph was visibly frustrated- he stepped out of bounds three times, harkening back to terrible memories of Mickael Pietrus’ habitual line-stepping in the minds of all scarred Warriors fans. Avery Bradley and Evan Turner defended Curry one-on-one about as well as anyone has all season, hounding the MVP in to 9-27 shooting and a season high eight turnovers.  On Curry double teams, the Celtics were able to scramble and shut off Draymond Green passes for open shooters. Fantastic game plan by Brad Stevens.
   

   Stephen Curry (30) drives past Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

2. Draymond Green is an All-Star. That much is obvious. But this game showed why Klay Thompson deserves consideration for the team as well. Without Klay’s gravity to pull defenders with him at all times, the Celtics had a much easier task of both doubling Curry and clogging the lane to thwart drives and lobs for dunks, a hallmark of the Warriors offense all season.
3. After Klay hurt his ankle, Shuan Livingston explained the injury saying, “that’s on the second unit. That was my fault. I take it personal.” Those were not empty platitudes. Livingston played like a man out for redemption. He had a season-high 35 minutes and threw up a 12/3/3 with two blocks including a superhero swat on an Isiah Thomas jumper that forced the first overtime.
4. Brad Stevens, with that boyish face and no neck tie, looks more like a cool high school English teacher than NBA coach. Maybe he’s a cool NBA coach: twice he could have called a time out to set up a final play in regulation and the first overtime but both times he elected to let his players freestyle the last shot. As much as I love basketball, I certainly do not need to sit through three more minutes of commercials.
5. In the second quarter, Bradley, who had been playing lights out (6-7 shooting for 15 points along with swarming D), drops back to the three-point line to wait for Curry on defense. For a split second, Bradley positioned himself like he would for any other guard in the league. Unfortunately for him, Curry is not any other guard and nails a 28-footer. Avery Bradley does not wait at the three-point line the rest of the game.
6. My buddies from Boston love Tommy Heinsohn. They realize he is a big time homer but he is their big time homer. Watching the Celtics’ telecast, the one time Heinsohn went silent was when the replay showed Curry picking up his fourth foul despite being nowhere near the play. I think Tommy’s silence is his way of admitting a poor call against an opponent. Kind of like the way my immigrant grandfather apologizes. No actual words, just silence.
7. Andrew Bogut got a charge call defending Isaiah Thomas. Thomas is 5’9″. I’m not a fan of former players calling today’s NBA soft but sometimes those old guys shaking their fists have a point.
8. In the first half, David Lee and Marreese Speights got time defending each other one-one-one. I am liberal in my use of the word “defended.” This was easily my favorite part of a two overtime game because anything could have happened in those few minutes [Editor’s Note– Besides defense, of course]. Both guys falling over on defense. Both guys somehow scoring on the same play. Sometimes it is nice see what basketball in the ’80s looked like.
9. After Lee threw the ball straight to Draymond on his first pass of the game and then followed that up by missing two consecutive shots, my buddy from Boston sent me this text, “Does DLee think he still plays for the Warriors? He’s killing us on D AND O.” It would seem Celtics fans are quick on the uptake.
10. Great players play great when their team needs it. Without Klay and Barnes tonight, Draymond knew he would have to score more. He dropped 24 points — 11 more than his average — along with 11 boards, 8 assists, and 10 combined blocks and steals. In a vacuum, Green may not be top-10 good as Jerry West asserts, but on this team, I cannot think of another forward that can do everything he can. Blake cannot defend like him. Leonard does not pass like him. AD maybe? Since basketball is not played in a vacuum, maybe West is right. Maybe Draymond is a top-10 player. What a wonderful Warriors World we live in.

Draymond Green (23) goes up to block a shot by Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk (41) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports