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For the first time since losing their All-Stars, the Golden State Warriors looked like a quality NBA team. Well, for a while, at least. They trotted out a starting lineup befitting a team headed for the lottery - Quinn Cook, Nick Young, Patrick McCaw, Jordan Bell, and Zaza Pachulia - but for much of the game they outplayed a very good Indiana Pacers squad.
Their offense wasted no time getting started, and quickly found a rhythm that they hadn’t shown in weeks (with the exception of a few minutes during Stephen Curry’s return on Friday). It was a balanced attack, with no player scoring more than 10 points in the first half, and the team jumping to a nine-point lead after the first quarter, and holding that lead to the half.
Perhaps most exciting was the strong showing from McCaw, who looked smooth and comfortable with the ball in his hands, much to the delight of coach Steve Kerr.
Quick first step from @PMcCaw0 leads to an easy 2⃣. (@NBCSAuthentic) pic.twitter.com/59EvQxDSPw
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 28, 2018
Not to mention, Quinn Cook did his best Curry impression
Quinn Cook aka Stephen Curry 2.0 pic.twitter.com/M5yfqPFjQH
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 28, 2018
But the player who stole the show for the Dubs in the first half was Kevon Looney, who played exquisite defense and racked up eight rebounds, which doesn’t include the numerous tipped balls that he had.
But the Pacers came out of halftime energized, as though they suddenly remembered they were fighting for playoff positioning. It wasn’t long before Indiana had taken the lead.
From there it was game on. The Pacers offense starting clicking, and combating the strong defensive rotations of the Warriors.
But Golden State’s gang of role players was ready. Their energy picked up, with everyone pitching in, including Damian Jones who got some rare run. They moved the ball and cut on offense, they rotated and locked down on defense, and above all they hustled, scrapped, deflected, and rebounded.
In the fourth quarter, though, the Warriors offense once again looked like a team without their four best players. Their defense stayed strong, thanks to Looney, McCaw, Andre Iguodala, and a stellar performance by Jordan Bell, but without any scoring, it was only a matter of time.
Slowly the Pacers began to pull away with the game, as they probably should have. And eventually they won, 92-81. Even though the Warriors were winning after three periods, the 11 fourth quarter points made the loss look lopsided.
Still, it was an encouraging performance from the Warriors. If Looney (8 points on 3-5 shooting, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, great defense), Bell (4 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks, great defense), and McCaw (6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, great defense) can use this game to build some rhythm and energy as the the All-Stars start to return, then this was a win for the Warriors, even if the final score doesn’t reflect it.
Poll
Who was the Warrior Wonder for the Warriors’ loss to the Pacers?
This poll is closed
-
2%
Patrick McCaw
(7 votes) -
52%
Kevon Looney
(179 votes) -
1%
JaVale McGee
(6 votes) -
3%
Nick Young
(11 votes) -
6%
Quinn Cook
(21 votes) -
3%
Andre Iguodala
(12 votes) -
2%
Jordan Bell
(9 votes) -
1%
Shaun Livingston
(4 votes) -
1%
David West
(4 votes) -
0%
Damian Jones
(1 vote) -
1%
Zaza Pachulia
(4 votes) -
24%
Poetry
(82 votes)