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It’s easy to lose perspective after a loss in a high stakes situation like Game 1 of the NBA Finals, especially during an up and down season in which the Golden State Warriors’ focus has wavered.
Although it should be obvious to Warriors fans that a title is not guaranteed after the first game of the NBA Finals, it’s really hard not to see this game as valuable not only for maintaining pace but also for taking home court advantage away from the Toronto Raptors. Thankfully, we have the wisdom of five NBA Finals’ worth of Klay Thompson to keep us grounded.
“It’s the first to four. Not the first to one.”
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) June 1, 2019
Klay Thompson isn’t shook after the Warriors dropped Game 1. pic.twitter.com/H5vSpLivth
Of course, the Warriors will have to do something different to get themselves headed toward four wins in the 2019 NBA Finals. Kevin Durant’s return seems to still be up in the air, which means they will have to gain a foothold in this series without the help of one of the league’s most lethal weapons. So that leaves the starting lineup as the next most obvious change that the Warriors can make, even though Steve Kerr has said starters don’t matter that much.
“It doesn’t really matter...I think it’s overblown” -Steve Kerr on whether or not the Warriors would start their 9th different starting lineup of the post season tonight. Says their edge “has to be their defense” tonight #NBAFinals2019 pic.twitter.com/ubbUxPkCAD
— Allie LaForce (@ALaForce) June 2, 2019
While Andre Iguodala will definitely start again, the question has been whether Jordan Bell would. But he entered the arena rocking a Ducks hockey jersey so maybe that’s all that really matters.
I thought the Raptors would have a chance to go up 2-0 tonight but there is truly no way the Warriors lose on a day that Jordan Bell rocked an Oregon Ducks hockey jersey. Sorry, I don't make the rules. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/5wJwy7JOUl
— Bryan Kalbrosky (@BryanKalbrosky) June 2, 2019
In any event, let’s hope it goes a little bit better tonight than it did in Game 1.