Dub Hub, Daily Warriors Links for 5/3/23: Warriors encourage Jordan Poole despite late miss in Game 1 loss

Good Morning Dub Nation,

Unfortunately, Game 1 did not go the way that the Golden State Warriors were hoping as they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, 117-112, to begin the Western Conference Semifinals. The game was close throughout the night, but the Lakers slowly pulled away in the second half. A 14-0 Warriors’ run made things interesting late in the fourth quarter, however, they just couldn’t get over the hump as Golden State guard Jordan Poole missed the open deep three with a little over 10 seconds remaining. Despite this, the Warriors voiced their support for Poole who, otherwise, played a great game.

If Golden State had one thing going for them, it was their three-point shot-making. As a team, they shot nearly 40% from deep on 21-of-53 attempts. However, it was more out of necessity as Lakers big man Anthony Davis led a rugged Los Angeles defense which deterred any shots at the rim. Davis was dominant, finishing the game with 30 points, 23 rebounds, and 4 blocks. As a team, the Lakers finished the game with 10 total blocks.

The lack of shots at the rim also explains the large free throw discrepancy. The Lakers mostly scored at the paint, while the Warriors attacked from distance with jump shots. One of the biggest stats going into the game was that the Warriors foul at the third highest rate in the league, meanwhile the Lakers are number one in the NBA at drawing fouls. The trend was clear on Tuesday night as Golden State shot 6 free throws to Los Angeles’ 29.

The good news is that it is still very early in the series. The Warriors will make adjustments, and more importantly, their confidence isn’t wavering as they now look to bounce back for Game 2 on Thursday.

Here are the rest of today’s stories:

In case you missed it from Golden State of Mind:

• Warriors need to ask the correct questions — and find the right answers — against a top-locking and sagging Lakers defense
• Player grades: Game 1
• Warriors fall short in Game 1 against Lakers, lose home-court advantage
• Steph Curry finishes 9th in MVP voting
• Warriors vs Lakers Playoffs Series Preview: From Oakland to Sactown, the Bay Area and back down

Other Warriors News:

• Lakers present Warriors with a big-against-small dilemma in Game 1 loss (The Athletic)
• ‘No kind of regrets’: Warriors stand by Jordan Poole shot attempt (ESPN)
• Warriors have big Anthony Davis-sized problem to solve vs. Lakers (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• Steph Curry humorously explains viral LeBron interaction in Warriors-Lakers (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• Warriors-Lakers Game 1 reaction: Jordan Poole’s shot & Anthony Davis dominates (Draymond Green Show)

NBA News:

• 76ers center Joel Embiid wins 2022-23 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player award (NBA)
• Grizzlies inform Dillon Brooks he will not be brought back: Sources (The Athletic)
• Chris Paul injury update: Suns star to be re-evaluated in one week, expected to miss Games 3-5, per report (CBS Sports)
• Heat’s Jimmy Butler (ankle) misses Game 2 loss to Knicks (ESPN)
• James Harden’s best playoff game ever saves the Sixers without Joel Embiid (SB Nation)