Golden State have proven the Golden Dynasty is not yet over as they advance to the finals of the 2021-2022 NBA playoffs. They beat the Dallas Mavericks 120-110 in game 5 behind 32 points from Klay Thompson – who clearly didn’t want to showcase ‘Game 6 Klay’ in this series. Klay hit 8 3 pointers, his 5th playoff game with 8+ and surpassed Steph, Dame and Ray Allen for most all time.
It was very apparent that the Mavericks needed a decent center (Ayton?) as Kevon Looney shined averaging 10.6/10.6/3 on 70.6 TS%. Looney grabbed 18 rebounds in the game, outrebounding the entire Mavs team in offensive boards by himself… for the second time this series. Poole contributed 16/2.8/3.8 on 63/40/100 splits and Wiggins averaged 18.6/7.2/2.8 on 53.8 TS%.
Warriors went 16-16 from the line and Draymond Green posted a 90/100/100 statline.
Player Stats
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| Dallas Mavericks |
MIN |
PTS |
FGM-A |
3PM-A |
FTM-A |
ORB |
DRB |
REB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
TO |
PF |
+/- |
| Reggie BullockSF |
37:48 |
6 |
2-4 |
2-4 |
0-0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-8 |
| Dorian Finney-SmithPF |
39:23 |
13 |
6-10 |
1-4 |
0-0 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
-14 |
| Dwight PowellC |
7:27 |
3 |
1-1 |
0-0 |
1-1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
-8 |
| Jalen BrunsonSG |
30:09 |
10 |
3-10 |
0-2 |
4-6 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
-24 |
| Luka DoncicPG |
39:38 |
28 |
10-28 |
3-13 |
5-7 |
1 |
8 |
9 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
3 |
-12 |
| Maxi Kleber |
26:59 |
7 |
3-6 |
1-2 |
0-0 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
+2 |
| Frank Ntilikina |
14:23 |
6 |
2-5 |
2-5 |
0-0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
-3 |
| Spencer Dinwiddie |
32:07 |
26 |
7-12 |
5-7 |
7-9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
-2 |
| Davis Bertans |
3:57 |
3 |
1-2 |
1-2 |
0-0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
-5 |
| Sterling Brown |
2:02 |
2 |
0-1 |
0-0 |
2-2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
+6 |
| Trey Burke |
2:02 |
6 |
2-3 |
2-3 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
+6 |
| Josh Green |
2:02 |
0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
+6 |
| Marquese Chriss |
2:02 |
0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
+6 |
| Boban Marjanovic |
0:00 |
0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Golden State Warriors |
MIN |
PTS |
FGM-A |
3PM-A |
FTM-A |
ORB |
DRB |
REB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
TO |
PF |
+/- |
| Andrew WigginsSF |
40:03 |
18 |
7-16 |
0-7 |
4-4 |
3 |
7 |
10 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
+9 |
| Draymond GreenPF |
31:24 |
17 |
6-7 |
1-1 |
4-4 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
+11 |
| Kevon LooneyC |
30:42 |
10 |
5-8 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
7 |
11 |
18 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
+11 |
| Klay ThompsonSG |
37:20 |
32 |
12-25 |
8-16 |
0-0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
+18 |
| Stephen CurryPG |
34:49 |
15 |
5-17 |
2-7 |
3-3 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
+11 |
| Jordan Poole |
28:25 |
16 |
6-8 |
1-3 |
3-3 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
-6 |
| Nemanja Bjelica |
21:40 |
5 |
2-4 |
1-1 |
0-0 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
+4 |
| Moses Moody |
10:36 |
7 |
2-3 |
1-1 |
2-2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
+4 |
| Juan Toscano-Anderson |
1:43 |
0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-6 |
| Jonathan Kuminga |
1:37 |
0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
-3 |
| Damion Lee |
1:37 |
0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-3 |
| Otto Porter Jr. |
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– |
– |
– |
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The lows
The Warriors are back in the finals after a two year hiatus where both Curry and Klay sustained lengthy injuries. Klay tore his ACL in the 2019 finals which sidelined him for the 2019-2020 season. He then tore his right Achilles tendon in the lead-up to the 2020-21 season, sidelining him for more than an entire season. 4 games into the 2019 season, Steph broke his hand falling onto it after a contested layup, requiring surgery. He missed all but 1 game of the 2019-2020 season when COVID shut down the season in March. Last season the Warriors were a league worst 15-50.
However, the two year’s (accidental) tanking allowed for the Warriors to get the number 2 pick in the 2020 draft, which turned into James Wiseman (a player that has been plagued with injuries so far) and Moses Moody at number 14.
In 2021, GSW had the 7th pick which turned into Jonathan Kuminga and we can’t forget how they struck gold in 2019, getting Jordan Poole at pick 28.
Steph famously said after last year’s terrible season:
“You don’t want to see us next year”
And if you were the Denver, Memphis or Dallas – he’d be right. This does remind us of when Steph made a promise to Warrior fans in 2009, only to go on and win 3 championships:
Western Conference Finals MVP
Curry took home his first ever Western Conference Finals MVP trophy – the new award named after basketball legend Magic Johnson. He also won the All Star MVP this year too.
Steph averaged: 24/7/7 on 59 TS% in 5 games and has led his team to the finals 6 times in 8 years.
Curry has not yet won a Finals MVP, something that some fans think tarnishes his legacy. Andre Igoudala controversially received the award in 2015 and Kevin Durant received the award in both 2017 and 2018. Curry has always maintained that he doesn’t mind not receiving the award and his selfless oncourt and offcourt nature would seem to back this up. He famously came off the bench a few times in these playoffs, never complaining and fully trusting in head coach, Steve Kerr.
Back on top
As mentioned, the Warriors are no stranger to the NBA Finals. The Warriors shooting seems to be what put them above the Western Conference competitors – something that you would assume with the Splash Bros. However, the two Easter Conference finalists have excellent defence, able to both protect the parimeter and keep the paint clogged.
The Finals
This sets up the Warriors against the winner of the Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat series, currently 3-2 in the Celtics favour. They play game 6 tonight in Boston. The winner of Boston and Miami will face Golden State, who will have the home court and experience advantage, as all of Curry, Klay and Dray have been to and won the finals 3 times in 5 tries – notably losing to LeBron James’ Cavs in 2016 and the Kawhi-led Raptors in 2019.
- Game 1 of the finals is set for 2nd June 2022 at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
- Game 2 will be on 5th June 2022 at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
- Game 3 and 4 will be at Boston or Miami on 8th June and 10th June.
- If needed, Game 5 will be on 13th June in San Francisco.
- Game 6 on 16th June in Boston or Miami.
- Game 7 on 19th June in San Francisco.
Who do you think will face GSW in the finals? Who will be this year’s Champions?
