Monday night the Golden State Warriors completed their second consecutive sweep in this year’s post-season with a 121-95 thrashing of the Utah Jazz. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson (aka The Splash Brothers) combined for 51 points in the win and got the Warriors off to a fast start knocking down six of their eight shot attempts in the first quarter. Steph Curry was the main man for the Warriors with 30 points, Klay Thompson dropped in 21 and Kevin Durant had 18 points.
The man I refer to as the X-factor for the Warriors, Draymond Green executed the third postseason triple-double of his career with 17 points,10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Draymond and the Warriors dominated from the start as they raced out to a 22 point lead in the first quarter and scored no less than 21 points per quarter in the rest of the game.
I did not think the Jazz had a chance against the arsenal of weapons that the Warriors possess, but I did not think Utah would get swept. The Jazz was led by Gordon Hayward who scored 25 points, he got help from Shelvin Mack (18 Points), Rudy Gobert (12 points, 13 rebounds) and Dante Exum who had 15 points off the bench. Utah was no match for the likes of Curry, Thompson, Durant and Green. Not to mention Golden States’ bench is stacked with talent like Andre Iguodala, JaVale McGee, Shaun Livingston and Matt Barnes.
Utah just did not have enough firepower to make this Western Conference Semi-final competitive. But all was not lost for the Jazz (if you’re looking for a bright side) this was Utahs first season in the playoffs since 2013 and it was the first time the franchise has been in the second round of the playoffs since 2010. That means that the Jazz with young players like Hayward, Mack, and Gobert in addition to Rodney Hood, Derrick Favors, and Trey Lyles will make some noise again next season.
The Warriors, on the other hand, are steadily handling business and making it look easy after disposing of the Jazz and Trailblazers in a total eight games. Golden State and the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers (who also completed consecutive sweeps in their Eastern conference action) now get time to rest.
While resting I’m sure the Warriors will keep an eye on the Western conference action between the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets. The Rockets and Spurs are tied at two games apiece with game five tipping off tonight in San Antonio, Game six will be in Houston and if needed game seven will be back on the Spurs home court. Regardless of who wins that series Golden State knows they get to sit back, rest and wait. Sounds like they will be enjoying the “Golden time of the day”.
Trevin A Jones
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