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What a statement Game 3 win by the Golden State Warriors.
They were the team heading into the 3-day break after a 22-point loss in Game 2 last Wednesday but like true champions, they gave a fitting reply on their home floor to the league's best team through the regular season - the Houston Rockets. It's wasn't just a retaliation punch, this Game 3 win could be considered a knockout, a game where the series really turned.
Their 41-point margin of victory is their largest in franchise postseason history. It is also the Rockets' largest margin of defeat in their franchise's Playoff history. A huge reason for the dominating Game 3 victory was their franchise MVP Stephen Curry finally finding his groove offensively.
So, without any further ado, let's start our Warriors' Player Ratings with Curry:
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Stephen Curry 9/10
Stat line: 35 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block on 13-23 FG's (26 points in 2nd half)
Heading back to the locker rooms after the first half, Curry was still searching for his rhythm offensively. At the end of 24 minutes, he had 9 points on 3-11 shooting. Clearly, that's still not the Curry many expected to explode in Game 3.
Well, that explosion came in the second half. Curry scored 26 of his 35 points in the second half with a ridiculous efficiency of 10-of-12 shooting (4-5 3s). 18 of those 26 points came in the vaunted third quarter, a period the Warriors absolutely dominate. This game too, they outscored the Rockets 34-24, only adding to their lead which was already 11 at halftime.
It's safe to say that Curry had his second "I'm back" moment of his career especially with all the storylines leading up to this game. He got comfortable offensively but his Game 3 was about "a half" and not an entire game. To be honest, Draymond Green said it best "I've seen crazier from him [Curry]"
Kevin Durant - 8.5/10
Stat line: 25 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists on 9-19 FG's and +27
In 75 minutes over the previous 2 games, Kevin Durant had 75 points and just 1 assist. That changed, in Game 3, as the reigning Finals MVP had more of an all-round game with 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and a steal to go with his 25 points. Curry finding his stroke allowed him to do that.
Having said that, this was yet another game where Durant's scoring just made him look like a walking cheat code. Whenever the Warriors desperately needed a bucket, they would just turn to him, throw the ball down and watch him score over his defender. It doesn't matter whose contesting his shot.
I believe, in this series, KD can get his shot anytime he wants. It's important how he balances that with ensuring the rest of the players also get their touches and shots.
Klay Thompson - 8/10
Stat line: 13 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 2 blocks on 6-14 FG's
What won't show on Klay Thompson's box score is his defensive impact, something that can't always be judged with steals and blocks. Offensively, it wasn't a great night for Klay but the Warriors can afford that when they have Curry going off, KD getting an easy 25 and 33 points from their bench.
Golden State restricted the Rockets to their lowest postseason points total this year and that had a lot to do with their switches and hedges on pick-and-rolls, in an attempt to ensure Curry doesn't end up as the primary defender on James Harden or Chris Paul. Although Draymond is the backbone of this defense, Klay played a vital role in the execution of this scheme on the perimeter.
Draymond Green - 9/10
Stat line: 10 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 3-9 FG's, +26
Yes, Curry is the franchise's MVP but Draymond Green is the heart and soul of the team. The Warriors are not the Warriors without Green's energy, intensity, and competitive nature.
Unlike Thompson, his all-round impact shows off on his box score but his 2 stocks (steals + blocks) don't do justice to the defense he played in this game. Playing an undersized center on the team's death line-up (or Hampton's 5), there is a huge physical toll that Green undergoes each game but he didn't let that show in his performance in Game 3.
He was just flat-out dominant defensively - guarding Clint Capela as a center and switching on smaller guards when required. You can't ask for more than his 3-of-9 shooting and committing just 1 turnover while throwing out 6 assists is a huge testament to Green's great playmaking abilities.
Andre Iguodala - 8.5/10
Stat line: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 blocks, 27 minutes, 4-6 FG's, +26
An underrated part of Game 3 - Andre Iguodala arguably had his best game of the 2018 Playoffs. Despite his minute's cap, Iggy had a hand in almost everything just like his box score suggests. Despite playing almost a full 10 minutes lesser than any other starter, he still has a +/- of +26 (second best; best is +27).
Steve Kerr and any of the Warriors' All-Stars would tell you the significance of Iggy's role on the team. It can easily be overlooked in Game 3's blowout, especially with Steph stealing the headlines but Iguodala is the guy on the team that probably everybody trusts to make the most sound decision at any given instant in any game.
Kevon Looney - 7.5/10
Stat line: 4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, +12
It's been an incredible postseason for Kevon Looney. From hardly being a regular in the team's rotation during the season, he's become a staple go-to-guy off the bench for them in the Playoffs. He's the first guy of the team's bench, more often than not, for Iguodala to provide Draymond some respite from playing the small-ball center.
In almost every game these Playoffs, he's been effective in the minutes he has received. He faced a little bit of foul trouble in this game, forcing Kerr to give a few of his minutes to rookie Jordan Bell.
Nick Young - 7/10
Stat line: 5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
As I mentioned earlier, that it shouldn't come as a surprise that Nick Young gets decent minutes in this series. He's an offense first player and he has the general length to play any spot from 1-3 on the any of the team's small-ball line-ups.
He isn't there for any quarter-changing performance but the team looks to him for instant offense in his limited minutes. Eg: - Young knocked down a 3 to close the first quarter, capping off a Warriors' 11-0 run to end the period. It was basically that run that got the Warriors their initial separation.
If he goes off, he goes off but all the Warriors need from him are some filler buckets when their key stars are resting. Averaging 6.6 for the series so far, he's sort of doing just that.
Shaun Livingston - 8/10
Stat line: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 4-9 FG's
Very rarely do the Warriors have only one of their All-Stars on the bench. Almost at all times, there are at least two on the floor and in those minutes if players like Livingston and Young can provide them with offense and act as decoys, it's an ideal situation for the team.
Livingston did just that in Game 3, scoring 9 points in 16 minutes. Not to mention his highlight play - crossing over past Harden for the uncontested dunk!
Jordan Bell, JaVale McGee, Quinn Cook, Zaza Pachulia - Not rated
McGee, Pachulia and Quinn Cook were there primarily for garbage time, meanwhile, Jordan Bell had played a few filler minutes earlier in the game. Cook, however, had the most notable performance of these four as he scored 11 points (4-4) in just four minutes of action.
Either way, neither of these players logged enough minutes to get a rating.
