But when the game started in the fourth quarter, it didn't turn into a high-scoring showdown as people expected.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Clippers suddenly used a slow-paced lineup: Harden, Livingston, Butler, Milicic, and Anthony Davis.
On the Warriors' first attack of the fourth quarter, J.R. Smith's breakthrough was blocked by a big block from Anthony Davis - this was the Clippers' fifth block of the game.
Harden did not push for a quick counterattack when he got the ball, but gave the ball to Livingston, and the Clippers slowly played a positional battle.
Anthony Davis missed the mid-range shot after receiving the ball at the top of the arc. The Clippers quickly retreated and Jimmy Butler marked JR Smith one-on-one.
Smith got on top of Butler on the left side and tried to use the dribble to get rid of Butler's entanglement, but failed. In the end, the referee gave Butler face and blew a defensive foul on Butler.
The Warriors continued to attack, but could not find a breakthrough. David Lee tried to play inside, but Anthony Davis assisted in defense, forcing him to dodge in the air and miss.
Harden grabbed the backcourt rebound, slowly passed halftime again, spent more than ten seconds at the top of the arc, and when the time was about to expire, he passed the ball to Livingston in the low post.
Livingston caught the ball, dribbled the ball, turned his back and shot a mid-range jump shot, and hit!
The Clippers' first goal in the fourth quarter.
Then, a full four minutes passed and the game was about to enter an official timeout, but neither side scored another goal!
The Warriors wanted to quickly chase points in the fourth quarter, but were unknowingly dragged into the quagmire by the Clippers' slow pace and defense.
This is obviously a good thing for the Clippers. They always maintain a 10-point lead and time is their friend.
Milicic and Anthony Davis formed an iron wall under the basket, firmly controlling the rebounds and the three-second zone.
The Clippers' perimeter defense can be expanded very widely. Butler and Livingston can concentrate on fighting with their opponents, while Harden is lazy and tinkers in a relatively inside position, covering the least distance and defending the most. For a man, reaching out is his biggest defensive move, but the effect is actually pretty good.
When J.R. Smith finally broke through Butler's defensive conflict in the three-second zone, Harden on the side stretched out his little hand and knifed the ball from Smith's hand!
After successfully stealing the ball, Harden passed the ball to Butler and counterattacked. Butler broke into the middle, attracted two defenders, went to the basket and then came out, giving it to Harden who followed up from the outside.
Harden caught the ball and hit a three-pointer!
100:87, the Clippers led by 13 points, but the Warriors did not score a point after the start of the fourth quarter.
Mark Jackson couldn't wait for the official timeout and took the initiative to call a long timeout.
Jackson really wanted to curse. Is the Clippers' lineup still a human NBA team's lineup?
This can only be said to be the second or even third lineup on the field. As a result, the overall level and intensity are better than some strong teams.
In addition to the strength advantage, there is also the physical advantage. For example, Livingston only came on in the fourth quarter, and Butler played less than 20 minutes, and his physical fitness is very good.
A sixth man like JR Smith, in order to lead the second team, fights a lot of one-on-one situations, fights for his life, and consumes a lot of physical energy. A decline in physical energy in the fourth quarter is inevitable.
But the Clippers still have two high-level second- and third-position defenders like Butler who can fight one-on-one on the bench! Can JR Smith still hold on in the fourth quarter?
In the 2012 Finals, even LeBron James couldn't hold on and collapsed in the next four games, let alone JR Smith, who was far inferior in strength.
Besides, after two seasons, their personal strength has been greatly improved. So far in this game, the Clippers have been crushed by pure hard power.
Relying on lineup rotation and abundant physical fitness, the Warriors were overwhelmed and breathless. They didn't exert much tactical force and just played normally.
Mark Jackson will inevitably think in his mind, if I had been the head coach of the Clippers and led such a lineup, I would have two rings now, right?
After all, someone like Tyronn Lue can lead a team to a championship, wouldn't it be enough to change to someone else?
Jackson obviously underestimated Tyronn Lue. With Jackson's character, he can't be controlled in the Clippers locker room.
Only a coach like Tyronn Lue can allow young people with rapidly expanding strength to accept such a big rotation.
From this perspective, Min Congda was really discerning and found a head coach that best suited his strategy.
The timeout ended, and the Warriors replaced the main force for the final struggle.
The Clippers replaced Livingston with Curry and replaced Milicic with Leonard.
Tyronn Lue learned the lesson of hiding in the last moments of the last game against the Lakers, hiding everything, and the strongest senior and junior players appeared directly.
When the Warriors came up to attack, Leonard stole the ball, counterattacked, and passed the ball continuously to Curry in the bottom corner. Curry quickly hit a three-pointer!
Subsequently, the Warriors attacked, and Lillard tried to challenge Anthony Davis one-on-one after a pick-and-roll.
Unexpectedly, the Clippers suddenly double-teamed. Curry and Davis attacked back and forth. Lillard rushed the ball and was intercepted by Harden.
Harden changed his slow demeanor, ran wildly in the middle with the ball, and hit the ground to Butler who was running in from the wing. Butler caught the ball and glided with two hands for a dunk!
The score difference has reached 18 points, and it seems that there is not much suspense in the game.
But someone in the Warriors did not give up. During Thompson's offense, he caught the ball at the top of the arc and quickly made a three-pointer and hit.
Then Thompson defended Harden's breakthrough layup one-on-one, received a pass from Lillard in the counterattack, and made another three-pointer, which he missed!
Thompson attacked twice, chasing 6 points in a row, and the point difference came to 12 points. The Warriors still have hope.
If the Clippers' offense misfires at this time and the Warriors hit consecutive hits, with their three-point firepower and Thompson's touch, they can definitely catch up.
Thompson, who hit consecutive three-pointers, had an expressionless face. His eyes were firm and there was no trace of confusion. It was obvious that if the Clippers gave him a chance, he would be ruthless.
Clippers players did not dare to be careless. Curry and Anthony Davis completed a pick-and-roll in the middle and passed a high throw. Davis jumped high and dunked in an alley-oop!
After a screen, Thompson took another three-pointer from the top of the arc and still hit it!
The third consecutive three-pointer! The Warriors chased the point difference to 11 points.
This goal greatly boosted the morale of the Warriors.
Min Congda admired in his heart after seeing this, Thompson really dared to take action in this interview.
The Clippers players also became more competitive. Curry passed the ball to Harden and began to go around the screen.
The Clippers all pulled up and cleared the basket. Anthony Davis suddenly cut inside and Harden pretended to pass the ball.
As a result, this tactical fake move deceived the Warriors defender, and the real killer move was Curry moving to the bottom corner.
When the ball arrives, Harden passes the ball to Curry. Curry catches the ball and shoots a quick three-pointer against Thompson's flying defense!
Thompson tried his best to knock Curry to the ground. The referee blew the whistle and called Thompson a defensive foul.
But the ball that was shot drew a high arc and fell into the center of the basket!
The ball goes in! There will be additional penalties!
Thompson looked frustrated, while Curry, who fell to the ground, gritted his teeth and shook his shoulders.
Apparently, he was getting really excited.
At this time, former Warriors head coach Don Nelson, who was watching the game on the TV, was filled with hatred when he saw the performance of Curry and Thompson.
He thought, how great it would be if the Warriors really selected Curry and formed a backcourt with Thompson.
(End of chapter)
