The Golden State Warriors are no strangers to closeout games. The team is in the midst of its seventh consecutive postseason run. They have even made it to the NBA Finals in each of the last four years.
After their infamous collapse against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, the Warriors know that the fourth win can sometimes be the toughest of them all. Head coach Steve Kerr, who was at the helm for all four of those deep playoff runs.
“Yeah, I mean, I think closeout games are always difficult,” Kerr said. “I think both teams at this point have a really good feel for one another strategically, what each one is trying to do. I think the Clippers are gonna come out flying around. They've got nothing to lose, you know, they're gonna come out flying around. I thought they were really good defensively last game. They put a lot of pressure on us, and they'll come out with a freedom shooting the ball and an aggression that we gotta be ready for.”
The Warriors have a 3-1 lead against the Los Angeles Clippers in their first round match-up. However, Golden State can't let up on the gas. They did exactly that against the Cavaliers in 2016, blowing an identical 3-1 lead and losing the championship as a result.
But this Warriors team has experienced that collapse and doesn't want to fall apart like that again. They are pursuing their fourth title in five seasons and know what it takes to get there.
Golden State will have a chance to grab that elusive fourth win on Wednesday night at 10:30 P.M. EST.
If they move on to the second round, they will face either the Houston Rockets or the Utah Jazz.
Houston leads that series, three games to one.
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