NBA Playoffs 2017: 5 things we learned from Warriors beating Trail Blazers
By Dre Elder
The Warriors quickly dispatched the Trail Blazers in four games. Here are five key things we learned from this series.
The Golden State Warriors routed the Portland Trail Blazers 128-103 last night to complete the sweep. The talent disparity between these two teams was grossly evident throughout the series. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum started with a bang in Game 1, but were never going to beat the Warriors by themselves.
Over the first three games, Golden State outscored Portland by a combined 51 points in the second halves. Last night, the Warriors landed an overhand right to knockout the Trail Blazers in the first quarter. This series went as everyone other than Lillard expected and Golden State was not even at full strength.
5. Golden State’s depth is better this season
When the Warriors signed Kevin Durant last summer, many were quick to point out concerns about how their trademark depth. Was the addition of Durant worth the losses of Harrison Barnes, Andre Bogut, Leandro Barbosa, Festus Ezeli, and Brandon Rush? That was the million-dollar question as Golden State had already been ultra successful. But Golden State answered that question when they closed the season on a tear without Durant. They answered it again by using their depth to completely overwhelm Portland.
With Durant sitting out for Games 2 and 3, the Warriors’ supporting cast filled in admirably and there was no drop off. Andre Iguodala has proven to be reliable in the critical moments, but it was the new bench guys who impressed the most. Patrick McCaw, JaVale McGee, and David West combined to average 31.5 points in those games. Ian Clark is one of few holdovers from last year’s group and he provided some nice offensive punch in Game 2 with 13 points. McCaw and Clark offer more versatility off the bench than Rush and Barbosa did for Golden State. And the offense was not able to run through Ezeli as it can with West on the floor.
It’s scary to think the Warriors’ bench is better than last year since it had to be retooled to absorb Durant’s contract, but it’s true. It has shooting, offensive facilitation, length, and rim protection. Considering the roles Shaun Livingston and Matt Barnes will play once they return, Golden State can comfortably play 11 guys. Let that sit for a minute.