Category: NBA

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Warriors wait to see if Jazz or Clips will be next for second round

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Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, left, and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, of France, battle for a rebound during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, April 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. The Jazz won 96-92. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

On the Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor:

Who will be the Golden State Warriors next opponent for the next round? The Utah Jazz are up on the Los Angeles Clippers in their series 3-2 and it’s unpredictable how this series will turn out the Jazz might be the better team especially with Blake Griffin out for the Clippers out with an injury. It’s a four five match up with both teams pretty much with the same record. Utah was threatening to take the fourth seed at the very end.

The Clips and Jazz look pretty evenly matched and if ones better than the other is anybody’s guess and it’s three games to two with the Jazz ahead and the series goes to Utah for game six. The Clippers are not a push over and that game five that Utah won was a close one the final score was 96-92. Utah is never an easy place to win and home court advantage is going to play to their benefit but the Clippers have been in a lot of series and they have been snake bitten over the course of the team’s history.

David Zizmor does the Golden State Warriors podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Extra Dribbles: Warriors complete sweep of Trail Blazers to advance to West semis; await Jazz/Clippers winner

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

PORTLAND — All five starters scored in double figures led by Stephen Curry’s game-high 37 points as the Golden State Warriors completed a four-game sweep to advance to the conference semifinals by dismantling the Trail Blazers with a 128-103 victory Monday night.

The Warriors improve to 12-1 in the first round over the past three postseasons, per the Elias Sports Bureau.

This is the third four-game sweep in franchise history for Golden State. The Warriors swept the Washington Bullets in the 1975 NBA Finals, and the New Orleans Pelicans in 2015 en route to the championship that season.

Even without head coach Steve Kerr, who is away from the team to deal with lingering affects from back surgery in 2015, and assistant coach Mike Brown moving into Kerr’s chair for the second straight game (and for the foreseeable future), the Warriors played the brand of basketball that has become must-see-television for the past three seasons under Kerr in Game 4.

Curry shot 12-of-20 from the field, including 7-of-11 on 3s to go along with eight assists and seven rebounds in 30 minutes.

Draymond Green added 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in 33 minutes. Green, who by all accounts is the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, leads all players with 4.7 blocks per game in the playoffs.

Klay Thompson, who struggled for most of the series shooting 37-percent from the field and 35-percent on 3s, bounced back in the clincher with 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting (3-of-5 on 3s) in 30 minutes.

Kevin Durant returned back in the starting lineup, adding 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting in 20 minutes.

Durant was sidelined in both Games 2 and 3 with a strained left calf, showed no signs of the injury whenever he drove the ball to the basket as evident of his dunk that increased Golden State’s lead to 22-3 at one point.

Golden State’s hot three-point shooting was in true form in Game 4, as the team knocked down 17-of-29 (58.6-perecent) from beyond the arc. The team had 27 assists (with 10 turnovers) on 46 made baskets (53.5-percent) from the floor, while holding a 45-39 edge on the boards.

The Warriors jumped out early on the Trail Blazers, scoring 45 points in the first quarter tying an NBA record for most points in a single quarter (Portland had 22 at the end of the first quarter). The Houston Rockets scored 45 points against Golden State on May 25, 2015 in Game 4 of their best-of-seven conference semifinals, per ESPN Stats and Information.

Portland was hit with a massive uppercut by the Warriors in the first quarter that they never recovered from the rest of the game.

Golden State started off hot in the first quarter, going on a 14-0 run before Portland scored their first basket, a three-pointer by Evan Turner. Golden State shot 15-of-18 in the first quarter and led as much as 33 points in the game.

By halftime, the game was never in doubt when Golden State was leading 72-48.

But Portland’s season really came to an end when Curry drained a rainbow three-pointer from 31-feet that pushed the Warriors’ lead to 104-77 late in the third quarter that sucked the final breath out of the Trail Blazers.

Damian Lillard, Oakland’s native son, tried to will Portland as he’s done for most of the season, led the Trail Blazers with 34 points on 12-of-24 shooting to go along with six assists. Lillard was given a standing ovation by the remainder of the Moda Center crowd when he left the floor at the 6:12 mark in the fourth quarter.

Al-Farouq Aminu finished with 25 points and seven rebounds in 35 minutes and Shabazz Napier scored 14 points off the bench for the Trail Blazers, who just completed their fourth-straight playoff appearance under head coach Terry Stotts.

Per ESPN Stats and Information, this is the first time since 1999 that the Trail Blazers have been swept in a best-of-seven series when they lost to the San Antonio Spurs, who went on to win their first NBA championship in franchise history after the NBA players’ lockout shorten the season to 50 games.

The real dud of the night was the performance of shooting guard, C.J. McCollum in the biggest game of the season for Portland which was real head scratching to watch.

After averaging 28.0 points per game in the series, McCollum was nowhere to be found in as he couldn’t buy a basket for most of the game.

McCollum started the first half shooting 0-of-7 from the floor.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, that was McCollum’s second scoreless first half of the season. McCollum finished the game 2-of-12 from the floor for just six points.

With the Jazz-Clippers series tied at 2-2, Golden State won’t play another game until this weekend which will give the team a  chance to rest. Getting players like Shawn Livingston (right index finger sprain) and Matt Barnes (right ankle/foot sprain) additional rest will be key for Golden State.

Livingston hasn’t played since Game 1, while Barnes hasn’t been available for the entire series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sacramento Kings make major additions to the front office staff

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by Charlie O. Mallonee

change_sign

The Sacramento Kings basketball operations division has been under fire during the entire transition to the new ownership group headed by Vivek Ranadive. When the initial front office staff was dismissed and turned over to a staff headed by former Kings star Vlade Divac, the concern was the executive group lacked experience.

As the Divac era progressed, the lack of experience criticism continued to grow with transactions like the one with Philadelphia that could cost the Kings valuable position in the upcoming draft lottery. There have also been rumors that the minority owners group have been pressuring Ranadive to increase the size of the basketball operations staff and reshape it into a more traditional NBA style structure.

The two new additions to the basketball operations staff show that someone in the ownership group is listening.

Kings add Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations

scott perry
Scott Perry is now executive vice president of basketball operations for the Sacramento Kings. Photo NBAE

The Kings have hired Scott Perry as executive vice president of basketball operations. Perry has been in “the association” in various positions since 2000.

Perry has spent the previous five seasons as the executive vice president of basketball operations for the Orlando Magic. He served in the same capacity for the Detroit Pistons when they won the NBA Championship in 2004. Perry  was assistant general manager in Seattle when the Supersonics drafted Kevin Durant.

Perry also has considerable experience at the collegiate level. He was the head basketball coach at Eastern Kentucky from 1997-2000. Perry spent time as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan, UC Berkeley and Detroit Mercy.

“I am thrilled that Scott will be joining our front office team,” said Divac. “His extensive experience in the league and management talents will help build our progress as we work to develop a winning franchise.”

Perry will report directly to Divac and will assist in all areas of the day-to-day basketball operations.

It’s a numbers game

Luke Bornn
Luke Bornn Sacramento Kings new VP of Strategy and Analytics

The days of “going with your gut” to select talent from the draft for you NBA team are over. Yes, it worked for Hall of Fame coaches like Auerbach, Sharman and even Don Nelson. Those great coaches had to go by the “gut” and the most basic of stats because that was all that they had available to them.

Today it is a brand new world. Analytics have changed the way players are analyzed and the number of areas that are looked at have increased in exponential proportions. Is there still a place for the intangible, intuitive decisions? Yes, they can play a part in making the final decisions but the most important selections will be made based on hard, cold statistics.

To compete in this “brave new world”, the Kings have hired Luke Bornn – PhD and Harvard professor to Spearhead Team’s analytical efforts – as vice president of strategy and analytics.

Bornn will report directly to Vlade Divac – vice president and general manger of basketball operations. His job will be to provide the data to the operations staff to help make informed decisions about roster makeup, player evaluations and overall team strategies. The data will be gathered in multiple ways including wearable technology.

Bornn will not be the only hire for the analytics staff. The Kings will be adding additional personnel to the department over the next few weeks. Sacramento has two big immediate decisions to make about who to draft with their two lottery draft picks in the June NBA Draft.

Bornn most recently worked as head of analytics for A.S. Roma of the Italian Serie A Football League. Prior to that, he was a visiting scholar and professor at Harvard University in the Department of Statistics.

 

 

 

Extra Dribbles: Short-handed Warriors put 3-0 stranglehold on Trail Blazers

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

PORTLAND — Stephen Curry scored a game-high 34 points to go along with eight assists and Klay Thompson finished with 24 points and the Warriors erased a 16-point third quarter deficit to put the Trail Blazers on the brink of elimination with a hard-fought 119-113 victory Saturday night in Portland.

Both Curry (10-of-25) and Thompson (8-of-21) struggled in the first half before finding their respective strokes in the second half.

Andre Iguodala scored 16 points and Patrick McCaw (starting his second career postseason game), added 11 points.

Draymond Green had another stat-sheet filling night with nine points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and six blocks.

With the win, Golden State snaps a five-game postseason losing streak in Game 3s. Through the first three games, Golden State’s +47 combined win margin is the largest for any playoff series in franchise history.

Golden State can send the Trail Blazers fishing for the summer with a win in Game 4 on Monday night in Portland.

Without head coach Steve Kerr (illness), Kevin Durant (calf), Shaun Livingston (hand), and Matt Barnes (ankle),  the Golden State Warriors resembled more of the walking wounded rather than the NBA’s best team entering Game 3 of their best-of-7 series; but played smart and calm down the stretch that resulted in the victory.

Check out my takeaways below that led to Golden State’s win:

Golden State owned the third quarter: Trailing 82-66 after a Damian Lillard finger roll with 6:20 left in the third quarter, the Warriors stormed back with a 19-1 run, taking an 85-83 lead when JaVale McGee slammed through a lob with 2:01 left in the quarter.

Golden State overcame a 16-point hole and 52-42 rebounding edge by the Blazers to neutralize Portland to 30.4-percent shooting for the quarter. During their hot run, Golden State held Portland to 0-of-8 shooting, with three turnovers.

Per ESPN Stats and Information, Thompson made more 3s in the third (4) than total field goals made (3) in the first half.

The Warriors ended the third quarter on a 21-6 run.

Take another bow, McGee: There’s no question that Curry and Thompson were huge in Golden State’s second half comeback, but the play of McGee in Game 3 was just as vital.

McGee, who has been referenced as a “vertical spacer” by the Warriors’ coaching staff, has been just that against the Trail Blazers this series with his penchant for catching the lob pass for hammering dunks.

In 16 minutes on the floor tonight, McGee scored 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor, to go along with four rebounds. The reserve center was +24 whenever he was on the court.

When you combine his performances from Game 1 (6 points on 3-of-4 FG) and Game 2 (15 points on 7-of-7 shooting) with his line from Game 3 (14 points on 6-of-8 shooting), McGee has scored 35 points on 16-of-19 shooting.

Portland’s backcourt is fun to watch and aren’t the problem: Through the first three games, Lillard and C.J. McCollum have made life difficult for the NBA’s second-ranked defense during the regular season with their ability to score nearly at will. Outside of Game 2, Portland’s electrifying backcourt has torched Golden State:

In Game 1: 75 of Portland’s 109 points on 38-of-54 shooting (7-of-15 3FG).

In Game 2: 23 of Portland’s 80 points on 9-of-34 shooting (1-of-7 3FG).

In Game 3: 63 of Portland’s 119 points on 20-of-46 shooting (10-of-22 3FG).

McCollum led all Trail Blazers with 32 points and Lillard finished with 31 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in Game 3, where Portland was feeding off of its raucous crowd.

Portland did get center Jusuf Nurkic back in the starting lineup for Game 3 after missing the first two games of the series with a non-displaced fracture in his left leg he suffered late in the season that caused him to miss the final seven games.

Nurkic finished with two points and 11 rebounds in 17 minutes of action and was a non-factor.

Al-Farouq Aminu had 14 points and nine rebounds to lead Portland’s bench, while Noah Vonleh added 10 points and seven rebounds.

Allen Crabbe, whose struggled in the series shooting just 33-percent from the floor, scored eight.

Golden State held the edge in points in the paint (46-38) and fastbreak points (22-6).

The Warriors trailing after the first half, rally to take a 3-0 series lead over the Portland Trail Blazers 119-113

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by Jerry Feitelberg

Portland, Oregon-The Golden State Warriors, after being behind by 17 points late in the first half, came to life in the third quarter and defeated the Portland TrailBlazers 119-113 to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Warriors can close out the series Monday night in Portland.

The Dubs only lead in the first half came when Draymond Green hit a 3-pointer early in the first quarter to give the Dubs the lead 3-2. From that point forward, the Blazers, behind the hot hands of Damien Lillard and C.J. McCollum raced out to 65-48 advantage late in the first half. Steph Curry hit a three to close the gap to 67-54 at the finish of 24 minutes of play. Lillard tallied 22 for Portland and his backcourt companion, C.J. McCollum knocked down 17. Steph Curry was the only Warrior in double figures with 15. Klay Thompson was held to just 7 points. Draymond Green also had seven. Big Ja Vale McGee, who has been a spark coming off the bench, did it again Saturday night. He tallied 8 points, and his presence seemed to give the Dubs a lift.

The Blazers had everything going their way. They were moving the ball and finding the open man. The Warriors were out of sync. The Blazers outrebounded the Warriors 29-13, and each team had 9 assists. The Dubs made just 5 3-pointers while Portland made 8. The fans in Portland were convinced that the Blazers were on their way to a win.

The Dubs trailed 82-66 when Ja Vale McGee came back into the game. The Dubs went on a 19-1 run and took the lead 85-83. It was the first lead for the Dubs since early in the first quarter. The Dubs outscored the Blazers 33-21 in the quarter, but the Blazers finished the quarter ahead by just one-point 88-87. The crowd was getting very nervous as they sensed the momentum had shifted and that the Warriors were about to send the Blazers down to defeat.

The fans weren’t wrong. The Blazers gave the Dubs a run for the money as the lead seesawed back and forth. The last time Portland would lead happened when they made a free throw and led 96-95. The Warriors, behind Steph Curry, Andre Iguodala, and Klay Thompson, extended the lead to 108-100. The Blazers cut the deficit to four, but the Dubs would not be denied. Iguodala and Curry mad clutch hoops to nail down the win 119-113.

Game notes and stats- The Dubs’ defense came to life in the second half as the limited the Blazers to just 46 points in the half. They bottled up McCollum and Lillard much of the second half, and the Blazers do not have the manpower to keep up with the Warriors. Kevin Durant, Shaun Livingston, and Matt Barnes did not suit up Saturday night. The Blazers’ Jusuf Nurkic played in his first game since breaking a bone in his leg April 1st. Nurkic gave the Blazers a lift, but he showed a lot of rust and could not jump. He still managed to record 11 rebounds and 4 assists.

Step Curry led the Dubs with 34 points, 8 assists, and 4 rebounds. Klay Thompson finished with 24. Patrick McCaw continued to play well filling in for Kevin Durant. McCaw finished the night with 11 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, and a blocked shot. Andre Iguodala had 16, JaVale McGee 14, and Draymond added 9 points, 7 assists, 8 rebounds, and six big blocks. The Dubs had 11 steals and 11 blocks for the night, The Dubs committed just 7 turnovers.

Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr missed the game with an undisclosed illness. Assistant coach Mike Brown filled in for Kerr. Andre Iguodala said this about Brown:” I think he did a really good job of keeping us poised.”

Game four of the series will be at the Moda Center in Portland Monday night. Game time will be at 7:30 pm.

 

 

Extra Dribbles: Without Durant, Warriors wallop Trail Blazers in Game two 110-81

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Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry drives to the basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images via AP, Pool)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND — Even without star forward Kevin Durant, who didn’t play due to a left calf strain, the Golden State Warriors were able to impose their will in dominating fashion to take a 2-0 lead over the Portland Trail Blazers 110-81 Wednesday night at Oracle Arena.

Game 3 is Saturday night in Portland.

Check out my takeaways below that led to Golden State’s win in the best-of-7 first-round series:

The Splash Brothers were just damp in Game 2

Stephan Curry (6 of 18 FG) led Golden State with 19 points and Klay Thompson (6 of 17 FG) added 16 points, but the duo combined to shoot just 12 of 35 from the floor (7 of 20 3FG).

Curry couldn’t find the bottom of the basket in the first half, shooting 2 of 10 from the floor with 6 points and 4 assists, while Thompson started cold in the first half, knocking down just 3 of 9 from the floor for 8 points.

Patrick McCaw, who started in place of Durant, had nine points and five rebounds.

I don’t expect the Warriors prized backcourt to have another slow shooting night, especially in Portland, where Golden State will be greeted by a rabid Moda Center in prime time.

Golden State jumped out to a 33-17 lead in the first quarter, shooting 13 of 22 from the field on 11 assists, before finishing with a 31 to 17 assist advantage over the Trail Blazers.

The Warriors turned up the defense in the opening frame, holding Portland to just 6 of 21 from the field.

Golden State’s biggest lead of the game was 32 points 96-64 midway through the fourth quarter.

Draymond Green is always on time: Although he didn’t score 19 points tonight as he did in Game 1 finishing with just 6, Green was up to his old tricks again filling up the stat sheet.

Green recorded 12 rebounds and 10 assists in Game 2, a nice follow up to his 19 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in Game 1.

Center of attention: There are still times where I scratch my head and wonder how are the Warriors making lemonade out of their weakest position, center?

JaVale McGee actually led Golden State in scoring at halftime, piling up 15 points on 7 of 7 shooting. Granted, a bunch of those shots were putbacks and one spin-move that left Trail Blazers center Noah Vonleh’s head spin.

McGee scored 6 points on 3 of 4 shooting in Game 1 before coming alive for the Warriors in Game 2.

Throw in Zsa Zsa Pachulia’s 10 points on 5 of 8 shooting, James Michael McAdoo’s 7 points on 2 of 5 shooting, and Damian Jones’s free throw, Golden State’s big men contributed 33 points on 14 of 20 shots from the floor.

The Warriors controlled the paint, outscoring Portland 50 to 36 inside and held a 54 to 47 rebounding edge.

There is no secret that the loss of center Jusef Nurkic has been a glaring hole for Portland, who are hoping that the big man could suit up when the Trail Blazers return home for Games 3 and 4.

After gigantic performances in Game 1, Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum were duds in Game 2: Look, the writing is on the wall for the Trail Blazers. Portland has a backcourt that is comparable to the Splash Brothers, but they can’t do it by themselves.

After combining for 75 points on 52% shooting (7 of 15 3FG) in Game 1, Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum couldn’t carry Portland in Game 2 as Lillard and McCollum combined for 23 points on 9 of 34 from the floor.

Golden State put the clamps on Portland’s dynamic backcourt after the pair were virtually un-guardable in Game 1.

McCollum finished with a career playoff-high with 41 points while draining four 3-pointers, but was just 4 of 17 from the floor.

Lillard was missing in action as the Warriors held the Oakland product to just 12 points on 5 of 14 shooting.

Lillard and McCollum are fantastic scorers, but it was forward Maurice Harkless who led Portland with 15 points and eight rebounds in Game 2.

Shabazz Napier was the only other Portland player in double digits with 10 points. Allen Crabbe shot just 3 of 10 in Game 2, finishing with just 6 points and was 0 of 4 from beyond the arc.

This was Golden State’s 12th win in their last 13 meetings with Portland in the postseason. The last time Portland defeated Golden State in the playoffs, it was in Game 3 of last season’s Western Conference Semifinals.

 

 

 

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Walking wounded–W’s Durant, Livingston, & Barnes, Portland McCullum, Crabbe, and Nurkic

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yahoo.com photo: The Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant is unlikely for game two in Oakland vs. the Portland Trailblazers on Wednesday night

By David Zizmor

OAKLAND–The Portland Trailblazers are in trouble they have huge injuries going into game two tonight vs. the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena with CJ McCullum, Allen Crabbe, and Jusuf Nurkic. These injuries are going to no doubt impact the Trailblazers, Jusuf Nurkic got traded mid season he comes over to the Blazers and he’s kind of the big guy with the rebounding and his presence and he helped sparked their second half run and help propel them into the post season.

The Warriors will be sitting Kevin Durant, Matt Barnes, and Shawn Livingston and how much will this impact the Warriors they’ll find out tonight in game two. They’ll miss Barnes out of the line up and he’s kind of a pit bull for Golden State but he’s not the guy whose going to make a difference for the Warriors. When your talking about Livingston he’s a key guy off the bench. Durant is Kevin Durant the good news these aren’t serious injuries, their not long term injuries it’s not like what they had before.

David Zizmor does the Warriors podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Warriors slug it out with the Portland TrailBlazers for three periods before putting the game away in the fourth 121-109

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Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum, center, drives between Golden State Warriors forward David West (3) and guard Ian Clark (21) during the second half of Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, April 16, 2017. The Warriors won 121-109. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

by Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors began their quest for a second championship in the last three season by defeating the Portland TrailBlazers 121-109. The Blazers, coached by Terry Stotts, gave the Dubs a tussle for the first three periods The Blazer’s backcourt of C.J.McCollum and Oakland native, Damien Lillard were on fire, especially in the first half.  McCollum (27) and Lillard (21) tallied 48 of the Blazers’ 56 points. The Dubs led by four 31-27 at the end of the quarter but the Blazers outscored the Dubs by four in the second quarter to tie the game at the half.

Both teams played fantastic basketball in the third period. Neither team would give an inch. Eleven of the twenty lead changes in the game came in the third period. Neither team could pull away, but the Dubs defense started to assert itself. Draymond Green blocked a shot that sent the fans into a frenzy. Steph Curry led the Warriors’ offense. He had help from Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and JaVale McGee. However, the Blazers stayed with the Dubs, and the score was tied at 88 at the end of 36 minutes of play.  However, the fourth quarter belonged to one Draymond Green whose will and intensity lit up Oracle Arena. The Defense imposed its will on the Blazers as the Dubs went on a 15-2 run to start the fourth quarter. Portland was one-for-eleven from the floor as the Warriors opened up a thirteen-point lead 103-90. Draymond continued to block shots, deflect passes, make steals and utterly confound the Portland players. Ian Clark, starting the fourth quarter, scored 7 points early in the period that seemed to knock the starch out Portland. Kevin Durant continued to shine in his first game in the playoffs as a warrior. The Dubs won game one of the best of 7 series 121-109.

Game Notes and Stats. The Warriors announced that forward Matt Barnes, who suffered a bruised knee and missed the last two games of the season, will return to action. The Blazers are hoping their big center Jusuf Nurkic, will be available Wednesday. Nurkic suffered a broken bone in his leg and will play if he can tolerate the pain. Nurkic came to Portland from Denver at the trade deadline. Nurkic helped the Blazers right the ship, and they were able to make the playoffs as the eighth seed.

KD led the Warrior attack with 32 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Steph Curry finished the night with 29 points,4 assists, 5 boards, and he blocked a shot. Klay Thompson scored 15. The man of the game, Draymond Green, had a double-double, too. Green scored 19 points, 9 assists, 12 rebounds, 5 blocked shots, and 3 steals. The Warrior bench outscored the Blazer bench 22-9. C.J.MCollum finished with 41. Damien Lillard kicked in with 34. Evan Turner had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Maurice Harkless finished with 11.

Steph Curry had this to say about the play of McCollum and Lillard. “When they got it going, they’re hitting tough shots in the first half, some you just have to live with.” “They were able to finish, but over the course of 48, you just try to wear them down.” Kevin Durant talked about his evening’s work this way:” the game ratchets up when you get to the playoffs. I definitely felt good out there.”

The Warriors meet the Blazers for Game 2 Wednesday night at Oracle Arena. Game time is at 7:30 pm.

Extra Dribbles: Durant shows he’s ready for long postseason run with Warriors

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates during the second half of Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, April 16, 2017. The Warriors won 121-109. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND — The whole basketball world knows that the only way that it’s championship-or-bust for the Golden State Warriors this season.

Even after leading the NBA in wins for a third-straight season (67-15), if the Warriors don’t bring home their second Larry O’Brien trophy in three years, the 2016-17 season will be considered a failure.

Period.

But forward Kevin Durant and the top-seeded Warriors look like they are ready to claim their rightful place as the best team in the NBA at the end of June, after holding off the visiting eighth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers 121-109 victory Sunday in front of frenzied, sold out Oracle Arena in Game 1 of the first-round series.

Here are a few of my takeaways from Golden State’s win:

Durant is big time: Durant finished with a team-high 32 points to go along with 10 rebounds in his playoff debut with Golden State. Durant shot 12 of 20 from the floor and showed no signs of a player who missed 19 games in the second half before returning for the Warriors’ final three games of the season due to a recent knee injury.

“The game ratchets up when you get into the playoffs,” Durant said after the game. “I definitely felt good out there.”

Entering Sunday’s playoff game, Durant is averaging 28.8 points and eight rebounds per game in 91 career playoff games, according to ESPN Stats and Information.

Another day at the office for Mr. Green: Draymond Green continues to be the heartbeat of the Warriors and it was business as usual for Green after recording a near triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, five blocked shots (two that kept Oracle buzzing), and three steals.

With all due respect to Durant, Stephen Curry (29 points, 9/19 FG, 5 REB, 4 AST) and Klay Thompson (15 points, 6/16 FG, 1/6 3FG), Green is vital for Golden State to win the title this year. Green is the emotional leader of the team, the guy who brings his lunchbox and hard hat to work game-in, game-out, and possibly, the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year this season.

Trail Blazers have Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, but not much more: McCollum tied a Trail Blazers franchise record for most points in the first half of a playoff game with 27, and Damian Lilliard scored 21 points as Portland’s backcourt combined to score 48 of the team’s 56 points at half time.

McCollum finished with a playoff career-high 41 points on 16 of 28 and eight rebounds, while Lillard scored 34 points on 12 of 26 shooting and five rebounds.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, Lillard and McCollum are the first Trail Blazers teammates to score 34 or more points in a playoff game since Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter on May 19, 1992. Their 75 points were two off the franchise playoff record by teammates.

That sounds all good,  but Portland won’t win a game in the series if their star-studded backcourt has to continue to shoulder the load and not get any help from the role players.

Maurice Harkless was the only other Trail Blazer who had double-digit shot attempts (5/13 FG) and finished with 11 points. Evan Turner scored 12 points.

Portland’s bench was missing in action, scoring just nine points, while reserve guard Ian Clark scored 12 of Golden State’s 22 points off the bench.

The Trail Blazers were without center Jusuf Nurkic, who missed the game with a non-displaced fracture in his right leg.

Game 2 is Wednesday back in Oakland. Golden State is hoping that reserve forward Matt Barnes, who didn’t play in Game 1 due to an ankle injury, is ready to go.

Golden State held the rebounding edge (45-38) and shot 53.1% (43/81 FG) from the floor, while holding Portland to 43% shooting (40/93 FG) for the game.

 

 

 

Sports Headlines Podcast with Tony Renteria: A look at what the Kings have in store for next season; Cain helps his own cause; 49ers to deal away second draft pick

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Sacramento Kings’ Langston Galloway dribbles during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday, April 12, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

On the Sports Headlines Podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 The Sacramento Kings conclude a weird but yet historical season which started with the opening of their new arena, DeMacus Cousins getting traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, and new hopes that the Kings can make haste while the sunshine by getting some decent drafts.

#2 What’s the future of the Kings of the Kings for next season?

#3 The Giants after taking a 4-3 loss on Tuesday came back on Wednesday to get a 6-2 victory with the help of Giants starter Matt Cain who also helped his cause scoring the tying run.

#4  Tony discusses the possibility that the 49ers will deal their #2 draft pick for a running back

#5 The Portland Trailblazers match up against the Golden State Warriors and Tony says this one ends in four games and tells you why

Tony reviews all the sports headlines each week on the podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com