'The curse continues': Warriors lose while up 3-1
Here come the 3-1 lead jokes (again).
On their home court with a chance to close out their first round series against the LA Clippers, the ghosts of Golden State’s past came back to haunt them.
The Clippers, who entered the series as massive underdogs, kept their season alive with a shock 129-121 win over the Warriors.
After famously becoming the first team in NBA history to lose in the NBA finals after being up 3-1, the Warriors have had to deal with constant jokes ever since the 2016 finals.
It was bad enough after the Clippers managed to bounce back and win after trailing by 31-points earlier in the series, but jokesters on social media went into overdrive after their latest loss.
The 3-1 curse continues… it’s alright, we got Game 5! #Warriors
— Lejon B (@JonThaPrince) April 25, 2019
Let the 3-1 #Warriors jokes begin…#NBAPlayoffs #NBATwitter
— Primetime (@Dion_Primetime7) April 25, 2019
Scary Hours? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/QYFt7IfuWA
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 25, 2019
Warriors fans looking at all the slander knowing whats coming for the Clippers in Game 6 pic.twitter.com/JNApmuaG9e
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) April 25, 2019
The Clippers were led by a scintillating offensive display from Lou Williams, who poured in 33 points and dished 10 assists, while centre Montrezl Harrell troubled Warriors veteran Andrew Bogut the whole game.
Harrell had 24 points on 14 shots, while Danilo Gallinari (26 pts) and Patrick Beverly (17 pts, 14 rebounds) were also influential.
A dominant 45-point performance from Warriors star Kevin Durant fell by the wayside as only Steph Curry (24 pts) and Klay Thompson (22 pts) topped double figures for Golden State.
Back to the drawing board
While the Warriors remain heavy favourites to win the series and indeed, the whole NBA championship, the atmosphere was tense after the game.
They won’t be pushing the panic button any time soon, but head coach Steve Kerr was noticeably terse during the post-game press conference.
When asked what the ‘identity’ of the Warriors was, Kerr was unusually terse in his response.
“What’s the identity of our club? Back-to-back champions,” he said.
“We’re really good. I mean we’re hanging banners. We play fast, we play defense.
“Maybe we should do an instructional video and send it to you.”
After Game 5 loss, Steve Kerr chafes at question about 2019 Warriors' identity: "What's the identity of our club? Back-to-back champions. We're really good. I mean we're hanging banners. We play fast, we play defense. Maybe we should do an instructional video and send it to you." pic.twitter.com/TR9Vy4ETVu
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 25, 2019
Shooting guard Thompson was noticeably fired up after the loss, vowing to end the series in emphatic fashion in game six.
“Just go do what we do. Build from this game? This game sucked,” he said to assembled media after the game.
“Let’s go win Friday. Let’s win big. Let’s go win by friggin’ 30.”
Klay Thompson: “Shoot, ain’t no building. Just go do what we do. Build from this game? This game sucked. Let’s go win Friday. Let’s win big. Let’s go win by friggin’ 30.” pic.twitter.com/lTCmYg0ls0
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 25, 2019
Should the Warriors overcome the Clippers in game six, they’ll face the Houston Rockets in round two.
Golden State defeated the Rockets in the Western Conference Finals last season, before going on to sweep Cleveland in the Finals.
