Embarrassed by a blowout home loss to the Bucks, the Golden State Warriors went to Milwaukee and controlled the game for the victory. It was a low-scoring game that the Dubs won with a smothering defense--Coach Kerr called it their best defensive effort of the year. The Bucks tried to replicate the game plan they won with--swarming the Dubs' scoring stars and daring others to make shots. But those others made shots, and so at key moments did the stars. Key lesson: defense can win low scoring games, i.e. games when your shots aren't falling.
The Warriors had lost in Toronto while short-handed. But the Raptors came to Golden State on the second night of a back-to-back, without their star player, and handed the Dubs a 20 point loss. For the Warriors it was low-scoring, with Steph Curry in particular not hitting. But it seemed to be the successful execution of a sophisticated game plan that won it for the Raptors, who are now officially the beast of the East and the favorite to wind up in the finals with Golden State.
The Warriors' energy was lacking, and after his long absence while injured, Curry was due for a letdown game. Key lesson: ineffective defense can lose low-scoring games. But also, there exists a strategy that can win against the Warriors.
After this game, TO lost to Portland while the Dubs pulled out a last minute win in Sacramento--with lots of scoring but a final score that indicated less than stellar defense. Curry suggested that with the return of Draymond Green the Warriors are still getting used to their rotations again. Now the Dubs face a bunch of games in December, mostly at home, that this recent experience suggests they'll need to play focused to win.
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