Back in the playoffs after a three-year absence, The Warriors once again qualified for the Conference Finals. It is already the sixth time that they have reached this stage of the competition since 2015. And as in 2015 then in 2018, it is against a Texas franchise that they will try to hook a new participation for the Finals.
This time it’s not the Rockets anymore but the mavericks who get in the way of Golden State players. Two teams built more or less the same way, with a game that leans outwards, carried by two genius strikers at the wand: James Harden for one, Luka Doncic for the other.
It is therefore natural that Steve Kerr sees similarities between the Houston of 2015-2019 and the Dallas of this year.
« It’s a similar matchup, but I don’t know if it’s useful, because we’re a very different team to four years ago. “Explains the San Francisco franchise coach. ” But it brings back memories. Luka [Doncic] and james [Harden] exert similar pressure on each possession, they can create an easy shot for their teammates or themselves. »
Luka Doncic, a mixture of James Harden and LeBron James?
A feeling shared by Draymond Green, who also compares Luka Doncic to another superstar of reputation
« In a way, I think Luka [Doncic] kinda handles the game like LeBron [James] “, Judge first the triple NBA champion, who also rubbed shoulders with the “King” four times during the Finalsfrom 2015 to 2018.” But the way he play, the way James played [Harden] and the way this Rockets team played means that there are a lot of similarities between them. »
And Draymond Green then dwells on these famous similarities that may exist between the two Texas franchises, led by Luka Doncic and the James Harden of the good old days, therefore.
« There are a lot of similarities, because you have a player who carries the ball a lot and creates play for everyone, in an incredible way “, continues the interior of 32 years. ” Around him you have a bunch of players who can shoot. And this player is good enough to serve them, no matter his position on the field, no matter his position, no matter how many players surround him. »
Although they have given rise to several epic duels in the past, the four playoff series between the Warriors and the Rockets have nevertheless always turned to the advantage of the “Dubs”, in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
It remains to be seen whether, this time, this will be the case against the Mavericks, who will try to react in Game 2 tonight, after their defeat in Game 1.
| Luka Doncic | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | DAL | 72 | 32 | 42.7 | 32.7 | 71.3 | 1.2 | 6.6 | 7.8 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 21.2 |
| 2019-20 | DAL | 61 | 34 | 46.3 | 31.6 | 75.8 | 1.3 | 8.1 | 9.4 | 8.8 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 0.2 | 28.8 |
| 2020-21 | DAL | 66 | 34 | 47.9 | 35.0 | 73.0 | 0.8 | 7.2 | 8.0 | 8.6 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 0.6 | 27.7 |
| 2021-22 | DAL | 65 | 35 | 45.7 | 35.3 | 74.4 | 0.9 | 8.3 | 9.1 | 8.7 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 4.5 | 0.6 | 28.4 |
| Total | 264 | 34 | 45.7 | 33.7 | 73.7 | 1.0 | 7.5 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 0.4 | 26.4 | |
