The Warriors' Game 1 win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night featured a masterpiece from Jordan Poole, a new lineup, and a suffocating defensive performance that held Nikola Jokic to 25 points on 12-for-25 shooting. Jokic also only got to the free-throw line twice, and the Nuggets only went to the stripe 13 times as a team.
Knowing how playoff series tend to ebb and flow, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told his team to be ready for Jokic and the Nuggets to get to the line more Monday in Game 2.
"Yes, we've already told them Denver is going to come out swinging tomorrow," Kerr told reporters Sunday. "This is how series generally work. The team that loses Game 1, especially a game like that, where things went pretty smoothly for us, the other team is going to come out swinging. They are going to bring the full force [in Game 2]. They are going to go to the line more. It's just going to happen. It's just the way it works.
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"Because they are going to be more aggressive. Because they will have sent their clips to the league like everyone does, and that's why we have to be really disciplined tomorrow. Denver is a great team even without their injured players -- with [Jamal] Murray and [Michael] Porter being out. They are able to have the type of season they did because of who Jokic is, and the continuity they have with [MIchael Malone] and the roster. They know what they are doing. So they are coming after us tomorrow. We know that, and we've got to be ready. We can't let our guard down."
After a dominating win in Game 1, the Warriors are aware this series is far from over. The Nuggets will adjust and it will be up to the Warriors to respond in kind.
"In my experience in the NBA, Game 2 after a comfortable win in Game 1 is always, always a tough endeavor," Kerr said Saturday after the win. "We know what's coming. Denver has had a lot of success in the playoffs the last few years. A lot of experience, well-coached.
"It's just a good start for us, but we got to be on our toes, on edge for Monday."
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Jokic's 25-point Game 1 wasn't a bad showing for an off-night. But the Warriors fully expect the reigning NBA MVP to hit back Monday night.
“I think most people will be like ‘Oh man, that’s great.' I feel like he's going to try to come out and give me 40, 15, and 15 next game,” Green told reporters on Sunday. “So now I feel is he's pissed off, and he's coming back with a vengeance tomorrow," Draymond Green told reporters Sunday.
The Warriors held serve in Game 1. They were locked in on both ends and ran Jokic ragged. But they will expect a counter from Denver on Monday, and that will include more trips to the charity stripe.