Enjoy Basketball: What have we learned from Games 1 and 2?

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We have Finals Game THREE tonight! Will Curry drop another 30 piece? Will Al Horford bounce back? Whose pants will Draymond Green try to pull down this time? This newsletter speculates at all three, and more. But first, if you want to try to win some money tonight during the game...

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Because there hasn't been a game since the last newsletter, we though we'd reflect on what we've learned from the first two games of the NBA Finals and what that could mean going forward. So, we took to Twitter and ask ythe community brought the analysis!

Steph vs Depth

Good take, so far. The Celtics' non-stars have stepped up more prominently than those of the Warriors. Who even is the Warriors second best player right now? Andrew Wiggins? Draymond Green? Kevon freakin' Looney? Curry is averaging more than DOUBLE the points per game of the next-highest Warrior. Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole, and Green are all shooting less than 40% from the field and have COMBINED for 32.5 PPG, compared to the 31.5 PPG from Steph alone. While this did not matter in Game 2 with Curry playing his best basketball, it might soon. 

On the flip side, the Warriors will do anything to prevent Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown from being the ones to beat them offensively. JT did a great job facilitating in Game 1's victory with 13 assists, but when the role players go cold so does the Celtics' entire offense. In general, this defensive strategy seems astute, and Draymond agrees. But will it hold out?

Turnovers lose championships

A great observation from one of our Twitter Community moderators! Both teams have been plagued by turnovers all year. The Warriors sometimes play too fast and make too ambitious passes. The Celtics' stars are improved passers but in crunch time fail to take care of the ball as well. 

In both games, the team that won the points off of turnovers battle won the game. In Game 2, the Warriors scored 33 points off of turnovers compared to Boston's 15. In a game decided by 19 points, that 18 point differential says it all. It's been a problem that has plagued Boston all playoffs, but could improve as the young stars adjust to the Warriors defensive scheme. Keep an eye out for this aspect of future games.

3rd quarter Warriors are built different

When someone doubts Steve Kerr's greatness as a coach, point to Golden State's consistently historic 3rd quarter performances. On average this season they won 3rd quarters by 2.8 points per game, a league best. For years, Golden State has been elite in specifically 3rd quarters after making adjustments during the halftime break.  Steph and and the starters rest at halftime, and for whatever reason simply shoot better from the field to ignite their offense. The Celtics must weather the storm and have strong 4th quarters similar to that in Game 1 if they want to leave Boston up 3-1.

There's even better hoops to come (probably)

Generally, we agree with this take. While Game 1 was a classic, neither team played their best basketball simultaneously. Though Steph Curry had a 21-point first quarter, the rest of the Warriors were lackluster and only led by 4 come quarter's end. In the 4th quarter of that game, we saw the Celtics role players at their best while the Warriors shrunk away. In some series, the two sides never sync up for a heavyweight slugfest (i.e. Mavs vs Suns). In this series, hopefully we get to witness titans clash.

Darvin Ham is hiring and firing

New Lakers Head Coach Darvin Ham has already made some significant staffing changes. First, he hired former all-star big man and University of Memphis assistant coach Rasheed Wallace as an assistant. Additionally, Coach Ham declined to bring back Lakers assistant coaches David Fizdale, Mike Penberthy and John Lucas III. Lots of turnover in LA to say the least.

Honestly, Ham is giving off great energy. Just watch this clip below of him describing his attitude as he heads into arguably the hardest vacant coaching position in current sports. Fearless and prepared indeed.

TrailBlazers getting ambitious

Yes, rumors are rumors. But when they include big enough names and are from a credible source like Kevin O'Connor, they are notable. Per sources, the TrailBlazers are targeting veterans to surround Damian Lillard to make a push to continue the "win now" model. The biggest targets are Zach LaVine and Bradley Beal. Surely either shooting guard would dramatically increase the TrailBlazers' shot creation and shot making. However, they also pose the same defensive concerns that plagued the duo of Dame and CJ McCollum for years. Still, that offensive duo would be absolutely wicked. 

Other names associated with Portland include Miles Bridges and Jerami Grant. The Blazers could throw a massive bag at Bridges, who is a restricted free agent, or assemble a trade package for Grant. Regardless, both would provide solid wing defense, helpful shot making, and substantial shot creation for a retooling Portland squad.

Now the question is what do the Blazers have to trade? The ascension of Anfernee Simons seems to make him a notable asset. They also have the 7th pick in this year's NBA Draft which could be enticing. So, who knows? Maybe they shoot for the moon.

The Trade That Completed Derrick White — and Maybe the Celtics - Mirin Fader (The Ringer)

Examining potential trade destinations for OG Anunoby - Evan Sidery (Basketball News)

Transformative year: Black coaches now lead 50% of NBA teams - Tim Reynolds (Associated Press)

‘One Of My Biggest Mentors’: Blazers Draft Target Jalen Duren Shares Experience Coached By Rasheed Wallace - Jeremy Brener (Blazer's Edge)

Golden State Warriors @ Boston Celtics - 9:00 p.m. EST

The thesis of this prediction is that role players generally shoot worse on jumpshots on the road and better at home. With that, we're taking Boston to win Game 3 because of the advantage that the TD Garden will give guys like Al Horford, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard and how it might hinder those already struggling like Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole.

That being said, I also think Golden State will walk out of Boston tied 2-2. It just so happens that I think Golden State might need a one game adjustment before they take Game 4. Can't wait.

Here are my hopes for tonight: 1) Steph Curry drops a zillion points to boost my irrational stan Finals MVP agenda for him. 2) Al Horford becomes prime Dirk again to blow everyone's mind. 3) People stop blaming refs for the outcomes of blowout games. Anyways, I'm out. Enjoy Basketball tonight! 

- Conor Geelan

Last Trivia Answer: Besides Al Horford, the only other current NBA player born in the Dominican Republic is Chris Duarte. Like Horford, the Pacers rookie was born in Puerto Plata before coming to the U.S. to hoop. 

Trivia Question: Nikola Jokic was selected 41st in the 2014 NBA Draft, making him the lowest-drafted MVP in NBA history. Before Jokic won, which two players were tied for the title of lowest-drafted MVP, and what number pick were they?