Klay Thompson shines in State Warriors Game 2 rout of the LA Lakers.
1. Introduction
The Golden State Warriors evened their playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 with a dominant 127-100 victory. Led by Klay Thompson's 30 points and Stephen Curry's 20 with 12 assists, the Warriors blew out the Lakers with a team effort that saw all five starters score at least 10 points each. Despite 23 points from LeBron James and 21 from Rui Hachimura, the Lakers struggled to contain the Warriors’ offense and were unable to bounce back.
Lakers Golden State Game: Steph Curry guides Warriors to victory in Game 2 against Lakers
2. Game 2 Recap
The LA Lakers Series appeared to be neck and neck with the Warriors in the first quarter, with James and Hachimura scoring a combined 22 points to give the Lakers a seven-point lead. However, the Warriors made major adjustments in the second quarter and never looked back. With Draymond Green guarding Anthony Davis, the Lakers struggled to feed their dominant force, and the Warriors' smaller lineups disrupted their offensive flow. By the end of the third quarter, James caught the inbounds pass and dribbled out the clock, marking the Lakers’ resignation to their 30-point loss.
3. Lakers Struggle to Contain Warriors’ Offense
Despite making adjustments on their part, the Lakers struggled to contain the Warriors’ offense and fell victim to their fast, aggressive play. Ham said of his offense, “We got fragmented a little bit,” which was only compounded by the Warriors' speed and ball movement. The Lakers also found it difficult to guard four shooters, with the Warriors making half of their 21 three-point attempts. The Lakers’ defense was stretched to the perimeter, and they were unable to shut down the Warriors' scoring opportunities.
4. Warriors Make Major Adjustments for Game 2
Coach Steve Kerr made major adjustments for Game 2, playing smaller and making it harder for the Lakers to feed Davis the ball in his best spots. The Warriors clogged the paint, making it difficult for the Lakers to score inside, and stretched out their defense to the corners of the court. With Kevon Looney on the bench due to illness, veteran JaMychal Green moved into the starting lineup and hit three of six from three. Draymond Green accelerated the Warriors offense, racing the ball into the frontcourt and cutting the Lakers defense to pieces with his passing and dribbling.
5. Lakers Unable to Close Shooting Gaps
Although James and Hachimura combined to score 43 points, the Lakers were unable to keep up with the Warriors’ scoring pace. Davis, the Lakers’ two-way dominant force, only scored 11 points, and Green guarded him well, preventing the Lakers from getting him the ball as he rolled to the basket. It was clear that the Lakers had no answer for the Warriors’ adjustments and that they would need to come up with a new strategy going into Game 3.
6. Conclusion
Despite the Lakers’ strong showing in Game 1, the Warriors bounced back in Game 2 with a dominant performance that highlighted their aggressive, fast play. The Lakers struggled to contain the Warriors’ shooting and speed, and despite putting up a strong effort, ultimately fell short. The Lakers will need to make major adjustments before Game 3 to hold off the Warriors’ dangerous offense and take control of the series.
