Malone, Nuggets hope to subdue ‘scary’ Warriors

DENVER — The Golden State Warriors’ new small-ball lineup has been so deadly that it had Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone searching for a mythic comparability to the trio of Stephen Curry Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole.

Malone mentioned on Saturday that he had one in all his assistants perform some research for him.

“What’s a three-headed monster in Greek mythology,” Malone mentioned he requested his assistant. “And it is like ‘Cerberus.’”

In keeping with Greek mythology, “Cerberus” was a monstrous hound, sometimes with three heads, watching the gates of the underworld for Hades.

The Warriors’ trio have had a legendary begin to their first playoff run collectively. Because the Warriors look to finish a first-round sweep over the Nuggets in Recreation 4 in Denver on Sunday, Curry, Thompson and Poole are in place to develop into the one guard trio within the final 50 years to common 20 factors per sport every in a playoff collection based on the Elias Sports activities Bureau.

They’ll additionally develop into simply the fourth trio, no matter place, with 20 factors per sport on 50% area objective taking pictures in a collection during the last 35 postseasons based on analysis by ESPN Stats & Data analysis.

“The effectivity which they’re doing it’s most likely extra scary than something,” Malone mentioned. “We made them work and make robust pictures and that’s what they do. … One of many issues we talked about is how do you’re taking a kind of three-headed monsters away.”

In his first postseason as a starter, Poole is averaging 28.7 factors and a sturdy 66.7% area objective taking pictures, together with a scorching 59.1% from behind the arc. Curry is averaging 25.7 factors in 25.0 minutes off the bench as he makes his method again from a left foot damage. Thompson is averaging 22 factors per sport within the collection.

The Nuggets tried to get bodily with the guards, particularly Poole. They might be seen banging the guard off the ball at instances in an try to put on Poole down. Nonetheless, Poole shot 9-for-13 and scored 27 factors within the 118-113 Recreation 3 win. Poole is the primary guard with 25 factors on 60% taking pictures in three straight playoff video games for the reason that merger (1976-77) based on analysis by ESPN Stats & Data analysis.

Curry matched the 27 factors in 31 minutes, and Thompson added 26 factors.

“They’re taking pictures into a giant hoop proper now,” Denver level guard Monte Morris mentioned after observe on Saturday. “Final sport, you noticed we had been in assault mode, simply working and being extra bodily. That’s the most bodily we have been the entire collection. And also you see it, it annoyed them. That they had quite a lot of turnovers throughout that stretch… we form of modified the face of the sport simply being bodily and that confirmed us one thing.”

Morris added: “It is a satisfaction factor nevertheless it’s simply going to be like, hoop freely, have enjoyable, get the win and prepare to return to San Fran (for a possible Recreation 5). That’s our objective. That’s our agenda.”

Rookie Bones Hyland mentioned the Nuggets had been extremely unfastened in what might have been their final observe of the season.

“Ain’t no strain,” Hyland mentioned. “All of the strain on them. We simply got here into at this time’s observe, I felt like all people was themselves at this time. No person’s tight, all people’s unfastened. I believe all people is feeling good about themselves. We had a terrific observe.

” … I believe that is what we wanted actually. I believe it is a good signal for us… Actually for the previous week, all people was so tight. I assume it’s as a result of we’re taking part in a terrific crew and all people is making an attempt to play good.”