Lakers Dominate Game 1 Against Warriors in Western Conference Semifinals
The highly anticipated Western Conference semifinal showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors kicked off on May 4, 2023. The Lakers emerged victorious in Game 1 with a dominant performance by Anthony Davis, who scored 30 points, grabbed 23 rebounds, and had four blocks.[0] Despite the Warriors hitting six three-pointers each from Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Jordan Poole, they shot just 41.5% from inside the arc, allowing the Lakers to score 54-28 in the lane.[0]
The Warriors will be looking to bounce back in Game 2, and oddsmakers have opened them as five-point favorites before ticking up to -7. The Lakers, on the other hand, will be looking to make the necessary adjustments to maintain their lead in the series.[0]
One of the tactical games in this series is expected to come when the Lakers have the ball.[0] The Warriors will likely play smaller and faster to open up their offense, leaving them more vulnerable to the Lakers' paint play and foul-drawing. If there's one tactical adjustment the Lakers can expect in Game 2 from Golden State, it might simply be for the Warriors to play their small lineup more often.
The Lakers franchise is known for having dominant big men, and Davis is no exception.[0] LeBron James praised him, saying that he is one of the best players in the league and will be among those whose jerseys will hang in the rafters when he is done playing.
Although the Warriors lost Game 1, they had some standout performances, particularly from Jordan Poole.[0] He played under control, had no turnovers, and stepped into his shots, scoring 21 points. Kevon Looney was also a major contributor, grabbing 23 rebounds, but he struggled to contain Davis in the low post.[0]
Both the Lakers and Warriors have momentum entering the postseason, with the Lakers boasting a net rating of +7.2, and the Warriors sitting at +13.2.[0] The Lakers are considered underdogs by 3.5 points in the second game against the Warriors.[0]
0. “Warriors vs. Lakers score: Live updates from Game 2 as Stephen Curry and Golden State try to bounce back” CBS Sports, 5 May. 2023, https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/warriors-vs-lakers-score-live-updates-from-game-2-as-stephen-curry-and-golden-state-try-to-bounce-back/live/
