NBA playoffs on May 20: Warriors sweep Trail Blazers to make Finals

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The Golden State Warriors defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 119-117 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals at the Moda Center on Monday, sweeping the opponent 4-0, and making the NBA Finals for the fifth year in a row.

Golden State owed this victory to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, both of who dropped triple-doubles in the game – 37 points, 13 rebounds 11 assists by Curry and 18 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists by Green. For the first time in the NBA history, one team saw two of their players claim triple-doubles in the same playoff game.

The 2019 NBA Finals will begin on May 30.

It's like a regular-season game until Q4

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives towards the basket in the game they lose against the Golden State Warriors 119-117 at the Moda Center, May 20, 2019. /VCG Photo

Both Golden State and Portland started Monday's game with a bizarre mindset. If Golden State win, they will get more rest before the Finals, which can help a lot considering how much damage player injuries had done to the defending champion. As for Portland, though it's hopeless for a comeback – no team have ever come back from a 3-0 trailing in the playoffs in NBA history – their No.1 player Damian Lillard already said that Rip City would fight for honor.

Neither side seemed to be serious enough about the game, at least in the first three quarters. Q1 became a shooting practice: the Warriors scored 36 points at the field goal rate of 66.67 percent and buried six of 10 three-pointers; the Trail Blazers had 35 points with an FG rate of 60 percent while sinking four of their eight shots from the 3-pt line. The team's Meyers Leonard, who only began to receive stable time on the court in this series, put down the court's highest 14 points in this quarter.

Meyers Leonard #11 of the Trail Blazers dunks in the game against the Warriors, May 20, 2019. /VCG Photo

Q2 was not much different from Q1 Portland as the team raised their FG rate and 3-pt rate to 60.87 percent and 56.25 percent respectively. Leonard continued his remarkable performance to get 25 points by shooting 10 for 12 for FGs and 5 for 6 for threes. In Golden State's side, Curry maintained his excellent efficiency by making seven of nine shots to get also 25 points.

Both teams rarely used long rotations in the game. The Trail Blazers sent in total 10 people to the court while the Warriors went with 11 – they even game Jacob Evans III three minutes.

Q4 becomes a turning point

Draymond Green #23 of the Warriors dunks in the game against the Trail Blazers, May 20, 2019. /VCG Photo

As the game entered the fourth quarter, the two sides finally realized that winning this game still meant something. Having trailed by eight points (95-87) in the first three quarters, Golden State enhanced their defense with quicker switch and more determined double teaming. In nearly six minutes, Portland only got three points. Lillard only had five points, and C.J. McCollum had none in this quarter. The game entered overtime 111-111.

The Trail Blazers chose the wrong squad for OT. To maintain fluent offense, coach Terry Stotts put Lillard, McCollum, Rodney Hood, Evan Turner and Leonard on the court. However, such a lineup was nothing but disappointment in rebounding. As a result, the Warriors grabbed 11 rebounds, five of them were on the offensive glass. Meanwhile, the team did not score until the last three minutes. Though Lillard got the opportunity for a buzzer beater, his shot was blocked by Green.

Who should be Western Finals MVP?

Stephen Curry #30 and Draymond Green #23 of the Warriors in the game against the Trail Blazers, May 20, 2019. /VCG Photo

ESPN NBA host Cassidy Hubbarth praised Green to the MVP of the series. In the past four games, Green put down 16.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 2.25 steals and 2.75 blocks, including two triple-doubles. His was everywhere from doing help defense, protecting rebounds to driving fast break and making key three-pointers.

However, it will be unfair to ignore what Curry did. Without Kevin Durant, Golden State had to rely on Curry as the team's superior firepower, even though the opponent kept double-teaming him in every game. Curry met the expectations on him by claiming 35+points in four straight games. He is approaching the playoff records held by the biggest names in NBA history: Shaquille O'Neal, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.

Kevin Durant #35, DeMarcus Cousins #0 and Andre Iguodala #9 of the Warriors /VCG Photo

Sweeping the Trail Blazers gave the Warriors enough time to rest and wait for their key members to come back. Andre Iguodala did not play Game 4. Though he was MRI negative for the left calf, he is already 35 years old, and the team will probably need him to defend the Greek Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Finals.

Moreover, though the team seemed to have found the best of themselves back, Golden State don't have much chance of defeating the Milwaukee Bucks if they don't have Kevin Durant. Furthermore, if DeMarcus Cousins can also return, it will be even better news for the defending champion.