Three Point Shooting Contest

[pickaxe]

I seem to remember a lot of experts mentioning after game 1 the Denver Nuggets do not want to get into a three point shooting contest with Golden State. This was because of the actual lack of shooting by the Nuggets and the fact it is GS's SPECIALTY. That and free throws....the thing we all know needs to be done well in the playoffs. Don't shoot threes, and hit your free throws.

Ok, ok. As free throw shooters it just wasn't there. No way to avoid that. Both teams understood Denver still won games like crazy without free throws.

But the three point shooting contest! What better way to give 7th seed GS some confidence: turn it into a three point shooting contest. Despite anyone's wishful thinking, or belief that a team must make some long shots to win, GS salivated at the idea that the Nuggets would gamble away their spot by testing the shooting skills of both teams.

Let's just look at this point I am making in the context of giving the opponent confidence they salivated at getting.

Forget the technical reason we shoot or drive. Forget the position it puts the team in once GS goes on a 12-0 run shooting threes, and how it makes all the players feel like they have to make heroic shots. Forget all that.

Why even go there? Why even let GS think Denver will try to use threes to catch up? Sure they pack the paint. They KNOW Denver will either try to be heroic from three, or make a weak drive. 50/50.

Why not just put together an effective plan to hit GS before they have a chance to pack the paint?

All I ask everyone to think of is the confidence it gave the Warriors.