Tyler Fulgham is taking the Warriors to win the game. (0:52)
The Golden State Warriors' new small-ball lineup has been so lethal that it had Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone looking for a mythic comparison to the trio of Stephen Curry Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole.
On Saturday, he said that one of his assistants did some research for him.
He asked his assistant what a three-headed monster in Greek mythology was.
Cerberus was a monstrous hound, typically with three heads, and was watching the gates of the Underworld for Hades.
The Warriors have had a great start to the playoffs. Curry, Thompson and Poole are in a position to become the only guard trio in the last 50 years to average 20 points per game in a playoff series if the Warriors sweep the Nuggets in Denver on Sunday.
They can become just the fourth trio, regardless of position, with 20 points per game on 50% field goal shooting in a series over the last 35 postseasons, according to research.
The efficiency which they are doing is frightening. One of the things we talked about was how to take one of those monsters away.
In his first postseason as a starter, Poole is averaging 28.7 points and a robust 66.7% field goal shooting, including a scorching 59.1% from behind thearc. Curry has averaged 25.7 points in 25.0 minutes off the bench as he makes his way back from a left foot injury. Thompson has 22 points in the series.
The guards tried to get physical with the Nuggets. They banged the guard off the ball in an attempt to wear down the other team. In the 118-113 Game 3 win, Poole shot 9-for-13 and scored 27 points. The first guard to shoot 60% in three straight playoff games since the merger was Poole, who had 25 points on 25% shooting.
Curry and Thompson both scored 27 points in 31 minutes.
Monte Morris said after practice on Saturday that they are shooting into a big hoop. That is the most physical we have been. You can see that it frustrated them. They had a lot of turnovers during that time.
It is a pride thing but it is just going to be fun, have fun, get the win, and get ready to go back to San Fran. That is our goal. That is our agenda.
The rookies said the Nuggets were loose in what could have been their last practice of the season.
There is no pressure on them. I felt like everyone was themselves today after we came into practice. Everybody is loose. Everybody is feeling good about themselves. We had a good practice.
Is that correct? I think this is what we needed. This is a good sign for us. Everyone was so tight for the past week. I think it is because we are playing a great team and everyone is trying to play well.
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