Poor shot selection comes back to bite Warriors in Game 1 loss

Enter the Warzone, ears rung by Roaracle.

▪ Just because the Warriors can make all manner of crazy outside shots doesn't mean they always should.

Let Monday night’s 108-102 Game 1 loss to the Thunder at Oracle Arena serve as an example. Layups are always a higher percentage than off-balance threes, even when Stephen Curry takes them.

Especially when Oklahoma City leaves the lane wide open.

▪ For someone as big and tough as Thunder 7-footer Steven Adams, he sure can sell a flop.

Every time a Warrior placed a finger on Adams, he crumpled to the court like a victim of a Central Park mugging.

▪ You can pay $100 for pay-per-view boxing (Mayweather-Pacquiao comes to mind) and not see a punch landed as squarely as the one Rougned Odor delivered to Jose Bautista’s chin.

Sure glad they’re making baseball fun again.

▪ Our only peeve about the Texas Rangers getting Bautista back for his audacious playoff bat flip was them waiting until his final at-bat in the last game between the teams.

If you’re that steamed about being shown up like that, why wait that long?

▪ The sentimental side wishes the Giants had re-signed Tim Lincecum. The rational side is glad Lincecum wound up with the Angels.

On the other hand, Jake Peavy.

▪ Good thing the Bay Area is so wrapped up in Warriors and Sharks fever.

Because few people are paying attention to how mediocre (Giants, till lately) and lousy (A’s) their baseball teams are playing.

▪ Last month we implored Fresno State AD Jim Bartko to make a larger investment in men’s basketball.

Now comes the news that coach Rodney Terry is close to a contract extension that includes a salary bump, plus increases for assistants, travel and scheduling guarantees.

Glad someone around here listens …

▪ New Fresno State wrestling coach Troy Steiner should aim high for his first recruiting target: Clovis High junior Justin Mejia.

Mejia committed to Iowa way back in 2014. But we’re hearing the three-time state champion, who was in attendance along with his father at Steiner’s introductory news conference, could be swayed toward the Bulldogs.

▪ If Steiner can land a local stud like Mejia, it might convince others from the Clovis Unified Wrestling Factory to follow suit.

Plus, a certain sports columnist would have to admit he was wrong.

▪ Boggles the mind to think the Fresno State softball team lost out on a chance to host a regional because it won “only” 23 straight games instead of 24.

The NCAA’s caste system remains in full effect.

▪ With a 21-9 Mountain West Conference record, the Fresno State baseball team has clinched at least a share of the league title.

Which means senior right-hander Tim Borst (along with fellow four-year players Brody Russell and Kevin Viers) just earned his first championship ring.

“It’s going right here,” said Borst, pointing to his ring finger, “and I’m wearing it every day.”

▪ The Amgen Tour of California rolls through our state this week, but Valley cycling fans will have to go to Morro Bay or Lodi to get anywhere near the action.

Was it something we said?

▪ Overheard at last weekend’s MW Track & Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium:

Air Force runner No. 1: “No way is this a high school track.”

Air Force runner No. 2: “It is!”

▪ Two games into the season, Fire Squad Fresno boasts 240 members and a cheering section with 325 fans.

In case you doubted Fresno was a soccer town.

▪ For no particular reason: Turk Wendell

▪ Weirdo actor Shia LeBeouf will portray John McEnroe in a movie entitled “Borg vs. McEnroe.”

You cannot be serious!

▪ In a GQ cover story, Rob Gronkowski says his go-to drink is vodka and water, “so you’re getting your fluids.”

Kids, let that be a lesson. It’s OK to get drunk as long as you’re hydrated.

This story was originally published May 16, 2016 at 8:39 PM with the headline "Poor shot selection comes back to bite Warriors in Game 1 loss."