Golden State Warriors preparing for 'hardest game' after failing to close out previous three series in first attempt

BOSTON — The Golden State Warriors find themselves in a position they've been in many times before: one win away from an NBA title.

Playing in the NBA Finals for the sixth time in the past eight years, there is a dose of cautious optimism flowing through the Warriors' locker room as they take a 3-2 series lead into Boston for Game 6 on Thursday night (9 PT on ABC). But the Warriors also made it clear that no one is celebrating yet.

«You do yourself a disservice if you think about things that don't even exist yet,» Klay Thompson said.

The Warriors have struggled in closeout games this postseason, failing to wrap up each series they've played with their first opportunity — all coming on the road.

The stakes awaiting them on the other side of their next game against the Boston Celtics only makes it more difficult.

«Clinching is probably the hardest game you'll play,» Andre Iguodala said.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he doesn't see a common thread in the games Golden State has dropped.

Perhaps it's more about their opponents' survival instincts. Before Game 4 of the first round, Denver's Nikola Jokic said he didn't feel that his team deserved to be swept when it trailed 3-0 in the series. That propelled the Nuggets to a Game 5 win. In the second round, Memphis outworked the Warriors from the start. In the Conference finals, the Mavericks were looking to avoid the sweep, just like the Nuggets.

In each of the Warriors' three failed closeout opportunities, they trailed by double digits at the half. They managed to stay close in the first quarter, but the second quarter became a big problem, especially against Memphis and Dallas.

Golden State has also had a problem defending the perimeter. The Warriors' opponents have shot