Warriors, Clippers to meet in Oakland for critical Game 3 tilt of 1st-round playoff series

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, right, congratulates Steve Blake, center, as Klay Thompson looks on during a timeout in the second half in Game 1 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 19, 2014, in Los Angeles. The Warriors won 109-105. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (The Associated Press)

Golden State Warriors center Jermaine O'Neal, left, blocks a pass meant for Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin during the second half in Game 1 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 19, 2014, in Los Angeles. The Warriors won 109-105. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (The Associated Press)

OAKLAND, Calif. – Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson sat on the scorer's table at Oracle Arena on Wednesday morning. He gazed around the building and tried to envision what it will look and sound like when the Warriors host the Los Angeles Clippers for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series Thursday night.

A gold-shirt wearing sellout crowd of 19,596. Roars so loud that, at times, they drown out whistles. The sights and sounds all embodying the spirit of the team's postseason motto: "Loud. Proud. Warriors."

The Warriors still need to regain more than their homecourt prowess.

Blake Griffin and the Clippers crushed Golden State 138-98 in Los Angeles on Monday night to even the best-of-seven series at a game apiece, showing an all-around game that would've worked in any venue.