How the Warriors can pick up momentum without Curry heading into playoffs

byDuc Manh •
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With their 111-107 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night time, the Golden State Warriors clinched a playoff berth for the primary time in three years and have a chance to realize some much-needed momentum because the common season winds down.

Stephen Curry was dominated out for the rest of the common season on Friday with a sprained ligament in his left foot and shall be re-evaluated after the season finale. The Warriors are 2-6 since Curry’s damage and 4-10 with out him on the yr.

Whereas head coach Steve Kerr mentioned after Friday’s apply that he and the group are taking pictures for the best seed potential, it’s simply as very important for them to arrange themselves for playoff depth no matter the place they wind up within the remaining standings.

Listed here are some methods for the Warriors to complete the season sturdy and achieve momentum as they roll into the playoffs.

Poole’s Curry impression

In Curry’s absence, Jordan Poole has been the perfect offensive participant on the ground, scoring 20 or extra factors in 16 consecutive video games. He adopted up his profession excessive tying 38 factors towards Phoenix with 31 factors on 40 % from the sphere and 40 % from deep. Whereas Poole’s on-ball sport has been entrance and middle, he’s been growing his off-ball sport as properly. Poole in some methods has been mimicking Curry. Not too long ago, he’s been handing the ball off and coming off of screens to relocate and rating.

In this set after a first-quarter timeout, the Warriors are operating a variation of cut up motion. Poole breaks freed from Jordan Clarkson as quickly as Draymond Inexperienced will get the ball within the submit. Poole comes off of a Kevon Looney display screen for his first three of the sport.

Granted, this deal with this play was Inexperienced’s display screen on Royce O’Neal to unencumber Andrew Wiggins. Nonetheless, discover the faux dribble handoff to Poole. He drags Clarkson as Inexperienced slips that display screen and passes to Wiggins.

Poole mimicking Curry in his absence makes a lot sense as a result of the Warriors’ offense shall be that a lot more durable to cease with Curry, Poole and Thompson on the market. Opposing defenders must assume twice about promoting out to cease Curry. In the event that they do, they're daring two succesful scorers to beat them.

Thompson’s shot choice and quantity

Since Klay Thompson returned to the lineup, he’s been taking pictures at a excessive quantity in an try to search out some rhythm and get again to the place he was earlier than accidents price him two consecutive seasons.

“Total, he’s performed very well. I believe he’s been up and down although and he hasn’t been constant throughout that point as a result of I believe emotionally he desires this so badly and he tends to press a bit of bit. In order that’s the most important factor we try to assist him with,” Kerr mentioned earlier than the matchup with the Jazz.

Thompson received what he wished within the fourth quarter, nailing three 3-pointers in lower than 90 seconds to assist lower a 16-point deficit to simply 4 factors within the blink of an eye fixed.

After being away from the sport for 2 seasons, Thompson was going to make up for misplaced time by taking pictures at a excessive quantity. He shot 28 instances towards the Jazz, however by hitting 4 of his remaining six 3-point makes an attempt, he turned a so-so night time into an amazing one.

The difficulty with the high-volume strategy is that on inefficient nights, Thompson tends to stifle the move of the offense. He’s been forcing unhealthy pictures to drive himself to get into rhythm and keep there. As a lot as Thompson desires to get again to the extent he’s accustomed to, he have to be affected person and never drive the problem.

Extra nights like Saturday will include time and persistence.

Defending the three

The Warriors’ protection has been trying higher not too long ago than it had shortly. Of their Wednesday loss towards the Suns, Inexperienced and Looney pissed off Deandre Ayton into 16 factors and there have been only some lapses within the rotations.

Nonetheless, the Warriors should clear up how they defend the three. The Jazz led by as many as 21 factors principally as a result of they have been hitting 3-pointers, and blown rotations helped the Jazz get nice appears to be like. Utah splashed 12 3-pointers by way of three quarters. The Warriors took management once they started to shut out on open pictures from dee and stopped their tendency to over-help on protection. If the Warriors can proceed to scrub up their protection from deep, they'll be capable of win just a few extra video games to finish the season and set the tone for the playoffs.

Wiggins’ aggression

Andrew Wiggins is the Warriors’ wild card going into the playoffs. Whereas Poole has proven that he’s prepared for the second, Wiggins is in query. In a majority of video games after being named an All-Star, Wiggins has been passive offensively. He will get into the behavior of settling for troublesome and contested midrange jumpers. If not that, he’s settling from three. Wiggins is simpler when he’s aggressive and actively driving the lane and even looking for out matchups to take advantage of inside.

Right here’s that cut up motion once more, this time it’s Poole initiating. With 11:41 remaining within the third, take a look at the place Wiggins is. He has the area for an open three. He may have shot it. A cut up second later, Wiggins turns his defender, slashes by way of the lane and dunks over Rudy Gobert.

Wiggins was environment friendly on low quantity Saturday night time, scoring 17 factors on simply 10 pictures.

Wiggins doesn’t must settle and may capitalize on the alternatives since there shall be area to take action with Curry, Thompson, and Poole on the ground.

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