The tactical battle that was Recreation 1 of the NBA Finals proved just one factor: There isn't any teaching benefit on this collection.
Sure, not like most NBA groups, Boston won't be outsmarted by the Warriors. We all know this as a result of each squads got here out with spectacular opening salvos on this NBA Finals battle.
The Warriors confirmed their hand early and took an early lead. Boston countered and received the sport.
Now it’s on the Dubs to make some changes forward of a must-win Recreation 2.
Listed below are three that look mandatory if the Warriors are to salvage a recreation on their dwelling flooring:
1. Go all in on attacking
Credit score to Steve Kerr. I assumed it will take longer for Golden State to do what could be mandatory towards Boston’s switch-everything protection.
As an alternative, after the Warriors’ first possession of the sport — a feckless floppy motion that had Curry setting a pin-down display on the block — Golden State got here out with a 1-3 pick-and-roll that left Boston’s Robert Williams in drop protection.
Curry six made 3-pointers within the first quarter, an NBA report. 4 of the six got here off of a excessive display. The opposite two got here off a transition alternative and an offensive rebound.
Boston made their changes. Robert Williams stopped dropping in pick-and-roll protection and the Celtics trapped Curry off screens with Al Horford at heart.
It labored, particularly the latter within the fourth quarter.
It’s on the Warriors to counter Boston’s strikes now — one thing they didn’t do late within the fourth.
Far too typically as the sport slipped away from the Warriors, Kerr had the group operating difficult motion-offense units.
The Warriors must be much more direct in Recreation 2. Rote, if in any respect potential. Boring is finest.
I do know this isn't Warriors’ basketball.
Warriors’ basketball will lose them this collection, simply because it did in 2016, when the Cavs went to a switch-everything protection within the remaining 4 video games, and in 2019, when the Raptors’ smarts and flexibility turned the Warriors’ half-court offense into a humiliation.
Curry’s teammates (and Jordan Poole’s for that matter) can run round and back-pick all they need from the wings, however the main motion Golden State needs to be operating each time down the ground is a excessive decide and roll with the ball of their level guard’s palms.
The excellent news for the Warriors is that Kerr each is aware of that is the very best plan of action (as evidenced by the Dubs operating extra decide and roll within the first quarter than they did, roughly, to your complete postseason up to now) and that Curry is especially adroit at that system, regardless of it not being the Warriors’ system.
If Robert Williams III is on the ground, the Warriors have to put him in motion after motion. Hunt him down. He would possibly block a couple of perimeter photographs, however that’s higher than photographs on the hoop. In a extra cynical approach, it'll check his balky knee.
If Al Horford is enjoying heart, trapping Curry on the perimeter, the Warriors have to have shooters on the prepared, with Inexperienced prepared for the short-roll 4-on-3.
There are two different elements in play right here if the Warriors are going to turn into a model of all the pieces they as soon as hated:
Curry should play a minimum of 40 minutes in Recreation 2 and past, and Inexperienced must play much more heart. Poole’s struggles in Recreation 1 add complexity to this example, however it could be time to match Curry and Inexperienced’s minutes once more.
2. Drop the zone
Jordan Poole was so unhealthy in Recreation 1 that it's hardly out of bounds to marvel if he can play on this collection in any respect. Boston had a subject day attacking him on protection and his offense did extra hurt than good (two subject targets, 4 turnovers) on Thursday.
The Warriors’ downside is that they can't drop him. He's one among two folks on the Dubs who can successfully run the excessive pick-and-roll. Strive Andre Iguodala at level guard all you need, however you received’t rating.
The Warriors should experience the curler coaster that's the 22-year-old Poole.
That doesn’t imply they should do objectively foolish issues, although.
The Warriors have used zone protection extra this season than at any level throughout their 5 Finals runs in 5 years. It’s a byproduct of Toronto utilizing a box-and-1 towards Curry to nice impact within the 2019 NBA Finals, the shortage of NBA gamers on the Warriors’ roster within the following two seasons, and a altering tide of acceptability across the NBA.
However primarily, the Warriors are utilizing zone as a result of Poole can’t play protection.
They’re making an attempt to guard No. 3 in order that he could make some 3-pointers on the opposite finish.
In Recreation 1, that meant closing with a zone. The Warriors turned into a 3-2 look when Poole entered the sport with 3:47 to play.
It didn't work out nicely.
The Celtics won't be an elite 3-point taking pictures group (they've made as many because the Warriors per recreation this postseason on yet one more try), however they're each a assured and good group.
The zone is merely giving them open 3-point photographs, as Poole is on one wing, making an attempt to protect two gamers at one time.
How do you suppose that goes?
It went so poorly that Poole was moved to the highest of the zone. That didn’t go nicely, both.
By the fourth time the Warriors ran the 3-2 zone late within the fourth quarter, Boston had overloaded one facet of the court docket — one thing it took Dallas every week to determine within the Western Convention Finals.
The zone received’t work towards Boston.
The Warriors could be higher off having Poole be a foul defender with one accountability, versus many. Boston will at all times discover him. Once more, they’re too good. They’re additionally incisive sufficient to take what's given to them towards a zone.
The Warriors stand a greater probability of getting stops by having Boston hunt Poole. These possessions take extra time and the later within the shot clock Boston goes, the much less environment friendly its offense turns into.
Will it end in a bunch of fouls for Poole? You guess. However that’s higher than a ton of open 3-pointers by shooters who will take and make them.
There’s no good reply for the Warriors on protection when Poole is on the ground, however abandoning the zone is a greater possibility.
3. Iguodala and Inexperienced can't be on the ground collectively
The Warriors tempted destiny for nearly all of Recreation 1 by enjoying two non-shooters on the ground collectively for all however 4 minutes of aggressive play.
With Golden State going to a extra direct type of offense, the Dubs have to prioritize taking pictures and spacing.
It’s one factor to have Kevon Looney on the perimeter, setting screens however not doing a lot else. However to have Inexperienced on the market, too, permits the Celtics to not defend two gamers outdoors the 3-point line.
That successfully negates the benefit of the direct offense towards a switching protection, as evidenced by Horford’s success with trapping.
If Williams is on the ground for Boston, Looney can play. If not, he needs to be out of the sport.
However Iguodala?
I don’t know if there’s a job for Andre on this collection.
But when he’s on the ground, it needs to be as the one non-shooter. Meaning enjoying Otto Porter, Nemanja Bjelica or Iguodala as a middle with the second unit, led by Poole.
4 shooters on the ground always, with exceptions for Looney if the matchup is true. It’s mandatory.