A (Non) Trade Diary

Actually I noticed the same thing. Although I wouldn't go as far as to say "This is how teams beat the Warriors". After all, lots of plays work against the Warriors. Like the old, drive around your man for an uncontested lay-up play.

But yah, it's a problem and I guess the solution would depend on who the point guard is. Most of them the lesser of three evils would be to just go uner the screen. Even Nash, who can shoot may be uncomfortable having his offense reduced repeatedly shooting jumpers.

Although I suspect Nelson goes with this theory to force the offensive team to make extra passes which opens up opportunities to steal the ball and away they go down the other end. If you force the other team to shoot jumpers, you then have a conventional rebounding situation and we know how that can go, especially against Utah. You would always rather have a turnover than a missed shot because it's the perfect efensive result and it has a higher % chance of turining into an offensive mismatch on the other end.

So you asked why and that's the best that I can come up with.

so, they don't beat us every time at least ...

Nelson chose not to help off the shooters and play 2x2 late in the game because we were quicker than Diaw is longer, and it worked - this time

look, I'm not quibbling over the fact that our roster is flawed - I'm the broken record ...

but if you watch Phoenix 10% as much as you watch GSW, you'd know that the Suns run that against everyone not just us ... and that's why they've one of the best records in the league ...

and, we beat them at their own game, this time at least ...

has always been a problem with the Warriors.  I remember the Hornets were doing the same thing to us.

The good thing about that play is with Baron is 1) he is probably the hardest PG in the league to post up because of his strength and 2) he also might be able to slap the ball away with his super quick hands.

God help us if they start swinging the ball to Monta's man more often and running that screen play.

The fact is limiting the opposing team to perimeter shots is a pretty good game plan, because they might be open but they are more than likely to miss those shots as opposed to one closer to the basket.  It's like Phil Jackson's strategy against us.  Even if the early outside shots are falling early for the Dubs, he is so stubborn to make sure we don't get into the paint easily that he gives us the three pointers the whole game.  Lakers have beat us twice this year using that strategy.

Of course a taller 2, 3, or 4 who gets switched to Baron is going to have a supposed advantage, but Baron holds his own to the point where the opposing player will put up some ugly looking shots.  Can you name a player who baron got switched on and started to abuse him?  I think he muscles up well and the refs give him a little more leeway with the pushing and leverage.  I like our style of help-defense with our cast of players to disrupt passing lanes, tip balls, and/or come up with steals.  They just need to be more aware of who actually needs help instead of doubling everyone with the ball and not staying down on the original assignment.