Explain One Play: McCaw’s three weaves

The Weave is one of the earliest plays that Steve Kerr introduced in 2014. In fact, it’s one of the first plays I ever wrote about. It hasn’t changed at all since they installed it. They put in a couple of counters along the way, but they don’t run the play enough to make it worthwhile.

The play is pretty elementary when scouted. It’s a way to get a running start into a pick and roll, but the Warriors, being too cool for school nowadays, run it very sloppily so it’s not much better than a simple high pick and roll. But it looks cool.

Anyway, the Warriors let sophomore Patrick McCaw run it three times in a row during semi-garbage time in the Clippers game, and got three scores, and each time McCaw showed off a different facet of his game.

Here’s a short video about it.

McCaw showed he can drive to the basket, create a shot by driving and passing, and hit a spot-up three. These are all the qualities he will need to grow into a bigger role. His decision making is consistently good (except for timidity). His on-ball defense is okay, and he has quick hands for steals.

Final Thoughts

McCaw could probably step in right now into Shaun Livingston’s role, but due to Kerr and the veterans’ trust (and Livingston’s recent big contract), that’s not going to happen unless injuries happen. Livingston has more isolation scoring firepower with the turnaround jumpers, but he doesn’t really run pick and roll and he doesn’t shoot threes. McCaw could add those dimensions to a backup guard role that’s mostly solid D, playmaking to settle the offense, and enough of an outside shot to keep defenses honest.

And last night gave tantalizing giimpse of a Steal Squad, in the second quarter with Draymond Green, Jordan Bell and Patrick McCaw (with Klay Thompson and Shaun Livingston). It was just a couple of minutes, but it produced a Bell alley-oop, a McCaw steal, a LAC shot clock violation, and a general spike in defensive energy. I’d like to see that trio again.

Poll

If you’re reading the weak-tea AMP version, you won’t see the poll and comments. Reload directly goldenstateofmind.com and click on the article again for the full package.

This poll is about what happens at the end of this year when McCaw becomes a restricted free agent. For details, see Patrick Murray’s excellent piece.