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What a slugfest! Stephen Curry (23 points on 6-20) and Klay Thompson (6 points on 1-9) had bad shooting nights, and last year that would have resulted in a loss. But this year, Kevin Durant is there to take up the slack, and he came through with by far his best game since joining the Warriors. Golden State has not even needed him this postseason, or for the last twenty games or so, since Klay signed that toaster ... until tonight.
Let’s look at some plays down the stretch, in the fourth quarter, when the game was decided.
Q4.6:25. UTA 79, GSW 78
Here’s what turned out to be when the Warriors took the lead for good. JaVale McGee was in, so they ran one of the four plays they have for him: the Motion Strong wing pick-and-roll. In case you forgot this play, here’s a memorable example:
The Motion Strong starts with passes across the top, and the screener always dribble-pitches away from Curry, then backtracks quickly cross-court to screen for Curry.
Here’s tonight’s version with McGee screening. The Jazz have to cover it a little differently than most teams. But these are the two main defenses teams use on Curry pick-and-rolls.
- Double-team Curry. I think this is a mistake, but I welcome it, since it usually turns into a 4-on-3. Also, the Motion Strong start means the big defender is usually trailing the screener, so Curry can just run through the double team.
- Curry’s defender chases him over the top while the big sinks back to try to force Curry into a tough mid-range shot. Curry is good at mid-range shots, so this isn’t great either. If you cover the mid-range shot, that means the screener can roll to the basket. Here, that means McGee can jump up for an alley-oop dunk.
So, the Jazz don’t blitz. Instead, they sink Rudy Gobert back and instead of challenging Curry, he sticks with the rolling McGee!
They have Boris Diaw leaving Draymond Green to serve as a goalie against Curry’s drive. Green could have faded to the corner for a very open three, but instead he cuts to the basket. Curry, of course, finds him and Green makes a tough layup. Curry’s court vision and passing are outstanding and underrated. (Where he gets into trouble is his overly ambitious, careless, or irresponsible passes.)
Notice, again, how McGee’s threat of the alley-oop (“vertical spacing”) created space for Curry’s drive.
(In case you’re wondering what the primary four plays are that they run for McGee, there’s the Motion Strong PNR, Motion Weak PNR, the straight high pick-and-roll to a lob, and the straight high pick-and-roll with big-big passing.)
Kevin Durant vs. Rudy Gobert in the pick-and-roll
Okay, for many of the rest of the plays in the game, the Warriors would run very simple high pick-and-rolls for Durant, with the screener being whoever Gobert is guarding. The Jazz were not double-teaming Durant, so there was no need to be artful about the action, such as using the Motion pick-and-rolls. In contrast, in the past, the W’s would double-team Durant in the fourth quarters. I am expecting teams to start doing this to Durant.
Q4.5:49. GSW 80, UTA 79
Here is a simple high pick-and-roll. The screen from McGee is not solid, so the defender gets partly through, enough to contest a three ...
Durant drives right at the back-pedaling Gobert, getting into his body (preventing him from winding up for a block) and powers in the layup.
Q4.4:11. GSW 84, UTA 79
Another high pick-and-roll with a more solid screen from McGee. Gobert has sunk back a step to prevent Durant from blowing by him again. So ...
Durant enjoys the extra space and pulls up around the elbow for an open jumper.
Q4.3:09. GSW 89, UTA 84
Now, Gobert guards Andre Iguodala. But that previous play worked so well, so why not try it again, but from above the three-point line? So Iguodala comes up and sets a good screen on Gordon Hayward (you know it’s the playoffs when Iguodala makes solid contact on his screens). Gobert is still sagging back to prevent Durant from running by, so ...
Durant again pulls up and this time the jumper is worth three points.
Q4.2:14. GSW 95, UTA 86
Tired of getting torched by these pull-up jumpers, Gobert plays up closer on this pick-and-roll, up over the three-point line. So ...
Durant crosses over, gives Gobert a loving nudge, and has an open right elbow jumper. He is good at bounce ball.
Game tweets
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS WAS ONLY THREE YEARS AGO. Kerr's hire got me to start blogging at GSOM. My first article: https://t.co/Bn7jVniP28 https://t.co/SW48iyBl7n
— Eric Apricot (@EricApricot) May 6, 2017
Good stuff from CJ. Compare Barkley & Co rants v switching. https://t.co/n8at3ZVbWE https://t.co/9Zyyp7K3xO
— Eric Apricot (@EricApricot) May 6, 2017
JaVale McGee has taken over the title of God of Chaos from Leandro Barbosa.
— Eric Apricot (@EricApricot) May 7, 2017
Seems a tad unfair that KD got a T and flagrant for this and Gobert got nothing. https://t.co/4LOS8iadP5
— Eric Apricot (@EricApricot) May 7, 2017
Hoping this works... https://t.co/Shabx88ElR
— Eric Apricot (@EricApricot) May 7, 2017
Poll
Who is the hardest potential WCF Warriors matchup?
This poll is closed
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15%
Houston Rockets, and they will reach the WCF
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20%
Houston Rockets, but they will miss the WCF
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12%
San Antonio Spurs, but they will miss the WCF
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31%
San Antonio Spurs, and they will reach the WCF
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19%
Motiejunas’s sweat is undefeated