Golden State Of Mind: All Posts by Mike Brady"UNSTOPPABLE BABY!" - Warriors rookie Marc Jackson to the Mavs' bench, after a lay-up during a 29-point loss (2000)https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50563/gsom-fav.png2017-10-03T08:00:02-07:00https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/authors/1471383073/rss2017-10-03T08:00:02-07:002017-10-03T08:00:02-07:00Andre Iguodala, Carmelo Anthony and the value of stars sacrificing
<figure>
<img alt="Philadelphia 76ers v Denver Nuggets" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eKVzxWMFG5yqTqMZNfPRbQ3N-Us=/0x0:3450x2300/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56966365/78794831.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>For the Thunder to truly succeed, Carmelo Anthony should follow the example set by Andre Iguodala and embrace a more limited offensive role.</p> <p id="ieVfwd">The lead art accompanying this article was taken on January 6th, 2008 when the Denver Nuggets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 109-96. Nearly a decade has passed and the NBA has changed a lot, some things, however, remain the same.</p>
<p id="6kFDyC"><span>Carmelo </span>Anthony, for example, is still chasing that ever-elusive NBA championship. At 33-years-old, it’s unknown how much longer Anthony can continue to be an integral part of a championship contender. With this in mind, while perched on his throne and gazing across the ruins of the charmless New York Knicks franchise, Anthony finally made a move to put himself in the best situation possible; he waived the no-trade clause in his contract so that the <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">New York Knicks</a> could send him to the Oklahoma City Thunder.</p>
<p id="z7hSX1">The <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> now have a roster that looks, to some pundits, like a genuine contender. </p>
<p id="avROdZ">However, for the Thunder to truly compete, Anthony might have to put his ego to one side and accept a slightly more limited role. That’s not to say the Thunder shouldn’t go to Anthony for the occasional isolation play or feed him when he has the hot hand, but by sacrificing the touches he’s been accustomed to as a superstar he just might be able to achieve something special.</p>
<p id="7nuTpD">There’s a long list of players who in were once the face of a franchise in their prime and proved incapable of adjusting to no longer being "The Man" in the twilight of their career. Alas, if they had taken a step back and surveyed their surroundings they may have found an NBA championship within reach, just a few steps outside of the spotlight they had been bathing in for so long. </p>
<p id="g1yxiD"><strong>Andre Iguodala's sacrifice </strong></p>
<p id="GKgjGF">Take the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors' </a>very own <span>Andre Iguodala</span> for example. At one point, Andre Iguodala was the face of the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging close to 20 points per game and establishing himself as one of the leagues elite defenders. Fast forward to 2014 and after a brief stop in Denver, Iguodala was signing with the Warriors.</p>
<p id="kJUoA0">One season later, Iguodala was benched. </p>
<p id="klQ6wQ">Coach Kerr asked Iguodala to sacrifice his starting spot to make room for <span>Harrison Barnes</span> and while Iguodala could have whined about it like many other former stars have done, he humbled himself stating, <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/andre-iguodala-on-if-he-cares-about-starting-thats-a-good-question/">"It's just growing up, being smart about the situation.”</a></p>
<p id="mXLMZB">Iguodala's sacrifice led to a lot of success for the Warriors, having that caliber of a play-maker and defender coming off the bench opened up a lot of different lineup possibilities for coach Kerr. It also helped the Warriors win the championship that same year, where Andre Iguodala was named the 2015 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.</p>
<p id="tXajC0">While Carmelo Anthony coming off the bench isn’t a realistic prospect — due mostly to the makeup of the Thunders roster — he should still take some advice from Iguodala: “It’s about growing up, being smart about the situation”. </p>
<p id="ueKvVQ"><strong>What being smart about the situation means for Anthony</strong></p>
<p id="0cmM02">Anthony’s demeanor on the court throughout his career has been consistent if nothing else. He was a straight up gunner. A player who has never seen a shot he didn’t think he could make. For the most part, his teammates during his career have remained passively tolerant of Anthony’s adoration for shooting the basketball. I’m not sure that this will be the case with his new teammates in Oklahoma City.</p>
<p id="JUmYPq">If Anthony shows some willingness to sacrifice the amount of time he has the ball in his hands, he might still be able to get the number of shots he’s accustomed to. </p>
<p id="g63vlr">One of the more interesting parts here is some of the numbers back up Anthonys’ impact playing off others as a spot-up shooter.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/D7qlyOSmkbEAR2SS-VqgzYh_n6E=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9357233/new_piktochart_24896013.png">
</figure>
<p id="5nqR2M"></p>
<p id="op76re">As the infographic above clearly displays, Anthony is one of the better catch and shoot players in the league from deep. </p>
<p id="Y86b6h">When you take into account 2-point field goals as well as 3-point shots it still looks impressive; only 19 players averaged a minimum of 6 points per game on catch and shoot opportunities. Of those 19 only nine had a better effective field goal percentage (eFG%) than Anthony. </p>
<p id="C1Wj0Z">Anthony has never played with a point guard as talented as Westbrook nor has he played beside a duo of players who can attract so much attention defensively like Westbrook and George.</p>
<p id="lUen7R">If he’s smart, he has the opportunity to be one of the best stretch-fours in the league offensively. But to do so Anthony would have to become more self-aware, right now I’m not convinced he’s ready to accept a “lesser” role. </p>
<p id="hVQu6s">Adapting to a new role and humbling yourself helped Iguodala win a finals MVP trophy as well as two championship rings, it helped <span>Vince Carter</span> remain relevant well into his 30s to the point where most of his peers have retired and he’s <a href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2017/7/6/15932416/vince-carter-signs-sacramento-kings-memphis-grizzlies-2017-nba-free-agency">still signing deals worth millions.</a> </p>
<p id="zAYDjh">For the Thunder to have even the smallest chance of defeating the Warriors, the message is clear.</p>
<p id="rZeCJb"></p>
<div id="Jzm0ds"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 75.0019%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eZDBMfe3iPE?rel=0&" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="6scJ05"></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/10/3/16387190/2017-nba-warriors-thunder-carmelo-anthony-andre-iguodala-sacrificeMike Brady2017-06-30T15:00:02-07:002017-06-30T15:00:02-07:00Warriors season review: Zaza Pachulia
<figure>
<img alt="NBA: Finals-Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZGzv_6ZJ7SkTu0OFrAOfQC3pr-0=/0x0:4227x2818/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55521877/usa_today_10090806.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We review the season Zaza Pachulia had with Golden State and look ahead to his future. </p> <p id="HTND5t">In a recent <a href="https://www.fanragsports.com/nba/warriors/answering-biggest-offseason-questions-surrounding-warriors/amp/">article</a> for FanRag Sports, I was asked if <span>Zaza Pachulia</span> had done enough to be brought back or if the Golden State <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a> should look for a replacement in the offseason. This thought has inevitably crossed the mind of every Warriors fan at some point this year.</p>
<p id="3BOlRy">Pachulia wasn't exactly the most productive player — averaging six points and six rebounds on the season. However, he <em>was</em> sharing the floor with four of the best players in the game, three of whom happen to be arguably the best shooters in the league right now.</p>
<p id="l5KiYd">Around this time last year, I wrote a <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/9/1/12575684/zaza-pachulia-what-does-he-bring-to-the-warriors">preview</a> for what Warriors fans could expect from Pachulia and it boiled down to five key points: </p>
<ul>
<li id="8bUB6J">A physical rebounder who uses his body well to box out opponents.</li>
<li id="gc4qo8">A downgrade defensively from <span>Andrew Bogut</span>, but not a bad defender in general; he’s good at staying vertical and getting his body in front of drivers.</li>
<li id="uW5wWi">Has some good fakes under the rim, but is an inefficient finisher, to say the least.</li>
<li id="RVIXAY">Sets great screens and isn't afraid to deploy some "tricks" to get teammates open.</li>
<li id="3caogP">Underrated passer.</li>
</ul>
<p id="rD24n9">What I missed at the time and had no way of predicting was Pachulia’s ability to run with this team. In short bursts he did a great job at keeping up with the pace — at least more so than Andrew Bogut ever did — which is not something many centers can do.</p>
<p id="tNYF6w">Pachulia isn't the most athletic center nor is he the most skilled. However, when you accept Pachulia for what he is there is some real value in his game. Is it frustrating watching him blow layups or get into foul trouble in the finals? Absolutely but when you look beyond the box score you start to notice some things, such as his ability to keep formidable bigs like Tristan Thompson off the glass, his tenacity when chasing down loose balls and his willingness to utilize some veteran savvy to get a teammate open or irritate a defender. </p>
<p id="Wj2eFb">On top of all this, he seems like a positive presence in the locker room.</p>
<div id="QDgUYU">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This guy next to me was on today. 60 points <br>Way to go my man <a href="https://twitter.com/KlayThompson">@KlayThompson</a> <a href="https://t.co/P55oh9s4TA">pic.twitter.com/P55oh9s4TA</a></p>— Zaza Pachulia (@zaza27) <a href="https://twitter.com/zaza27/status/806042391287209985">December 6, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="ro0PIW">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Zaza Pachulia handed Klay Thompson a framed SF Chronicle at practice today. <a href="https://t.co/5gXNVaCVYO">pic.twitter.com/5gXNVaCVYO</a></p>— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) <a href="https://twitter.com/Con_Chron/status/863127649492783104">May 12, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="gW6hH3">As a side note, it's worth remembering that Pachulia has a big heart; he hosted free basketball camps for children all around his native country of Georgia for years before forming his own basketball academy in Tbilisi last year. </p>
<p id="TNP7pf"><a href="https://nbpa.com/inside-zaza-pachulias-new-sports-academy-with-the-bucks-court-on-its-way-to-europe/">Last year Pachulia said</a>:</p>
<p id="UYLvBD"> “I’m very excited honestly and I can’t wait to get there. It’s great to see Georgia having this kind of basketball facility where kids are going to have a chance to not only practice in a good environment but also practice with great coaches and learn the right way, learn discipline, professionalism, the game of basketball, [its] history.”</p>
<p id="awEjCO">Prior to this the conditions of the facility were terrible. They had no electricity or windows, Pachulia used to train in long sleeved sweatshirts and a hat. </p>
<p id="gRKMN1">His humble beginnings have seen him take an equally humble approach to his off-court endeavors. This makes him a great fit for Golden State’s already charitable locker room. </p>
<p id="SOLjt7">Sure, in an ideal world we would want to see an upgrade at the starting center spot as it's clearly the Warriors’ only real weakness in their starting five. Realistically, however, let's stop <s>being greedy</s> day-dreaming and start being a little more logical.</p>
<p id="ozsKnD">According to <a href="http://roster-builder.com">roster-builder.com</a>, for the Warriors to retain everyone aside from James Michael McAdoo, Ian Clark and Zaza Pachulia, they would only have the league minimum to offer to another center. This was calculated in a best case scenario type of situation where both <span>Andre Iguodala</span> and Shaun Livingston sign for the least amount of money possible, along with David West and <span>JaVale McGee</span>. </p>
<p id="CIbbjN">Obviously, these are rough figures and some of the details were taken from slightly older projections but the point still stands; the cost of replacing Pachulia completely outweighs the marginal improvement you <em>might</em> gain from replacing him with a slightly better player.</p>
<p id="Gobq1z">It looks like there's a good chance we will be seeing Pachulia return next season, let's just hope we see a lot more of the good stuff and a little less of him being blocked by the rim.</p>
<div id="nCm0xA"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cdx0BZ6ud8c?rel=0&amp;controls=2" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
<div id="Y7Mwm5"><div data-anthem-component="poll:515829"></div></div>
<p id="Yuv3TH"><br></p>
<p id="aIU1to"></p>
<p id="Tqemly"></p>
<p id="LJpl3z"></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/6/30/15894748/2017-nba-warriors-zaza-pachulia-review-free-agencyMike Brady2017-05-19T11:00:01-07:002017-05-19T11:00:01-07:00Peak levels: A recap of the Warriors first two rounds.
<figure>
<img alt="San Antonio Spurs v Golden State Warriors - Game Two" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/V14RqzK8uijhoLsNnjCAQLosMic=/0x0:3332x2221/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54853665/683939244.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Recapping the Warriors first two rounds statistically and asking just what the hell is happening in the second quarter. </p> <p id="uprCal">While most fans have now turned their attention to the bright lights of the conference finals, I've spent the last couple of days kicking through the ashes of the opposition from the first two rounds. </p>
<p id="lxdX6O">While sifting through data trying to dig up something worth studying I decided a nice starting place would be to compare and contrast the first two rounds this year (statistically) to the previous post-season. </p>
<p id="ULD3Z0">Which lead me to create this table:</p>
<div id="0w35GJ"><iframe width="600" height="100.00599999999997" seamless="" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AqUzfeZBAzKI31z3fJch2o2Fkpb0ipCKI8GP-BpquzI/pubchart?oid=2107605289&format=interactive"></iframe></div>
<p id="vvMC3P">At the risk of sounding a little condescending, it should be clear to most fans that this <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a> team is a bit of an anomaly. Statistical output aside, there hasn't been many (if any) teams that have managed to accumulate this much talent while preserving the "team first" ethos that allowed them to blossom from the depths of basketball mediocrity and helped turn them into contenders in the first place. </p>
<p id="FgkMZ2">Statistically, however, it's a bit of a mixed bag. We start with the bog standard box score numbers; steals per game, for example, hasn't changed much. The Warriors have been consistently great at forcing turnovers and intercepting passes for a while now and that isn't changing anytime soon. Curiously enough, despite the talking heads on television telling us the Warriors now lacked rim protection after letting go of Andrew Bogut and <span>Festus Ezeli</span>, they're averaging significantly more blocks per game while their defensive field goal percentage and defensive rating have also improved over last season. </p>
<p id="MfxAth">A couple of statistics I didn't include in this table are deflections and loose balls recovered. The Warriors want to win; nothing paints a clearer picture of that fact than these two hustle stats. In 2016 during the first two rounds, the Golden State Warriors averaged 13.2 deflections and 6.2 loose balls recovered; this year in the first two rounds they have averaged 18.6 deflections and 12.9 loose balls recovered. This is a result of two things; first of all, they really want to win every single possession, and secondly, they have a lot of "length" on the team. Sure they might have sacrificed traditional size — to an extent — when trading away their "true" big men. But the addition of players like <span>JaVale McGee</span> and <span>Kevin Durant</span> has only added to the never-ending wingspan of this roster (<span>Shaun Livingston</span>, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson etc are all relatively "lengthy" players). </p>
<h1 id="NU6KAb">Peaks and troughs</h1>
<p id="FA9fnZ">As I continued to explore the gaudy statistics that the Warriors put up during their early playoff run a concerning pattern emerged. I wanted to examine the Warriors performance in the first two rounds on a quarter by quarter basis, and while there are some stunning examples of peak level Warriors doing things only they could, there are also a handful of statistics that left me scrambling for answers.</p>
<div id="ie56JW"><iframe width="600" height="371" seamless="" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1436z2BfhvRPrn1DEsWm4c8vaW-bdFHgiI-TYaTK46As/pubchart?oid=1989912867&format=interactive"></iframe></div>
<p id="aMTIoV">Above is a graph plotting the Warriors average offensive rating throughout each quarter of the first two rounds.</p>
<p id="evArrW">Clearly, something happens that causes the offense to wilt, going from historically spectacular in the first quarter to simply "okay" in the second quarter. </p>
<p id="Wqz2Rp">Fortunately, it's not that much of a mystery; the lineup that plays the most minutes in the second quarter is:</p>
<p id="J1ShB1"><span>Ian Clark</span> - Klay Thompson - <span>Andre Iguodala</span> - Draymond Green - <span>David West</span></p>
<p id="LJRtLB">This lineup isn't <em>bad </em>offensively; it's simply that it isn't really built to trade shots with the opponent. Klay Thompson has been struggling offensively throughout the playoffs while West and Iguodala aren't the offensive players that they once were. Clark is one hell of a spark normally but he's prone to tunnel vision. </p>
<p id="PDNtSu">Should we be worried about this? My first instinct was not really. I mean even if this lineup isn't amazing offensively they seem to be built more with defense in mind right? There's some good wingspan here and some very intelligent defenders in Iguodala and Green. </p>
<p id="t3R2LC">Then again...</p>
<div id="zUbRpX"><iframe width="600" height="371" seamless="" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1436z2BfhvRPrn1DEsWm4c8vaW-bdFHgiI-TYaTK46As/pubchart?oid=1819513229&format=interactive"></iframe></div>
<p id="Iczaeo">I need to pause for a moment and state something that's been on my mind since I started writing about basketball analytics; discovering something you didn't expect and can't fully explain is both fiercely confusing and weirdly exhilarating.</p>
<p id="Ufalf9">In the chart above we are looking at the Warriors’ average defensive rating throughout each quarter in the first two rounds. To state the obvious because this is defensive rating, the lower the number is the better the defense, meaning that giant spike in the second quarter isn't a good thing, actually; it's a little unnerving.</p>
<p id="lzbdZ6">The Warriors’ average defensive rating in the first quarter is 80.1. This is astounding, greater than great. </p>
<p id="CRzFD5">In the second quarter that defense inexplicably falls off a cliff. It's the type of defense that should only exist in <span>Ron Adams’ </span>nightmares.</p>
<p id="Hi1g8T">So what's actually going on? Why is there such a significant drop off?</p>
<h1 id="iA9IEw">Take that for data!</h1>
<p id="5y20w3">To begin with, the two most used lineups in the second quarter during these first two rounds were:</p>
<p id="h19eMY">Clark - Thompson - Iguodala - Green - West</p>
<p id="trPQ4f">and</p>
<p id="I0K1E5">Curry - Thompson - Iguodala - Durant - Green</p>
<p id="a0ZqUL">The first lineup eats up the vast majority of the minutes. As I said before on paper, this should be a pretty solid defensive lineup; at least three out of five of those players are well above average defensively. In fact, Iguodala and Green are arguably two of the best defenders at their respective positions. </p>
<p id="GXAJzp">The second lineup every Warriors fan should recognise; it's the infamous "death lineup.” The same lineup that's supposed to obliterate opponents.</p>
<p id="iwFLO7">Initially, I had no idea how to explain this. So I dove deeper into the numbers and took a look at each individual and how they were performing defensively. Within five feet of the rim, Draymond Green (a top candidate for defensive player of the year) allowed opponents to shoot 67.3% while David West allowed 75% and Kevin Durant allowed 73%.</p>
<p id="vjc4Bh">The defensive rating of Green is an abysmal 126, and for Thompson and Iguodala, it's 127 and 132, respectfully.</p>
<p id="KwvjOr">Meanwhile, <span>Zaza Pachulia</span> has a defensive rating in second quarters of 85.4 and only allows opponents to shoot 25% from within five feet of the rim. Could it be that Pachulia is the fulcrum of the Warriors defense? Well... probably not. It's possible they're feeling the effects of a lack of "size" but given the amount of switching and team-oriented style of defense I find this hard to believe. </p>
<p id="uzjuuX">After talking it through with Eric Apricot (the superb mind behind GSoM’s <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/5/17/15651642/nba-playoffs-video-analysis-2017-spurs-warriors-game-2-stephen-curry-stealth-bombs-threes">"Explain One Play"</a> articles) we arrived at a possible explanation. </p>
<p id="cTPJh2">It's feasible that Thompson’s shooting woes, combined with the streaky offense of that specific unit, is having a negative effect on the defense. As Apricot put it himself, “If the offense is bad you get counterattacks, early offense and sometimes fast breaks.”</p>
<p id="TnYKnP">The numbers back this theory up. The Warriors allowed an average 2.2 fast break points through the other three-quarters and an average 2.6 in the second quarter. This jump might seem negligible to some but the other statistics are even more telling. The average points off turnovers the Warriors allowed in the other three-quarters is 2.4 per game while in the second quarter that number shoots up to 5.5. In other words, on average, the Warriors allowed more than double the amount of points off turnovers in the second quarter as they did in the other three combined. </p>
<p id="12iNR1">Furthermore, the points allowed in the paint increased from an average of 8.6 in the other three-quarters to 14 in the second quarter. </p>
<p id="Ib3485">As Apricot said himself, the struggles on offense only amplify the carelessness on defense during this quarter. </p>
<p id="3QtA3y">Regardless, I do feel there are a couple of things that I should mention here. To begin with, general fatigue could be playing into this to an extent but more importantly, this is a <em>very</em><strong> </strong>small sample size. In reality, it's probably not something fans should be concerned about, at least, not yet.</p>
<p id="h2dEpr">Overall the Warriors have had a fantastic post season. The numbers through the first two rounds back this up for the most part and if you've been watching the games, their level of play has clearly been head and shoulders above the rest. </p>
<p id="dgOS3a">The first two rounds can be summarized quite easily; opponents do what they can while the Warriors do what they want. </p>
<p id="Ipu0Xg"><em>[Editor’s Note: All stats taken from stats.nba.com]</em></p>
<p id="h7mmZC"></p>
<p id="w6xGF7"></p>
<p id="H5eFvU"></p>
<p id="sW8tRI"></p>
<p id="bS4Zww"></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/5/19/15645992/nba-playoffs-2017-warriors-golden-state-stats-analytic-defense-green-thompsonMike Brady2017-04-19T23:20:02-07:002017-04-19T23:20:02-07:00Warriors decimate Trail Blazers (110-81) without Kevin Durant
<figure>
<img alt="Portland Trail Blazers v Golden State Warriors - Game Two" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wzd_dI9WOEHn4PzM2i4Yx140rqk=/0x23:4179x2809/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54354601/670451526.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Golden State locked in defensively and the bench unit stepped up in the Game 2 victory against Portland. </p> <p id="hfud8r">In the second game of their first-round series against the Portland Trailblazers, the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Warriors</a> reminded everyone why they're the most dangerous team in the world.</p>
<p id="3hXNYA">There was a chance that this game could have been a nail-biter with <span>Kevin Durant</span> sitting out <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/4/18/15346876/nba-playoffs-2017-news-kevin-durant-shaun-livingston-injured-game-2">due to a calf strain</a>, along with key bench players <span>Shaun Livingston</span> (finger) and <span>Matt Barnes</span> (foot). However in the end the Warriors locked in defensively and everyone on the bench stepped up to make up for the losses. </p>
<h2 id="6si4GG">Defend our ground</h2>
<p id="FqiORU">The Warriors new playoff slogan <a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/04/cavaliers-fans-mocked-warriors-golden-state-cleveland-marketing-slogan-nba-playoffs-defend-land-ground">may have been mocked by Cleveland fans for it's lack of originality</a> but they lived up to it tonight. The first possession of the game saw <span>Klay Thompson</span> double dribble his way into a turnover and things looked shaky as the Warriors stumbled out of the gate. <span>Zaza Pachulia</span> was the only one effective on offense; he scored two baskets as the Warriors went down 9-4. Then the Warriors went on a mini-run of 11-0 thanks to some hot shooting and solid individual efforts defensively. </p>
<div id="mSXOrw">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Steph with the steal then splash<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DubNation?src=hash">#DubNation</a> <br>(Via <a href="https://twitter.com/clippittv">@clippittv</a>)<a href="https://t.co/TIk3DKdmVR">pic.twitter.com/TIk3DKdmVR</a></p>— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefPenHoops/status/854892762315075589">April 20, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="zwWWMo">By the end of the first quarter, the Warriors were up 33-17.</p>
<p id="btSsWu">Portland reacted well to the early deficit despite some highlight plays like this beautifully simplistic give and go between <span>David West</span> and <span>Ian Clark.</span></p>
<div id="ZcI3jB">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is what it means to play fast <a href="https://t.co/tBU7bFRptZ">pic.twitter.com/tBU7bFRptZ</a></p>— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) <a href="https://twitter.com/bballbreakdown/status/854898684235886592">April 20, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="HWGaFc">Despite <span>C.J. McCollum</span> making only two of his seven field goal attempts following his brilliant performance in game one, the Trailblazers still managed to chip away at the lead and bring the game back to within one point.</p>
<p id="WOiO0b">It was time for the rookie <span>Patrick McCaw</span> to step up; Coach Steve Kerr had given him the nod to start tonight in place of Durant and McCaw didn't disappoint. McCaw swished a three to push the lead back up to four.</p>
<p id="CuByNX">West netted some easy baskets as Portland tried desperately to trap Curry, leaving a lot of open space in the middle of the key. McCaw remained aggressive making a layup and suddenly all of Portland’s hard work was for nothing as the Warriors led 55-46 at the end of the first half.</p>
<p id="TiLouJ">And things only got worse for the Trailblazers.</p>
<h3 id="mbJg8N">Putting the D in delusional</h3>
<p id="UgPqh0">Charles Barkley had a lot to say at half time about the Warriors defense or lack thereof, claiming that neither Golden State nor Portland play good defense. Fortunately, fans on social media were quick to correct him as was Kenny Smith.</p>
<div id="OML5kj">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Neither one of these teams is good defensively" Charles Barkley says about the #2 ranked defense in the league</p>— Daddy Damien (@DameIsDead) <a href="https://twitter.com/DameIsDead/status/854906385875652608">April 20, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="GHdSM0">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"In key possessions in half court when they want to slow it down, they are pretty good defensively." - <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJetOnTNT">@TheJetOnTNT</a> on the <a href="https://twitter.com/warriors">@warriors</a>. <a href="https://t.co/A6ztp14xa7">pic.twitter.com/A6ztp14xa7</a></p>— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/854907739260178432">April 20, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="IayDwe">Personally, I no longer watch the TNT halftime shows, but I have a feeling the Warriors might have as they entered the third quarter and methodically shut down the Trail Blazers. </p>
<h2 id="EYFwF8">Strength in numbers</h2>
<p id="hau5iP">Golden State started the second half with a 7-0 run, a questionable foul from <span>Meyers Leonard</span> was the only sign of defense from Portland. The Warriors played that unyielding aggressive defense that the fans have come to love and that most pundits tend to overlook. </p>
<p id="BrofZR">The difference maker tonight though was <span>JaVale McGee</span>; the journeyman big man looked like a true seasoned veteran coming off the bench and giving the team valuable minutes. The Warriors seem to be a perfect fit for McGee; it's a symbiotic relationship. They cover a lot of his flaws and amplify his strengths while he provides them with some much-needed energy, hustle and rim protection. He finished the game with 15 points (on 100% shooting from the field), five rebounds, four blocks and one steal in just 13 minutes of play. </p>
<p id="z2YKlu">Make no mistake the Warriors won this game as a unit; there was no 50-point game for <span>Stephen Curry</span> or 37 point quarter for Thompson. The Warriors made 40 field goals and 31 of those were assisted on. Everyone on the team had at least one point and the bench combined for 50 points on the night.</p>
<p id="opDRNU">McCaw played his heart out as the replacement starter and West was superb as a playmaker while playing some solid defense in the post. Curry lead the team in plus/minus with +32 on a night where Coach Kerr’s mantra of "strength in numbers" actually seemed to mean something. Defensively, the Warriors managed to hold the Trail Blazers to 33 percent shooting on the night.</p>
<p id="g2n8z6">The next game in the series is on Saturday night at 7:30pm. The Trail Blazers will be hoping for a return to form for their backcourt, but with the likely return of Durant, the possibility of a sweep is looking more and more realistic. </p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/4/19/15366784/2017-nba-playoffs-golden-state-warriors-portland-trail-blazers-round-1-game-2-recapMike Brady2017-04-08T00:00:01-07:002017-04-08T00:00:01-07:00Preview: Pelicans visit Oracle for Durant's return.
<figure>
<img alt="New Orleans Pelicans v Golden State Warriors" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hKO1_AURocFqM6rga6_R_ImxK2E=/0x1401:3258x3573/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54144579/623254816.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Kevin Durant is set to return against the Pelicans on Saturday night... </p> <p id="C3bonL"><strong>Game Information</strong></p>
<p id="e0W9Lj"><a href="http://www.nba.com/warriors/"><strong>Golden State Warriors</strong></a> (65-14) vs <a href="http://www.thebirdwrites.com/"><strong>New Orleans Pelicans</strong></a> (33-45)</p>
<p id="Xy7F6o"><strong>How to watch</strong></p>
<p id="3lsnk1"><strong>Date:</strong> Saturday April 8th.</p>
<p id="6Z5F77"><strong>Time:</strong> 19:30 PST | 22:30 EST | 03:30 BST</p>
<p id="oxY3b5"><strong>Location:</strong> Oracle Arena — Oakland, CA</p>
<p id="SYTV9L"><strong>TV:</strong> CSN Bay Area</p>
<p id="7164av"><strong>Radio:</strong> 95.7 <em>THE GAME</em></p>
<p id="zqxSNO">The New Orleans Pelicans will be visiting Oracle to test their mettle against the best of the West. While Anthony Davis and <span>DeMarcus Cousins</span> are slowly working out how to mesh together, the Warriors will be looking to extend their winning streak to 14 consecutive games. However, there's a <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/4/3/15171430/kevin-durant-return-injury-saturday-golden-state-warriors-playoffs">much bigger story going on</a>.</p>
<p id="zJJkoH">Allow me to channel my inner Jim Ross for a moment...</p>
<div id="a13c4Q">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Warriors Clear Kevin Durant for Return, Expected to play Saturday vs Pelicans - <a href="https://t.co/jtEGGZOEsB">https://t.co/jtEGGZOEsB</a></p>— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefPenHoops/status/850045108275761152">April 6, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="TIuyDB">Good god, is that <span>Kevin Durant’</span>s music? </p>
<p id="VNrlOu">The return of Durant before the end of the regular season is a great sign for the Warriors. Although we probably shouldn't expect much from him initially, he now has three games to shake off the rust before the playoffs commence. </p>
<p id="f9XohA">What isn't such a great sign is the more recent announcement regarding <span>Stephen Curry:</span></p>
<div id="dHBN7u">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Steph Curry doubtful for tomorrow with a left knee contusion. Warriors say it's minor. Didn't practice today.</p>— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) <a href="https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/850432662393110528">April 7, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="UCJN60">The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/odds">odds</a> are that this injury is code for "rest" as opposed to anything serious, so until we hear more let's refrain from panicking.</p>
<p id="SRGK45">The good news for New Orleans? With the possibility of Curry being out and Durant returning from an injury, they might be able to scrape out a victory against the Warriors. It's a lucky break for a team that really needs one at the moment. The Pelicans have had it rough lately, winning only two of their last five games. Coming into this matchup it may have seemed like they were in for another bad night facing off against a Warriors squad that has returned to form, in large part thanks to a magical toaster.<br></p>
<div id="RsTSlC">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The toaster streak continues! <a href="https://t.co/Vg22qDIek9">pic.twitter.com/Vg22qDIek9</a></p>— SB Nation (@SBNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBNation/status/849959375032778752">April 6, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="wrzUDR">Now, however, the Pelicans have a real chance at ending the toaster streak.</p>
<p id="etjkFQ">Assuming DeMarcus Cousins (who is currently a game-time decision) is active on the night, having two of the best big men in the league will put a lot of pressure on the Warriors front court defensively. <span>Draymond Green</span> is arguably the front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year this season and Kevin Durant has played some of the best defense of his career since signing with the Warriors. Unfortunately, with Durant easing his way back in I'm not sure how effective he will be in that regard.</p>
<p id="nXwGdS">Since Cousins was traded to the Pelicans they have been a top ten team in points scored in the paint; they were tied for 17th prior to acquiring Cousins.</p>
<p id="qkXlKS">New Orleans has also been one of the best defensive teams in the league since the Cousins trade, boasting the 8th best defensive rating and finishing just outside the top 10 in points allowed in the paint. The Pelicans will have to rely on this defense if they want to have any chance of beating this Warriors team even when they're undermanned.</p>
<p id="9CJ76w">We can expect to see big games from Draymond Green and <span>Klay Thompson</span> if Curry ends up sitting out and Durant doesn’t play his usual minutes (although there is no official minutes restrictions on him). The question for the Warriors is will it be enough if both Cousins and Davis are active and in form? </p>
<p id="qkNoCK"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fnba%2Fwarriors%2F2015%2F12%2F12%2Fstephen-curry-draymond-green-andre-iguodala-luke-walton-warriors-jabari-parker-giannis-antetokounmpo-jason-kidd-bucks%2F77235858%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goldenstateofmind.com%2F2017%2F4%2F8%2F15224026%2F2017-nba-warriors-pelicans-durant-curry-green-thompson-davis-cousins" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">This wouldn't be the first time a team below .500 has ended a Warriors streak</a>. So everyone grasp their lucky toaster (or other magical kitchen appliance), the team might just need it. </p>
<div id="0DrhuN"><div style="width:100%;margin:10px 0;"><iframe src="https://w.graphiq.com/w/68bf61DOt3T" width="600" height="475" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:static;vertical-align:top;margin:0 auto;display:block;width:600px !important;max-width:100%;min-height:475px !important;max-height:none !important;border:none;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div></div>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/4/8/15224026/2017-nba-warriors-pelicans-durant-curry-green-thompson-davis-cousinsMike Brady2017-04-07T11:00:02-07:002017-04-07T11:00:02-07:00Steve Kerr and the Warriors’ offense: Why don’t we see more pick & roll?
<figure>
<img alt="Golden State Warriors v Oklahoma City Thunder - Game Four" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YblvEGB0EoB7SDc1ZxEUoJEAnBw=/1x0:5320x3546/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54115145/534017298.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Examining what Kerr has achieved and the argument for and against more pick and roll action.</p> <p id="p1ytj5">When Steve Kerr was given the head coaching position with the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Warriors</a> I was skeptical about the move. </p>
<p id="smQRLe">The skepticism didn't last long, however, when Coach Kerr started his position by adding brilliant assistant coaches while putting an emphasis on ball and player movement, something that was distinctly lacking from Mark Jackson’s "offense" (if you could even call it an offense). </p>
<p id="rpqk47">On top of that, the Warriors also improved defensively. Coach Kerr's motion offense, which also utilizes a ton of triangle sets, was beautiful to watch and the perceived "small ball" death lineup that rallied the Warriors to the championship in 2015 was a sight to behold. <br><br>The Warriors embraced playmaking bigs such as <span>Andrew Bogut</span> and <span>Draymond Green, </span>utilising their passing ability to deadly effect. The ball zipped around the floor with precision (and with a little flash), burning defenders and dazzling fans. They let the three-pointers fly and defended with a level of fierceness that allowed them to dominate in transition. </p>
<p id="cas80w">There was no answer for the Warriors... until there was. </p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="O6mNNv"><q>"Basketball is like a war in that offensive weapons are developed first and it always takes the defense a while to catch up" - Coach Red Auerbach.</q></aside></div>
<p id="dSy5ep">The same coaching ethos that endeared Coach Kerr to fans is now a source of disillusionment for some. It appears as if the rest of the league is catching up. While some mimic the Warriors’ offense, others have changed their approach defensively. The Red Auerbach quote above appears to sum it up perfectly. Despite some striking similarities to other teams, Coach Kerr’s offense was something "new" and now teams are finally adjusting.<br><br>While having Curry playing off the ball, running along the baseline on a double pin down has worked in the past and still does on occasion, defenses have adjusted. Instead of having Curry’s defender chasing him all over the court through a gauntlet of screens, some teams are now actively switching other defenders onto him as he crosses from one end of the baseline to the other. </p>
<p id="fF2tDD">Other teams? Well, they're just blatantly fouling him and for whatever reason Curry doesn't get those calls. Take this recent example of the Warriors game in Houston.<br></p>
<div id="hjAqo0">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Breathe on anyone from the Rockets and it's a foul but they are literally holding Steph Curry and nothing is being called <a href="https://t.co/ZABPpNdymZ">pic.twitter.com/ZABPpNdymZ</a></p>— Elite Breed (@Carnage45) <a href="https://twitter.com/Carnage45/status/846901161466576903">March 29, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="jEGL9d">Being physical with Curry isn't a new trend that's just been discovered this year. It's the same style of defense the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> and others have used in the playoffs where there is a greater leniency for physical defense. So what can the Warriors do to try and counteract this?</p>
<p id="wPVURU"></p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="TtY9wR"><q>I have a plan of action, but the game is a game of adjustments." - Coach Mike Krzyzewski</q></aside></div>
<p id="t1Kfec">Coach Kerr may have been outmaneuvered by Coach Ty Lue at certain points during last year’s finals, but his failure to adjust has been noticeable throughout the past year. Combine that with the strange decision to play end-of-bench players in key minutes and Draymond Green’s outburst that lead to his suspension, and the Warriors shot themselves in the foot.</p>
<p id="EbjMZC">One adjustment Warriors fans (and players) have been hoping for is more pick and rolls with Curry as the ball handler. Curry himself addressed this earlier in the season:</p>
<p id="hH9zLE"><em>"I definitely want to be in more pick-and-roll situations," Curry said at Golden State's practice facility when asked whether the ball is in his hand enough this season. "Whether I'm getting shots or whether we're manufacturing ball movement, that's a strength of ours, regardless of how teams play us." - </em><a href="http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/csn/warriors/Kerr__Curry_see_eye-to-eye_on_pick-and-rolls___We_ve_been_experimenting_-408569005.html"><em>Source</em></a></p>
<p id="pccMiI">In theory, putting Curry in more pick and rolls (as the ball handler) makes a lot of sense. In the playoffs, defenders would be less likely to wrap their arms around him to prevent him from moving or grab his jersey to slow him down if he had the ball in his hands. Why? Because it's difficult for officials to not call those fouls when they're committed on the ball handler as opposed to an off ball player. </p>
<p id="WjvI5z">Curry is also an incredibly efficient scorer out of the pick and roll. Below is a table comparing Curry, <span>James Harden</span> and Russell Westbrook’s pick and roll statistics from last year and this year:</p>
<p id="ABswfQ">2016 season</p>
<div id="LXtAUL"><iframe width="496.50000000000006" height="106.51453499999997" seamless="" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10EdXN_aqhP7G-UMEqLopIdS-zfLuTu3rsa6qCFRIO9g/pubchart?oid=1285677219&format=interactive"></iframe></div>
<p id="H9sm73">2017 season</p>
<div id="8eIuy9"><iframe width="525.4697853275762" height="108.00599999999996" seamless="" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IdbD5A2XhXR9lWHLHJSCi2BzmAI1k8kEtmUILEiVumg/pubchart?oid=1445051766&format=interactive"></iframe></div>
<p id="bCfI5n"></p>
<p id="A634ZF">The concept of a Curry - Durant pick and roll had Warriors fans salivating. It <em>should</em> have been unstoppable. So why didn't we see it more often?</p>
<p id="1YFUm5"></p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="S5izUq"><q>"No one is bigger than the team" - Gregg Popovich.</q></aside></div>
<p id="3gOGsd">In defense of Coach Kerr, there are some issues with a Curry-Durant pick and roll and plenty of reasons to try and avoid leaning on it as the foundation of your offense.</p>
<ul>
<li id="FF1bb1">The Curry-Durant pick and roll will usually end up with a longer wing player being switched onto Curry, which can be difficult for him to break down as opposed to having a slower big man switched onto him (which would occur in traditional pick and rolls with the PF/C).</li>
<li id="gKSUHi">
<span>Kevin Durant</span> isn't very good at setting screens. Although he tends to read angles relatively well, he doesn't set his feet properly and often opts for a slip-screen, meaning he doesn't use his body as much. This hinders the space created for Curry and in general is only valuable for getting the defense to switch a smaller player onto Kevin Durant. One example of this can be seen in the clip below.</li>
</ul>
<div id="bNgpyq"><div><div style="left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jHAyPCqV_A4?wmode=transparent&rel=0&autohide=1&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" style="top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div></div></div>
<p id="rt1b9t">In this clip Durant sets a lackadaisical slip screen and the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Toronto Raptors</a> switch, putting <span>Kyle Lowry</span> - a much smaller player - onto Kevin Durant. This is good because it creates a significant mismatch; however, Durant inexplicably settles for a fadeaway mid-range shot. As great as he is in the post, this isn't exactly the desired outcome when he's matched up against someone so much smaller. </p>
<p id="aKBxO8">In comparison, Draymond Green sets excellent screens, sacrificing his body, setting his feet and reading the angles perfectly. Green is also a superior distributor which gives you even more options when using him as a roll man. The spacing also tends to be slightly better as it means you have three great shooters (Curry, Durant and Thompson) on the perimeter so the defense can't risk collapsing on Green and leaving one of those three open. </p>
<div id="hQ6eRX"><div><div style="left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U1EIZiU5SkM?wmode=transparent&rel=0&autohide=1&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" style="top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div></div></div>
<ul><li id="NQVejG">Curry is an <em>elite</em> off ball player. Not taking advantage of that seems foolish. His ability to shift gears, change speed, accelerate and stop on a dime to change direction is part of what makes him so incredible. It's also these movements that were missing in the finals last year when Curry was still feeling the effects of his knee injury. Take the video below for example, where Curry shakes <span>Kawhi Leonard</span>, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year.</li></ul>
<div id="4soBvV"><div><div style="left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mUF8MGH9Fh8?wmode=transparent&rel=0&autohide=1&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" style="top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div></div></div>
<ul><li id="1yuFcZ">The Warriors’ offense is the best in the league <a href="http://stats.nba.com/teams/advanced/#!?sort=OFF_RATING&dir=-1">(leading in offensive rating)</a>. If something isn't broken you don't try to fix it. Improvements are always welcome, but the Warriors already boast one of the greatest offenses in league history. It's better to gradually build on the offense as opposed to making sweeping changes.</li></ul>
<p id="FQHg6E">For Warriors fans (and others) watching "Chef Curry" cook up a storm on the court is like basketball dopamine. </p>
<p id="MX7JrV">It makes sense we would want to see the ball in his hands more often not just because that's when the team seems to be at their best, but also because it's incredibly entertaining. However, we would be wise to remember that the Warriors’ team-first approach to the game is part of what attracts free agents to the team (including Kevin Durant), as well as being a significant part of the reason for their recent success.</p>
<p id="Nzi7p0">As much as we want to see Curry flourish, the team comes first.</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="KzyiXg"><q>“It’s getting tickly now – squeaky-bum time, I call it.” - Sir Alex Ferguson</q></aside></div>
<p id="tmfVke">As the playoffs approach and the Warriors look to redeem themselves after last year’s catastrophe, fans will begin to feel the excitement... and the nerves.</p>
<p id="xgIqND">It's unlikely Coach Kerr is going to make any significant changes; I highly doubt he's been waiting for the postseason to unleash a barrage of high screen pick and rolls and isolation plays. Then again, it's not uncommon for coaches to keep an ace up their sleeve for the post season. If the Warriors fail to win it all again this year then perhaps we have to revisit this discussion.</p>
<p id="jtTdVw">For now, however, only one thing matters: Coach Kerr is an elite coach.</p>
<p id="P29UJL">Although some of his decisions have been frustrating and at times he occasionally seems reluctant to adapt, he is still one of the best coaches this team has ever had. He's also the perfect coach for this roster. Even if Curry as an individual could have reached this sort of level without Coach Kerr’s tutelage, it's unlikely that the Warriors as a whole would have. </p>
<p id="MuKVhI">In the end, this is much ado about nothing. The Warriors’ offense is magnificent and although I would personally like to see the ball in Curry's hands more, you can't argue with the results so far.</p>
<div id="t0qUAQ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Steve Kerr makes history with 200th career win. He becomes the fastest coach to reach 200 career wins. <a href="https://t.co/a5AF5DGKcV">pic.twitter.com/a5AF5DGKcV</a></p>— NBCS Warriors News (@NBCSWarriors) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSWarriors/status/846931509881724928">March 29, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="l77QoZ"><em>All statistics used in this article were taken from </em><a href="http://basketball-reference.com"><em>basketball-reference.com</em></a><em> and stats.NBA.com and were accurate at the time of writing (April 1st 2017).</em></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/4/7/14975770/2017-nba-warriors-kerr-pick-roll-steph-curry-offense-kevin-durant-draymond-greenMike Brady2017-04-02T00:00:00-07:002017-04-02T00:00:00-07:00Preview: Golden State looks to continue winning streak against Washington.
<figure>
<img alt="Golden State Warriors v Washington Wizards" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SnLGF_lQubCvaqMBBASbPGntjxw=/0x0:4067x2711/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54031255/508244062.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Warriors will try to extend their winning streak to 11 as they match up against one of the top Eastern Conference teams.</p> <p id="C3bonL"><strong>Game Information</strong></p>
<p id="e0W9Lj"><a href="http://www.nba.com/warriors/"><strong>Golden State Warriors</strong></a> (62-14) vs <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/"><strong>Washington Wizards</strong></a> (46-30)</p>
<p id="Xy7F6o"><strong>How to watch</strong></p>
<p id="3lsnk1"><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday, April 2nd.</p>
<p id="6Z5F77"><strong>Time:</strong> 17:00 PST | 20:00 EST | 01:00 BST</p>
<p id="oxY3b5"><strong>Location:</strong> Oracle Arena — Oakland, CA</p>
<p id="SYTV9L"><strong>TV:</strong> CSN Bay Area</p>
<p id="p0vRyi"><strong>Radio:</strong> 95.7 <em>THE GAME</em><br><br>The Warriors <a href="https://twitter.com/SBNationNBA/status/847313682446958592">"toaster streak"</a> now stands at 10 wins and that could be extended to 11 by the end of the weekend. <span>Stephen Curry</span> has been in top form the last couple of weeks and hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. The reigning unanimous MVP has been tearing defenses apart and outplaying everyone on the floor, including the top three MVP candidates with recent wins over San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Houston. During this run he has averaged 25.5 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals while shooting 44% on three-pointers and 49% from the field. </p>
<p id="Ovq8kU">Warriors fans have to be delighted with the way this team is clicking in the run up to the postseason, especially with the return of <span>Kevin Durant</span> on the horizon. For those who have lost count, he will be reevaluated seven days from now.<br></p>
<div id="bf33H5">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Warriors announce Kevin Durant could return prior to end of season; will be re-evaluated in 7-10 days <a href="https://t.co/nBtkI5QLqD">pic.twitter.com/nBtkI5QLqD</a></p>— PinPoint Sports (@SportsPinPoint) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsPinPoint/status/847167148921274368">March 29, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="VbK9oB">With the playoffs right around the corner, the Washington Wizards will want to take this opportunity to measure themselves against the best team in the world. Their short stint on the road out West hasn't been great, losing back to back games against the L.A <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Clippers</a> and <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Utah Jazz,</a> but on a good night this team is more than capable of keeping up with anyone. <br></p>
<div id="SyzJ03">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Postgame reaction from John, Brad, and Kelly after a big road win in Cleveland<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WizCavs?src=hash">#WizCavs</a> <a href="https://t.co/dbrovltsEe">pic.twitter.com/dbrovltsEe</a></p>— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) <a href="https://twitter.com/WashWizards/status/845843938468675584">March 26, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="3cbWDn">While John Wall had <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wizards-insider/wp/2017/04/01/john-wall-unloads-on-officiating-following-wizards-loss-to-jazz-the-refs-made-us-lose-this-game/">plenty to say about the officiating</a> following the Wizard’s game against the Jazz, he has shown great leadership this season and has had a fantastic run recently. In the five games before the matchup against Utah, Wall was averaging 31 points, 10 assists, 3 steals and 3 rebounds on 55% shooting from the field. </p>
<p id="sgC6kj">The Washington Wizards are one of only two teams over .500 that the Warriors have left to play before the playoffs. And if Utah coach <span>Quin Snyder</span> is to be believed, the Warriors will be facing off against <a href="http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/washington-wizards/utah-jazz-coach-quin-snyder-john-wall-and-bradley-beal-are-probably-nbas-best">the best backcourt in the NBA</a>... I'm sure the Splash Brothers can't wait. </p>
<p id="FuMDnv"></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/4/2/15147246/2017-nba-preview-golden-state-warriors-wizards-wall-curry-durantMike Brady2017-02-28T20:04:05-08:002017-02-28T20:04:05-08:00Recap: Wizards beat Warriors 112-108 as KD injures knee
<figure>
<img alt="Golden State Warriors v Washington Wizards" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/R4z3dokUfPdsnCm8oPUIwJlmytE=/0x0:4236x2824/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53471603/646430454.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Washington Wizards thwart Warriors comeback efforts to win the game. </p> <p id="oRGSFT">After a troubling loss to Philadelphia the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> bounced back in a big way grabbing their first win against Golden State in 1,127 days with the game finishing 112-108.</p>
<p id="FJSR6K">The loss may have been disappointing for Golden State but the real concern lies with <span>Kevin Durant</span>; the all-star forward limped off the court after two minutes of play and never returned. The incident occurred when <span>Marcin Gortat</span> and <span>Zaza Pachulia</span> were battling for position underneath the basket. Gortat tossed Pachulia to the ground and he landed awkwardly on Durants leg. There is a video of the incident <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSf6eGG7GFI">here.</a></p>
<p id="h1W0RC">At this point we only know that Durant suffered from a hyper-extended knee and <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a> fans will have to remain patient as they anticipate the MRI results to find out more. Ethan Strauss from ESPN tried to calm the fan base a little with some optimistic information.</p>
<div id="D13oaj">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I'll caveat the hell out of this, but a source who's been good with injury prognostications on his best Durant guess: <a href="https://t.co/XtDYEoGv8Q">pic.twitter.com/XtDYEoGv8Q</a></p>— Ethan Strauss (@SherwoodStrauss) <a href="https://twitter.com/SherwoodStrauss/status/836741109787332608">March 1, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="TTbC54">As for the game itself the Warriors had to battle back from an early deficit which was so severe at one point it looked like it was going to be a blow out. After erasing the 19-point deficit, the Warriors finally took the lead and there was a glimmer of hope; they finally looked like themselves again.</p>
<div id="Qw52eA">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Warriors took first lead in this game with 2:10 left in 3rd q... That's 2nd-longest amount of time for them to get first lead this season</p>— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/836758679458353153">March 1, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="gU2LIj">The fourth quarter had over ten lead changes; in the end the Warriors appeared to run out of steam. </p>
<p id="r9JpdA">With 17 seconds left in the game Otto Porter Jr managed to draw a foul and get himself to the free throw line, but it was <span>Markieff Morris</span> who sealed the deal making both of his free throws after Curry missed the potential game winning shot. With this win the Wizards are now 35-23 on the season with the Warriors moving to 50-10,meaning that we definitely won't see a repeat of last years regular season record (which should come as a surprise to absolutely no one).</p>
<p id="oqokqV">Curry lead the Warriors in scoring with 25 points on 45% from the field and 22% from deep and also chipped in seven rebounds, four of which were offensive rebounds. </p>
<p id="nB1Onj"><span>Draymond Green</span> was his usual self impacting the game in every way possible; he netted 14 points, 14 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block while shooting 54% from the field and making two out of his three attempts from deep. </p>
<p id="ZfaeFj">Meanwhile Bradley Beal led the Wizards in scoring with 25 points and <span>John Wall</span> tied his career high in assists finishing with a line of 12 points, 19 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. </p>
<p id="cAtEp5">This was a close game and the Warriors certainly didn't lose due to a lack of effort or intensity. The five-game road trip continues for the Warriors with a game against the <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Chicago Bulls</a> on Thursday, where they'll hope to get off to a better start. Curry will be looking to break out of this shooting slump after making two out of twenty three point attempts in the last two games.</p>
<p id="onyGyJ"></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/2/28/14772274/2017-warriors-durant-injury-wizards-recap-wall-curryMike Brady2017-02-25T08:10:01-08:002017-02-25T08:10:01-08:00Preview: Warriors face Nets as Curry continues to heat up
<figure>
<img alt="Golden State Warriors v Brooklyn Nets" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Dnc_67uCqkVPKBR6aFn-S16B8Vk=/0x335:2528x2020/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53421465/500346644.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Golden State faces Brooklyn at 10:30pm EST</p> <p id="R4NVIc"><strong>Game Information</strong></p>
<p id="WWd4Er"><a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Warriors</a> (48-9) vs <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Brooklyn Nets</a> (9-48)</p>
<p id="cIUSNf"><strong>Date:</strong> Saturday February 25th, 2017</p>
<p id="SqgDjB"><strong>Location:</strong> Oracle Arena</p>
<p id="GbG6uT"><strong>Time: </strong>10:30pm EST | 7:30pm PST</p>
<p id="qkaFze"><strong>TV:</strong> CSN Bay Area</p>
<p id="ErJQzU"><strong>Radio:</strong> 95.7 <em>The Game</em></p>
<p id="hcWPBs"><strong>Blog buddy: </strong><a href="http://www.netsdaily.com/?_ga=1.184740009.1005598507.1487580520">Nets Daily</a></p>
<div id="p7nIWH">
<div class="ftb-widget" data-width="600" data-height="475" data-widget-id="91T2gmKHCnP" data-href="http://nba-teams.pointafter.com"></div>
<script async="" src="https://s.graphiq.com/rx/widgets.js"></script>
</div>
<p id="rCeh94">After an intense victory over the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Los Angeles Clippers</a>, the Golden State Warriors move on to face the Brooklyn Nets in what should be a rather one-sided affair.</p>
<p id="YnCxWb"><span>Stephen Curry</span> heated up in a big way against the Clippers shooting, 60% from deep and 62% from the field overall as he netted 35 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals. In true Curry form, it seems like he's got his second wind right after the All-Star break and Brooklyn could be the next victim as the Chef looks to cook up another storm at Oracle. </p>
<p id="IUM5zU">Brooklyn has as many wins as the Warriors do losses. This is literally the best the NBA has to offer facing off against the worst. While the Warriors have won eight of their last two games the Brooklyn Nets have lost fifteen in a row and won only two road games in total this season. </p>
<p id="4SMOdp">Jeremy Lin's triumphant return didn't go as planned; after missing 26 games Lin made his comeback against the <a href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Denver Nuggets</a> who enthusiastically celebrated his return by blowing Brooklyn out 129-109. </p>
<p id="qTEx4h">If the Warriors try to run Brooklyn off the court early this could be an easy night for the starters and some extra time for the youngsters on the bench. On the flip side if the Warriors come into this game with blasé attitude there is a slim chance the Nets could capitalize on the Warriors’ lackadaisical play. </p>
<p id="dv185O">As of now everyone on the roster is listed as active however I wouldn't be surprised to see Steve Kerr rest some players, especially after his recent comments about the future road trip:</p>
<p id="4zm7NJ"><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/02/23/steve-kerr-calls-warriors-upcoming-schedule-insane/">“We have the most insane schedule I’ve ever seen in all my years in the NBA coming up."</a></p>
<p id="EYdzE1"></p>
<p id="TBtsV2"></p>
<p id="txMilA"></p>
<p id="JNfklQ"></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/2/25/14736852/2017-nba-golden-state-warriors-brooklyn-nets-preview-stephen-curry-jeremy-linMike Brady2017-02-24T10:00:02-08:002017-02-24T10:00:02-08:00The art of the assist part 2: The potential of a pass
<figure>
<img alt="Golden State Warriors v Miami Heat" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1rqxf6hcf2HoxKBvB1WSWc6q0VI=/0x26:3000x2026/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53408189/632530420.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The second part of a series looking at assist and passing statistics, investigating the pro's and con's. </p> <p id="9pqZf3"><small><em>In early January I wrote the first part of this series examining the flaws of some statistics and offering simple replacements. It focused on AST:TO</em></small><small><em>;</em></small><small><em> if you're interested you can find that article by clicking </em></small><a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/1/6/14164468/2017-nba-golden-state-warriors-assist-passing-turnovers-draymond-iguodala-jokic-gasol-statistics"><small><em>here.</em></small></a></p>
<p id="atDbe6">Not a day goes by where you don't see an argument on TV or social media about who the best point guard is. It will often turn into "X is a better scorer but Y is a more traditional point guard.” These run of the mill arguments have a lot of focus on raw numbers and scoring efficiency, and most importantly people will point to assist totals as the defining factor of who the best passer is. </p>
<p id="7naXlu">But is it really that simple? </p>
<h2 id="kROSnE"><strong>In the beginning there was... confusion?</strong></h2>
<p id="fEUuqG">When I embarked on this adventure through the land of basketball analytics I intended on designing a new way of measuring a players value as a distributor. My favorite aspect of basketball has always been passing. It's why most of my favorite players right now and of all time are and were great passers; there's something satisfying about seeing a player threading the needle with pinpoint accuracy or exhibiting their court vision with some ludicrous, flashy passing. </p>
<p id="7R5uTu">But by no means am I an expert in basketball analytics although I do have a keen interest in them; I simply wanted to try and find a better way of evaluating a player’s ability to create opportunities for teammates.</p>
<p id="fmsc4B">While trying to think of different ways to measure the ability to create shots for others, I did what all good scientists would do; I looked at what people before me had created. </p>
<p id="CdKgvi">The more I researched the topic the more <a href="http://thesportsquotient.com/nba/2015/5/30/which-basketball-stats-matter-chapter-5">writers</a>, <a href="http://www.todaysfastbreak.com/from-the-courts/nba-passer-rating-point-guards/">bloggers</a> and <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/4bn8ck/nba_passer_rating_20152016/">redditors</a> I found trying to do something similar. From SBNation’s own <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/9/12/2419938/point-guards-shot-creation-the-hook">Tom Ziller</a> to BleacherReport’s <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2179761-beyond-assists-which-point-guard-has-emerged-as-nbas-passing-maestro">Kelly Scaletta and Adam Fromal</a>, there are plenty of people before me who have tried to solve the same problem.</p>
<p id="W0zTb4">When I decided to calculate assist to passing turnover ratio <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/1/6/14164468/2017-nba-golden-state-warriors-assist-passing-turnovers-draymond-iguodala-jokic-gasol-statistics">(AST:PTO)</a> it was mostly out of my frustration of the well-known assist to turnover ratio (AST:TO). It's part of why renowned analyst John Hollinger created pure point rating; the now current Vice President of Basketball Operations for the <a href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/">Memphis Grizzlies</a> was tired of coaches and general managers evaluating players using AST:TO although his <a href="http://www.espn.com/nba/story?id=2020908&src=desktop">reasoning was slightly different.</a></p>
<p id="GMSMSa">After all of this research the next logical step for AST:PTO appears to be the inclusion of potential assists. </p>
<h2 id="36jsem"><strong>When is an assist not an assist? </strong></h2>
<p id="yBl6dd">For those who don't already know, potential assists are passes which have lead directly to a shot or free throw attempt, meaning if the player receiving the pass had made the shot it would have counted as an assist. </p>
<p id="cvKYLi">Again I am focusing on passing turnovers as opposed to all turnovers because a lot of the turnovers accumulated in the traditional AST:TO are irrelevant to measuring a players passing ability (stepping out of bounds and backcourt violations, etc). You can read more about my opinion on that in the first article of this series.</p>
<p id="vdx0SF">Due to time constraints I didn't have the time to calculate the assist + potential assist to passing turnover ratio (AST+poAST:PTO) for every player in the league. What I have managed to do, however, is calculate it for the league leaders in assists (the top 50 to be exact). </p>
<p id="lqVEHM">Some of the results were surprising to me and others not so much. I created an infographic to highlight some of the leaders in AST+poAST:PTO which you can see below:</p>
<div id="zveTBX"><iframe width="900" height="1741" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="overflow-y:hidden;" src="https://magic.piktochart.com/embed/19263910-astpoastpto"></iframe></div>
<p id="DXFfrM"></p>
<h2 id="V8GWfM">How valuable is this information?</h2>
<p id="op5zr8">In my opinion there is a point at which statistics can become oversimplification. No single statistic can tell you what you exactly want to know; at the very least it requires appropriate context. It's better to look at all of the information available before rushing to any conclusions. </p>
<p id="O8vlzK">Some of the weaknesses of this ratio which you should keep in mind are as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li id="KZWnij">Potential assists do have some merit but how much value can we really put into them? For example <span>Stephen Curry</span> has a total of 594 potential assists. Are we to assume that the only reason these weren't assists is because either the player was fouled (and they turned into free throws) or the player simply missed? Is it not possible that the receiving player missed because it was a bad pass? Perhaps it was too low or too high; we can't know for sure.</li>
<li id="D7dAdj">There is a lot of subjectivity when counting potential assists and assists in general. It's also worth mentioning that a high volume of assists doesn't necessarily make player A better than player B, and it doesn't always mean they're a better teammate either. There's something to be said for the argument of players who go searching for assists and only pass the ball when the opportunity presents itself versus players who pass the ball around because it's the right play to make.</li>
<li id="guKrav">Good passers should also be good ball handlers. The elimination of ball handling turnovers means we're only being told the ratio of passes that lead to an assist or could have lead to an assist if the player had made their shot versus passes that resulted in a turnover of possession. For that reason, Hollinger’s PPR is still a much better option as it reflects ball handling, the ability to create good shot opportunities and the relationship between assists and turnovers. </li>
<li id="FpfZkZ">It could be argued that some players may be passing the ball excessively due to their role, which would possibly inflate their potential assists.</li>
<li id="2I2ddZ">There are intangibles at play here that we simply cannot quantify, the degree of difficulty being the most obvious. A playmaker who takes more risks and is more creative might end up with more "bad pass" turnovers.</li>
</ul>
<p id="aL3kNw">There are counterarguments to all of this and even more flaws that could be discussed (feel free to kick off the criticism in the comment section below!), but for now we're moving on to the final part.</p>
<h2 id="uxSpEb">Strength in numbers!</h2>
<p id="XAv6DZ">If you truly want to begin evaluating a players ability to create for others, you have to take into account many aspects: assists, secondary assists, potential assists, pace, various types of turnovers and so much more. </p>
<p id="TqouyY">While there are many different formulas out there (this goes back to my earlier comments about Tom Ziller and Kelly Scaletta etc), the fact of the matter is the more I research this topic, the more I'm beginning to think that trying to compress a playmaker’s value into a single numerical representation is a rather conceited approach. </p>
<p id="x2Cgmh">The only way to make a truly informed decision is to use <em>all</em> of the information available to you.</p>
<p id="HJBNtF">And even then, there is a beauty to this game and a level of creativity that the greats possess which no single number can ever define. </p>
<div id="iNUB6U"><div><div style="left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FgO7qouI2bk?wmode=transparent&rel=0&autohide=1&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" style="top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div></div></div>
<p id="2I84fw"></p>
<p id="hIKMEi">I'm hoping to continue this series in the future, perhaps identifying the "best" statistics and formulas to use in conjunction with my own ratio to better identify the top passers in the game (or at least the most efficient). </p>
<p id="yk2TTU">Until then we as fans can begin to think about how valuable some of these statistics truly are while Dub Nation can continue to boast about Draymond Green’s passing with some additional evidence to back it all up. </p>
<p id="SLF84V"></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/2/24/14682288/2017-nba-warriors-golden-state-draymond-green-curry-passing-assist-analytics-statsMike Brady