Not solely are the third-quarter Warriors again with their 115-91 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday at Chase Center, however Golden State additionally unveiled a brand new technique to defend Russell Westbrook: Leave him as open as attainable.
Speaking with reporters after the sport, Warriors coach Steve Kerr defined why he had Draymond Green sag to date off the previous NBA MVP.
“Draymond, as a centerfielder is, I believe, the perfect within the league,” Kerr mentioned. “I imply, there’s no person who can type of muck up the lane like he can and simply prepared what’s taking place, assist all over the place he wants to assist, after which are available and rebound.”
Kerr additionally made it some extent to reward Donte DiVincenzo and Klay Thompson for his or her concerted efforts to rebound the ball and affect the sport that manner.
“Between Draymond and [Kevon Looney] directing the protection, our guards getting again on the glass, defending with out fouling, for essentially the most half, and simply staying strong, I believe we’re discovering one thing,” Kerr added.
After the Warriors’ new defensive scheme went viral, Green revealed how the method for developing with that distinctive sport plan took place.
“… Coach texted me yesterday … and he hinted that might be that gameplan,” Green mentioned. “And then we went by means of it this morning in shootaround and attempt to get all people to know the idea — it’s extremely straightforward when a man is sagging off like that, when a man catches it, you simply rotate to him and we did not need to do this.”
The Warriors’ defensive ace additionally defined that the sport plan labored as a result of it obtained into Westbrook’s head.
“We obtained Russ to overlook some pictures however I believe when you’ve got a sport plan like that … what that does to you mentally is hard,” Green continued. “And I believe it was extra so the psychological than his shot.
“And so I assumed we did a great job of sticking with the sport plan and we had been in a position to muddy the sport up for them on the defensive facet and it ended up working for us.”
Westbrook has by no means been a deep risk however Thursday’s sport proved simply how necessary it’s to develop a 3-point shot in at present’s NBA.
The former MVP scored eight factors on 3-of-12 capturing from the sphere and missed all 5 of his pictures from past the arc.
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With how the Warriors have modified basketball over the past decade, it is sensible for them to proceed discovering methods to vary the sport.
And Thursday confirmed maybe an efficient manner of slowing down the retooled Clippers: By leaving Westbrook as open as attainable.
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