Game 6 Round 1: Golden State Warriors (4-2) 129 - 110 Los Angeles Clippers (2-4)
First published April 27th 2019
People wanted Kerr to take Bogut out of the starting lineup against the Clippers but i wasn't expecting Livingston starting and moving Draymond to the five. He's choosing to keep the Iguodala role the same and Livingston's minutes being shifted around doesn't affect rotations as much.
Despite this, the biggest man on the home team was being guarded by KD while Draymond had the SGA assignment, which allows him more space to roam and act as defensive coordinator - not always to great execution early on. More than once, rotations were blown from someone that was suppose to come protect the rim. The Clippers offense made the target clear: Make sure Curry gets involved on defense. Either make him hit a screen or blow by him if you can. And to be fair, the looks were there most times.
Draymond's lack of post moves makes it hard to exploit size advantages against someone like Beverly. Getting baited into this is a win for the Clippers. A rough start scoring the ball for the Warriors. During the start, the offense looked stale as opposed to the dynamic player and ball movement Kerr strives for. The Clippers top-locking and forcing them to crowds was enough to lead players into tough shots, particularly when these players aren't accomplished passers like Klay, or looks they can live with. The Warriors were 0-5 from three and 7-20 overall when the first subs came in, with most of the scoring coming through quick offense out of any stops they had.
Things improved with Looney stabilizing the defense and allowing more of that loop between stops and getting quick offense on the other end. What an underrated player he is and i hope no one notices so we can keep him in the summer easily. Looney also did a good job on Lou Williams during this 5-minute stretch, trapping him after the screen every time.
The Clippers were doing a great job sticking to Curry and making sure the ball never reaches him, and settling for Iguodala midrange jumpers won't work. We need a lot more of this, because the fear of Curry is a weapon even if you never let him shoot and can open up a lot of cuts and slips for the other player, which in turn creates defensive breakdowns.
Kerr was not afraid to use up his weapons - including the unguardable but illusive KD/Curry PnR - and the 4 main starters were already playing together again during less than 5 minutes into the second and the death lineup would close. He had to take his main 6 guys and play them 40 minutes or until the game was dead. He did it one game too late... Resting them in minutes per game isn't better than playing one or two extra games.
Another note, a lot of the picks were being set really high up the court, allowing Curry and Kevin to work more in space. On defense, conventionally, the Warriors mix up between switching and fighting through screens and mostly let their defensive anchors (Draymond and Iguodala) do a lot of live reads of the game and trust them to help at any point the necessity arises. This a great play, full of scrambles, where the understanding between the teammates, Green's coordinating role and reaction time are on display.
Absolutely ridiculous 1st half by Kevin Durant and I can't do it justice. He just hits stupid tough shot after stupid tough shot, for the mere reason of being KD. In that 1st quarter he had 15 points, even when no good offense was being generated. Once the second he came out hunting on both ends, and great job from Klay staying on Williams. Temple doing his damn best... This first half had me just marveling at him on offense. 38 in 17 FGA! - career high in a half and 2nd best mark in Playoffs history.
To start the second half Doc went back to Beverly being the primary assignment guarding KD. Green had been feasting from short roles and dishing. JVG said it well: Want to double the ball handler on the pick and stay home on the other two of KD/Steph/Klay? Ok. I'm fine with Dray working the 2-v-1 with whoever is left. But in a case where it failed, i have to point out great job by Beverly. The KD/Curry Pick and Roll opens up the space but Beverly, instead of scrambling in the perimeter, recovers straight to the paint and forces Green into a turnover. If I got to build an NBA team from the ground up, i'd be honored to get Patrick Beverly on that team.
Normally i would go over the rest but the Clippers just didn't have enough fire power. If they started accumulating some sort o momentum something was always ready to break it apart, whether a trip to the line by Durant or a great block or a Curry three. And even when they were spamming the Lou/Harrell Pick and Roll every trip on offense, they were getting no stops whatsoever on the other end.
The Death line up guys all contributed and Kevin Durant played like the reigning 2 time Finals MVP. The Clippers are full of young talented guys and then have vets like Beverly, Lou and Gallinari. Doc did a top 3 coaching job this season and the only reason he's not my COTY is because of coach Bud but if you want to argue that what he did had a bigger level of difficulty, I won't argue back. Since Jerry West stepped in, i love everything they've done and even if a lot of changes are on the horizon, i genuinely hope their good process gets good results. These are the type of teams that should be rewarded in Free Agency. Anyway, time for Houston...
Other Notes:
There isn't a more valuable defensive player in the playoffs than an engaged Draymond Green. Even when the Clippers were trying for a last run during the 4th, he had consecutive plays hitting deflections and blocks.
Nice job by Gallinari to step out from the corner during the drive, making the instincts of Draymond to help on the drive to create an open 3. It wasn't perfectly executed in terms of space and timing and Dray almost got there but still, i like the principle. Gallinari was, at more than one point in this game, keeping his team above water with his scoring, even if he wasn't being very consistent play-to-play. Having him healthy this season is something we shouldn't take for granted (Channeling my inner Kevin O'Connor, as one does.)
Just because I love watching good team defense. Klay's defense has been fantastic and i enjoy so much how pissed he's looking. He missed his share of open shots but he's defending like his pride is on the line.
As long as Cook plays minimal minutes, it's cool. Lou Williams had an incredible tough time attacking the rim, the Warriors trusted they wouldn't be punished for collapsing on him once he was too committed into the drive. Even taking defense in consideration, it was just a rough game.
Landry Shamet is one of my top 5 favorite rookies. I just love him. I can only imagine how much he's missed in the Philly bench.
I hope Curry is 100% going forward. He was feeling that ankle but it didn't look anything that would linger.
(Reddit)
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