Warriors Must Utilize All of Their Playmakers
The Warriors do not just have one playmaker, they have at least six playmakers but their issue is they do not always utilize these guys to their full potential. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Stephen Curry is one of the most dynamic players in the entire NBA. He can shoot from long-range, distribute the ball with flair and can cross up any defender at any time, but the Warriors rely on him too much during the course of the game.
They play him too many minutes and act like he is the only playmaker on the floor. Sometimes it definitely seems that is the case, especially when opponents double-team Curry and either cause him to turn the ball over or give the ball up. When this happens, the offense becomes stagnant and the Warriors struggle, but this does not mean the Warriors do not have other playmakers on their team.
On most teams, the point guard is the main playmaker but with the Golden State Warriors, you have a very unique team when it comes to playmakers. The most unique part of this team is they have probably best passers at the power forward, center positions, an incredible playmaker at small forward, an underrated facilitator at shooting guard and two capable distributors off the bench.
David Lee is a very crafty player in the low post and can find shooters like Klay Thompson and Curry for open threes. Andrew Bogut also has a flair, dribbling behind his back countless times this season or moving the ball behind his back to get a better angle to distribute the ball to open shooters and cutters. The tandem only combines for about three assists per game, but the creativity they have should be something that is utilized more in Oakland.
Andre Iguodala is another example of a great playmaker who slash to the hoop with the best of them. He has struggled to get in an offensive flow since straining his hamstring back in November, settling for threes that he was making in the beginning of the season. But now, the Warriors need him to be that slashing forward that can finish at the rim and find open shooters. What happened to the guy at the beginning of the season that would make unbelievable behind-the-back passes on a daily basis and soar through the air on lob passes by Curry? The Warriors need that guy back if they want to make a run this postseason.
Klay Thompson is looked at as a pure shooter but sometimes he falls in love with his shot and takes bad ones. He needs to drive to the paint more often, draw more fouls and finish at the rim. He can also make plays for others, especially in the pick-and-roll with Lee. There have been numerous times where Thompson makes the perfect pocket pass to Lee that results in either a dunk or foul. We need to see more of this from Klay instead of contested jumpers from long range.
You can look at Steve Blake and Jordan Crawford as playmakers as well. Crawford has taken on a shooter’s role with the acquisition of Blake, but he did deal out almost six assists per game in Boston, so he is clearly capable of being a playmaker. As for Blake, he is probably the most pure point guard on the team. He looks to get his teammates involved before looking for his own shot; he has great court awareness and is not afraid on crunch time and big moments in the game, which will allow Mark Jackson to rest Curry more, knowing Blake will get the job done.
Because Blake can do all these things well, we might see Blake ending the game at point guard with Curry at the shooting guard. Blake does not turn the ball over as much as Curry and Curry is one of the best shooters in the game coming off screens. Coach Mark Jackson needs to be able to trust Blake in these situations like he did with Jarrett Jack last season and in the long run, the Warriors will be a better team.
So to suggest that Curry is the only playmaker on this team is ludicrous. You have crafty players in the low post that can find shooters and the dexterity to make plays for themselves. You have a jack of all trades at small forward that can finish at the rim and can lead a fast break, making a right decision every time. You have a pure shooter when he does not fall in love with his jumper can make the perfect pocket pass for the layup or dunk. Then you have two guards off the bench that can shoot the three but can also run the team and the court awareness any playoff contender would want in backup guards.
The Warriors do not just have one playmaker; they have at least six playmakers, but their issue is they do not always utilize these guys to their full potential. When they do, the Warriors will not have to isolate their wings one on one or exploit the mismatch in the post because their ball movement will get them better shots, something no team wants to see come the postseason.