From the very beginning of Game 4, the Golden State Warriors displayed one of the countless adjustments the coaching staff talked about between Games 3 and 4.
No, not the adjustment caused by the starting lineup switch, but rather adjustments made on how the Warriors would play off of the pick-and-roll.
Early on, Curry showed the world that if the Warriors were going to struggle offensively that it was going to be his fault. He was aggressive and committed to making an impact for four quarters.
In this offense set just minutes into the first quarter, we see Curry split the defense after a Draymond Green screen. Curry uses his fluid handle and quickly cuts back, creating open space for a WIDE open two pointer. The result of the shot is unimportant. Curry normally makes open shots.
All series long, Cleveland has been trying to string Curry out on the pick-and-roll. They have tried to make him move laterally, sideline-to-sideline and not toward the basket. The Cavs know that when Curry gets into the teeth of their defense, they are in trouble and for most of the series they smartly double Curry, forcing him to pass the basketball.
But that is also where we saw an adjustment from Curry. He made quicker decisions via the pick-and-roll than he had previously. Most times when Green sets a screen, he pops for an open three pointer. But to create enough space, Curry must probe the defense for an extra dribble, drawing Green’s defender away from him, before delivering Green the basketball.
In Game 4, we saw Green roll to the basket far more, including a strong and-one against Timofey Mozgov. We also saw Curry deliver the ball quickly to David Lee, who unlike Green tends to roll to the rim immediately after setting a screen.
Here is something else that is not surprising: Curry and James have run by far the most pick-and-roll’s of the playoffs. Now that is not so surprising as they are the two lead ball-handlers for the only two teams remaining in the playoffs. But during the regular season, both frequently used screens to create offense for their respective teams.
In Game 4 defensively, the Warriors also made two major adjustments to their pick-and-roll defense. For the first time all series we saw, them try to trap LeBron forcing him to get rid of the basketball. They both doubled him off pick and roll, but most of the time, the defender of the screen-setter would show hard, and then LeBron’s defender would come trap.
But more than anything else, the Warriors frequently implemented San Antonio Spurs’ coach Gregg Popovich’s LeBron James Pick-and-Roll defense strategy: go under screens and let LeBron shoot.
Watch what happens on this possession for the Cavs.
LeBron dribbles up the floor with Andre Iguodala on him. Mozgov comes to set a screen, and Iggy goes way under it, allowing James to shoot. LeBron doesn’t hesitate and takes a long two pointer. Iggy closes the space a little bit, but his contest is admittedly late. Whether or not that shot would have gone in, the Warriors would have liked that possession. It’s not a surprise to learn that LeBron far more likely to score near the rim than on long jump shots, and the book on LeBron is that his jump shot can still be hot and cold. If he makes jump shots to beat the Warriors at their own game, then the Warriors will tip their cap to him.
But there is another reason why the Warriors are very content going under screens and allowing James to shoot: LeBron pulls up for that shot with 16 seconds left on the shotclock. There was no heavy grinding postup. The Cavs didn’t take the life out of the ball, but because of the Warriors lead they had to take shots, like this one early in the shot clock in hopes of maximizing their possessions. If the Warriors get rebounds off early Cavalier misses, then they will be able to push the basketball and play more to their liking. And of course early shots mean that they don’t have to defend as much for an extended period of time.
As we look to Game 5, look for Cleveland to try to continue picking on Curry and Lee while the Dubs are on defense. But look for the Warriors to try to hit the roll-man more and split the screen more in hopes of penetrating the lane.
Next: Golden State Warriors Throw Effective Defensive Changeup