Blue Man Hoop
Fansided

5 adjustments the Warriors should make for Game 4

By Carlos Murillo

May 22, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors bench reacts during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game three of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors bench reacts during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game three of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next

Attack the basket

Warriors
May 22, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) and guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrate during the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in game three of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

The Warriors need to work for good looks at the basket and try to get OKC into foul trouble.

It seems that this should go without saying. Attacking the basket should always be the first option.

But the Warriors sometimes get away from it. Klay Thompson got off to a great start in Game 3 because he was getting to the rim. Russell Westbrook is a below-average defender who likes to jump passing lines. Faking a pass to his man will probably send him flying out towards the perimeter. Then a backdoor cut gets whoever he was on a wide open layup.

A big storyline in this series has been the free-throw disparity. Of course, it’s easier said than done, but trying to get some of OKC’s key players in foul trouble is almost a necessity. A few quick ones on Adams and things start to open up for Golden State.

Guys like Iguodala and Bogut need to absorb contact despite being poor free-throw shooters. Even if they miss, it’s a step closer to getting someone out of the game and getting into the bonus where guys like Curry and Thompson could benefit because they get held so much off ball.

The shot hasn’t been there for a lot of guys and they’ve sometimes forced the issue, pulling the trigger on ill-advised three-pointers. Green generally has a speed advantage on his man and he should be able to get into the paint at will where he can either go up or kick it out to an open man.

Home/Stephen Curry