Breaking the Warriors Down By Play Type: Cuts

Outlook and Predictions

This is where losing Bogut is really going to hurt on offense, along with screening (we’ll get there). His rare mix of size and passing ability makes him a massive asset on plays like this in Kerr’s swirling motion offense. Look at the clips earlier again, particularly the front cut and the backdoor cut. Both Bogut. Golden State loved to run give and go plays where he held the ball at the top of the key or on the wing inside the arc. He’s big enough to loft passes to a cutter and skilled enough to sneak bounces in at waist level.

Kevin Durant is a plus passer, but this isn’t the type of pass he made all that often in Oklahoma City; he’s more used to being the cutter, which he’s very good at. Zaza Pachulia, while a decent post passer, is not on Bogut’s level of skill.

The Warriors are going to have to get creative with their passing this year on cuts, especially since a lot of the burden is going to fall on Curry now. That also hurts because he’s one of the best cutters and finishers on the team.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see a drop in efficiency on cuts next year, simple because the Warriors are going to have a harder time poking the ball into those gaps that the breaks give them. The volume is unlikely to decrease, since off-ball movement is a natural component of the offense, but they’re going to have to get more creative and work harder for them this year.