Pick Your Poison – The Warriors 3-guard lineup is their key to playoff success

Warriors’ Draymond Green makes it all work

While I’ve touched on the impact of the three guards – a Warriors small-ball line-up doesn’t work without Green’s ability to defend bigger centers. For what he lacks in size, Green makes up in toughness, heart, and defensive IQ.

So far in this series, Nikola Jokic has needed 45 shots for 51 total points through the first two games. Green has frustrated him so much so, that the reigning MVP got himself ejected from Monday’s encounter after losing his cool.

Ultimately, the Warriors dominating with a small-ball lineup elicits certain images from the past, mainly positive ones. Times, when they used to trample opponents with scoring avalanches by running and gunning, are at the forefront of fans’ minds.

Whether, it was the death line-up, or The Hamptons 5 – the Warriors built their dynasty by playing small.

After a dormant couple of seasons, witnessing it back in full flight on Monday night – might’ve just sent a shiver down the spine of 29 other teams.