[2quick4uParticipant]

so golden state warriors are being swept and every body is throwing theories about why is this happening..everyone is asking how the best team in regular season history is suddenly playing so bad, why are they playing such bad defense, why they look fatigued??

in my opinion most of the blame has to go to steve kerr..

seriously i don’t know what in the world is he thinking but to me it’s pretty clear what’s the problem but for some reason he keeps looking away..

the problem to me is the small ball..i don’t know why the hel* he keeps playing 5 small players..i mean one thing is to play small ball with 4 small players like they’ve done during the season but not with 5 small players..specially when the other team has big and athletic players..

at the end of the regular season you could see this coming..in april, warriors lost against boston and you could see why; ezeli was injured and bogut only played 18min and more important than that, he didn’t play the last minutes of the 4th quarter..

2 games later they lost again..against minnesota..bogut played 32 min and did pretty well but…for some reason he got benched again the last minutes of the game and the warriors lost again..

2 games later they lost again..against memphis..everybody was asking how could they lose against these teams when they still where looking for the record..well bogut didn’t play and ezeli just got back from injury and played 18 min but didn’t play last minutes of the game.. 

same story..

now is happening again..last 2 games warriors are being swept by +24 points…bogut is playing 10 min, ezely 10 min and last minutes of the game kerr is playing with 5 smalls..

warriors have a hole in the paint, they get outrebounded all the time, they look tired, green can’t defend the rim by himself..and that is affecting his offensive game..thunders are too big and too athletic to play without a big..the small ball works if you have a rim protector..but warrior are right now an absolute mess and the culprit is kerr..

i’m not sure if kerr is doing this because bogut and ezely are not at 100% or if it’s an ego thing and wants to die with his truth until the end..but i hope he reconsiders the situation and makes changes for the good of the game and the fans..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 I blame RWB and KD. 

[trombonematrix43Participant]

 and Draymond Green is playing the worst basketball anyone has seen him play all year. 

[trombonematrix43Participant]

 and Draymond Green is playing the worst basketball anyone has seen him play all year. 

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 I blame RWB and KD. 

[TheGuyParticipant]

 I don’t think there is a problem strategicaly. The small ball line up they’ve been running with is the main reason they won a title and 73 games. Why would you go away from that? OKC hasn’t even been really using thier bigs that much and having been going small these last couple games, with Ibaka as their only big for a good chunk of time.

I think it’s just Durant and Westbrook, 2 of the 5 best players (and on any night can be the 2 best players in the world) are playing at or right near their apex – while Curry, Thompson and Draymond have been playing way below their standards. Pretty simple. Plus OKC is just playing with a hell of a lot more intensity and hunger to win. 

[2quick4uParticipant]

 no, warrior did not win 73 games playing with 5 smalls, they’ve won 73 games playing with 4 smalls plus bogut/ezeli as rim protectors..there’s a "BIG" difference..

thunders might have not used their bigs as much but still, in the last 2 games ibaka has averaged 32min/g (season avg. 32) and adams 21min/g (season aveg. 25)..while bogut and ezeli have played 10 min/g each..

 

[2quick4uParticipant]

 no, warrior did not win 73 games playing with 5 smalls, they’ve won 73 games playing with 4 smalls plus bogut/ezeli as rim protectors..there’s a "BIG" difference..

thunders might have not used their bigs as much but still, in the last 2 games ibaka has averaged 32min/g (season avg. 32) and adams 21min/g (season aveg. 25)..while bogut and ezeli have played 10 min/g each..

 

[TheGuyParticipant]

 No Golden State actually played their small ball "death lineup" of Curry-Thompson-Igudala-Barnes-Green a lot, and it was their best lineup for the entire season. Yea they start with Bogut and Ezeli gets minutes, but that lineup I mentioned was their go to lineup. It’s basic fact, it’s why people called it the "death lineup". I don’t understand why you are arguing that. They are doing nothing different from a rotations/lineup aspect, the big difference is that Green, this series, has been playing dawgshiit awful, taking away their advantage of going small. I don’t think you can play/rely more on Bogut and Ezeli. Bogut is giving you all he’s got, he’s banged up and Ezeli just can’t be trusted. You just got to hope your best players start play like have they and are capeable of.

[TheGuyParticipant]

 No Golden State actually played their small ball "death lineup" of Curry-Thompson-Igudala-Barnes-Green a lot, and it was their best lineup for the entire season. Yea they start with Bogut and Ezeli gets minutes, but that lineup I mentioned was their go to lineup. It’s basic fact, it’s why people called it the "death lineup". I don’t understand why you are arguing that. They are doing nothing different from a rotations/lineup aspect, the big difference is that Green, this series, has been playing dawgshiit awful, taking away their advantage of going small. I don’t think you can play/rely more on Bogut and Ezeli. Bogut is giving you all he’s got, he’s banged up and Ezeli just can’t be trusted. You just got to hope your best players start play like have they and are capeable of.

[TheGuyParticipant]

 I don’t think there is a problem strategicaly. The small ball line up they’ve been running with is the main reason they won a title and 73 games. Why would you go away from that? OKC hasn’t even been really using thier bigs that much and having been going small these last couple games, with Ibaka as their only big for a good chunk of time.

I think it’s just Durant and Westbrook, 2 of the 5 best players (and on any night can be the 2 best players in the world) are playing at or right near their apex – while Curry, Thompson and Draymond have been playing way below their standards. Pretty simple. Plus OKC is just playing with a hell of a lot more intensity and hunger to win. 

[doubledribblerParticipant]

First off, shout out to all those people that started watching pro basketball before the 2014-2015 NBA season. Second the Warriors are not being swept.  You’re in stage one. That’s denial and what makes it worse is that it sounds like you have already given up on them.

None of the Warrior fans were questioning Kerr when he won the finals last year or broke the record for most wins in a season this year. Now, that the Warriors might be eliminated, everyone is going to question the teams entire identity and philosophy? This is hilarious. Their small lineup was so effective people gave it a nickname. As for their gameplan, I’m not sure they have any real changes left. Surely you don’t think their bigs need to play more. Ezeli is a liability at the free throw line and Bogut can’t keep up. Bogut tends to struggle when guys are flying around him and he’s not able to grab and hold. Speights looks like a big man, but plays like a guard.

The truth is that Westbrook and Durant are awesome at basketball, Donovan is a good coach, and the role players have stepped up. A team has finally decided to force Curry to play defense. Not only is he still a liability, but it affects his offense.

 

 

[doubledribblerParticipant]

First off, shout out to all those people that started watching pro basketball before the 2014-2015 NBA season. Second the Warriors are not being swept.  You’re in stage one. That’s denial and what makes it worse is that it sounds like you have already given up on them.

None of the Warrior fans were questioning Kerr when he won the finals last year or broke the record for most wins in a season this year. Now, that the Warriors might be eliminated, everyone is going to question the teams entire identity and philosophy? This is hilarious. Their small lineup was so effective people gave it a nickname. As for their gameplan, I’m not sure they have any real changes left. Surely you don’t think their bigs need to play more. Ezeli is a liability at the free throw line and Bogut can’t keep up. Bogut tends to struggle when guys are flying around him and he’s not able to grab and hold. Speights looks like a big man, but plays like a guard.

The truth is that Westbrook and Durant are awesome at basketball, Donovan is a good coach, and the role players have stepped up. A team has finally decided to force Curry to play defense. Not only is he still a liability, but it affects his offense.

 

 

[2quick4uParticipant]

 first i think you live in your own bubble and 2nd i think you didn’t read well what i wrote..

so you warrior are 1-3 and have lost last 2 games by a margin of 26 points and they are not being swept? i’m not denying anything i’m stating a reality..but well i guess you’re watching something else..plus i never said i gave up on the warriors..

and second, i’m not asking to change their idenity, i’m acctually asking to KEEP their identity..and bogut is part of that identity..

the small ball works with 4 smalls and a rim protector not with 5 smalls.. most of the games they’ve played with 5 smalls they’ve struggled..

in this warriors team, bogut is as important as green or as the splash brothers..if any of those table legs trembles the thing falls…

 

 

 

 

[2quick4uParticipant]

 first i think you live in your own bubble and 2nd i think you didn’t read well what i wrote..

so you warrior are 1-3 and have lost last 2 games by a margin of 26 points and they are not being swept? i’m not denying anything i’m stating a reality..but well i guess you’re watching something else..plus i never said i gave up on the warriors..

and second, i’m not asking to change their idenity, i’m acctually asking to KEEP their identity..and bogut is part of that identity..

the small ball works with 4 smalls and a rim protector not with 5 smalls.. most of the games they’ve played with 5 smalls they’ve struggled..

in this warriors team, bogut is as important as green or as the splash brothers..if any of those table legs trembles the thing falls…

 

 

 

 

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

You want Ezeli to play to rebound and defend the paint. But he can’t do either lol. He gets crushed on the D-boards and he has hands of stone. Also, if he gets the ball in the post, he’s a freakin balck hole he has too much trust on his right hook.

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

You want Ezeli to play to rebound and defend the paint. But he can’t do either lol. He gets crushed on the D-boards and he has hands of stone. Also, if he gets the ball in the post, he’s a freakin balck hole he has too much trust on his right hook.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 I don’t think there is really anything strategically Kerr could do differently. Okc is just clicking on all cylinders. They are longer and more athletic, killing them on the boards and beating them to loose balls. Gs doesn’t really have a good individual matchup for Durant or Westbrook and if they focus too hard on stopping one the other will most likely beat them. And even when they force someone else to shoot that gs would want to shoot like Roberson, waiters, ibaka they are still making them more often than not.

There are subtle adjustments that can be made but they will all come with sacrifices. For example, Kerr could go bigger to attempt to keep okc off the boards but they will lose floor spacing. He could put Thompson on Westbrook all game, but he could get in foul trouble. The beauty of golden state’s style of play is supposed to be that they dictate the terms and force the other team to adjust. That’s just not happening right now. Really I don’t think there is a whole lot Kerr can do differently. Their best players just need to play better.

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 I don’t think there is really anything strategically Kerr could do differently. Okc is just clicking on all cylinders. They are longer and more athletic, killing them on the boards and beating them to loose balls. Gs doesn’t really have a good individual matchup for Durant or Westbrook and if they focus too hard on stopping one the other will most likely beat them. And even when they force someone else to shoot that gs would want to shoot like Roberson, waiters, ibaka they are still making them more often than not.

There are subtle adjustments that can be made but they will all come with sacrifices. For example, Kerr could go bigger to attempt to keep okc off the boards but they will lose floor spacing. He could put Thompson on Westbrook all game, but he could get in foul trouble. The beauty of golden state’s style of play is supposed to be that they dictate the terms and force the other team to adjust. That’s just not happening right now. Really I don’t think there is a whole lot Kerr can do differently. Their best players just need to play better.

 

[TheGuyParticipant]

 By the way Bogut is one of my favorite players, dude is as tough as they get (check that elbow injury). But he’s clearly struggling physically and can only give so much.

[TheGuyParticipant]

 By the way Bogut is one of my favorite players, dude is as tough as they get (check that elbow injury). But he’s clearly struggling physically and can only give so much.

[MatosParticipant]

 For starters KD and Westbrook have been playing up to their superstar titles. That hasn’t normally been the concern for the Thunder however.
The key element is that their supporting cast knows their roles and are playing those roles perfectly. Waiters is knocking down shots with ease, Roberson (although horrific from the line) is playing out of his mind offensively and defensively. Adams is doing exactly what they need out of a Center. Ibaka is playing excellent defense and is knocking down jumpers. Foye and Kanter are providing great minutes off the bench. Thunder are running with this 8 man rotation,

 

[MatosParticipant]

 For starters KD and Westbrook have been playing up to their superstar titles. That hasn’t normally been the concern for the Thunder however.
The key element is that their supporting cast knows their roles and are playing those roles perfectly. Waiters is knocking down shots with ease, Roberson (although horrific from the line) is playing out of his mind offensively and defensively. Adams is doing exactly what they need out of a Center. Ibaka is playing excellent defense and is knocking down jumpers. Foye and Kanter are providing great minutes off the bench. Thunder are running with this 8 man rotation,

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Fire Kerr! Fire Popovic! Fire every coach that doesnt win the NBA title every year!

Pitchfork nation is fun. 

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Fire Kerr! Fire Popovic! Fire every coach that doesnt win the NBA title every year!

Pitchfork nation is fun. 

 

[stifler101Participant]

 

 

I agree with most of the replies stating that OKC is outplaying and out-hustling GS in this series, and that’s the biggest reason they’re up 3-1.  KD and Russ are playing better than Curry and Thompson.  Draymond Green has really been affected by that whole kick/almost suspension business…it’s made him tentative, less aggressive, and he’s not bringing the same energy his team thrives on.  That’s been a big deal these last 2 games especially.  OKC’s role players are all playing well; Ibaka, Adams, Roberson, Waiters, and Kanter (other than defense).  Sure, Curry and Bogut probably aren’t 100%, but if their team was playing better and OKC wasn’t playing elite, they could still beat them as is…no excuses there.

But having said that, I do think Billy Donovan is also out-coaching Steve Kerr in this series, too.  I don’t have any problem with Kerr’s "death lineup", as some of the previous posts have stated it’s who the Warriors are and it’s been their most effective lineup this year.  OKC is just playing better right now.

 

My problem with Kerr is how he’s setting up his defense to hurt their offense.  All year long Klay Thompson has guarded the opposing team’s best guard, while Steph Curry has guarded the other.  In last year’s second round, he brilliantly put Bogut on Tony Allen and essentially didn’t guard him…and he’s tried to do something similar in this series by having Draymond Green play free safety instead of guarding Roberson.  This forces Thompson to guard Ibaka and leaves Curry on Westbrook.  While it worked against the Grizzlies, the Thunder are not the Grizzlies.  Westbrook is torching Curry offensively, and that combined with OKC’s physical defensive approach to guarding him has left a sub-100% Curry much less effective offensively…where he’s needed most.  Ibaka is playing the best offense of his career right now, hitting 3’s, cutting to the hoop for dunks, and rebounding on the offensive end.  Plus, Roberson is having an excellent series because literally nobody is guarding him.  And finally, Green isn’t matched up with somebody and trying to defeat them, which I think may be a factor in his lack of energy/effectiveness this series.

 

Donovan is using this strategy against them.  Roberson is hitting some of his open shots, while also cutting to the rim and KD/Russ are finding him for easy ones.  He’s also picking up offensive rebounds for easy putbacks because when nobody’s guarding you, nobody’s boxing you out either.  Kerr has also tried to counteract Bogut’s ineffectiveness (due to injury) with Ezeli, but Donovan has effectively employed the Hack-a-____ strategy and rendered him just as ineffective.  Then Kerr has to scramble and put in an outmatched Varejao, play Speights more minutes than he’s used to against a team that’s more athletic than him, or go to the death lineup prematurely.

 

I’m a Lakers fan and don’t have a dog in this fight, but for competitiveness sake I hope Kerr comes out with at least the adjustment of Thompson guarding Westbrook, Curry on Roberson, Green on Ibaka, and Bogut/Barnes staying on Adams/Durant.  Worst case scenario and Westbrook is still beast mode, but Thompson has proven he can still play great offensively chasing elite PG’s on defense.  Curry can simply guard Roberson so he’s less of a factor, but that won’t take nearly as much energy as getting blown away by Russ play after play.  And Green can finally get back to playing man-to-man defense, and maybe accept the challenge and get back to the All-Star player he was all season.

 

 

[stifler101Participant]

 

 

I agree with most of the replies stating that OKC is outplaying and out-hustling GS in this series, and that’s the biggest reason they’re up 3-1.  KD and Russ are playing better than Curry and Thompson.  Draymond Green has really been affected by that whole kick/almost suspension business…it’s made him tentative, less aggressive, and he’s not bringing the same energy his team thrives on.  That’s been a big deal these last 2 games especially.  OKC’s role players are all playing well; Ibaka, Adams, Roberson, Waiters, and Kanter (other than defense).  Sure, Curry and Bogut probably aren’t 100%, but if their team was playing better and OKC wasn’t playing elite, they could still beat them as is…no excuses there.

But having said that, I do think Billy Donovan is also out-coaching Steve Kerr in this series, too.  I don’t have any problem with Kerr’s "death lineup", as some of the previous posts have stated it’s who the Warriors are and it’s been their most effective lineup this year.  OKC is just playing better right now.

 

My problem with Kerr is how he’s setting up his defense to hurt their offense.  All year long Klay Thompson has guarded the opposing team’s best guard, while Steph Curry has guarded the other.  In last year’s second round, he brilliantly put Bogut on Tony Allen and essentially didn’t guard him…and he’s tried to do something similar in this series by having Draymond Green play free safety instead of guarding Roberson.  This forces Thompson to guard Ibaka and leaves Curry on Westbrook.  While it worked against the Grizzlies, the Thunder are not the Grizzlies.  Westbrook is torching Curry offensively, and that combined with OKC’s physical defensive approach to guarding him has left a sub-100% Curry much less effective offensively…where he’s needed most.  Ibaka is playing the best offense of his career right now, hitting 3’s, cutting to the hoop for dunks, and rebounding on the offensive end.  Plus, Roberson is having an excellent series because literally nobody is guarding him.  And finally, Green isn’t matched up with somebody and trying to defeat them, which I think may be a factor in his lack of energy/effectiveness this series.

 

Donovan is using this strategy against them.  Roberson is hitting some of his open shots, while also cutting to the rim and KD/Russ are finding him for easy ones.  He’s also picking up offensive rebounds for easy putbacks because when nobody’s guarding you, nobody’s boxing you out either.  Kerr has also tried to counteract Bogut’s ineffectiveness (due to injury) with Ezeli, but Donovan has effectively employed the Hack-a-____ strategy and rendered him just as ineffective.  Then Kerr has to scramble and put in an outmatched Varejao, play Speights more minutes than he’s used to against a team that’s more athletic than him, or go to the death lineup prematurely.

 

I’m a Lakers fan and don’t have a dog in this fight, but for competitiveness sake I hope Kerr comes out with at least the adjustment of Thompson guarding Westbrook, Curry on Roberson, Green on Ibaka, and Bogut/Barnes staying on Adams/Durant.  Worst case scenario and Westbrook is still beast mode, but Thompson has proven he can still play great offensively chasing elite PG’s on defense.  Curry can simply guard Roberson so he’s less of a factor, but that won’t take nearly as much energy as getting blown away by Russ play after play.  And Green can finally get back to playing man-to-man defense, and maybe accept the challenge and get back to the All-Star player he was all season.

 

 

[Author]

Posts