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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 9, 2017 22:48:27 GMT -5
The Golden State Warriors are a really fun team to watch -- but don't let their nice guy charm fool you. They are an offensive juggernaut who can destroy you with their defense too.
If you had to draw up a blueprint of how to take down this formidable adversary, what would your main points be?
I'd say, first of all, we're going to need to slow them down defensively, and to do that, we need to stay in front of them. Thus, we'll need
-quickness
-length/height
-athleticism
-grit
It is nearly impossible to stay in front of Curry because of how elusive he is. But staying near him on his hip, you can bother his shot with length. You can also disrupt him a bit with physicality. Klay is a bit easier to guard, but you also got to stay on his hip and bother him with length. Durant -- well, you just have to hope he has a bad shooting day. Draymond you can stay in front of, but you'll need to match his strength and not let him bully you.
On offense, we're going to need:
- high IQ
- a lot of skilled players
- good shooters
- guys who can penetrate
The ball needs to fly around the court against the Warriors. Keep them off balance and don't let them dictate what we do on offense. Need a versatile offense that can change speed, attack from different spots, go inside, go outside, backdoor cuts.
This is a tall order, but these are the type of players we're going to need.
I think we already have one key player who matches a lot of these traits -- Jaylen Brown. Getting Markelle Fultz will give us another guy with a lot of these traits.
Just need to keep adding more players like them.
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Post by afceltic on Jun 10, 2017 1:18:10 GMT -5
I really don't think they are all that good on defense. Their all time great offense has lead to overinflated defensive stats. GSW takes a ton of "bad" shots, the problem is that Curry is master of making them. Where teams run into trouble is that when Curry makes those long range bad shots, they try to immediately go down and try to quickly as in early in the shot clock get those 3 points back with their own bad shot, which leads to an easy defensive possession for GSW, and then the Warriors make another 3 and then they are on a run.
IMO poise and patience will beat them over trying to beat them at their own game as everyone tries to do. You need to make them work on defense as KD, Klay, and Green are the only good defensive players that they have. That is how you wear out Curry like teams have worn out IT in the playoffs. He can't guard anybody, but teams let him off the hook by playing bad offense. Overall they are a very soft team and playing physical like the Cavs did last year in the finals and in Game 4 is how you beat them. The series would be tied right now if Kyrie didn't choke away a 2 for 1 on top of Korver missing a shot that he normally makes in his sleep.
You need the type of players that you stated, especially with the length and the ability to shoot being the most important of those you stated, but they can't get caught up in trying to match GSW from the 3 point line, 99.9% you are going to lose that battle.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 10, 2017 11:00:49 GMT -5
What Cleveland showed last night is you have to be the aggressors and attack the Warriors. Also, knocking down 3's and perimeter shots are huge (like you said AF, we need good shooters). Having players who can get their own buckets is important.
Rebounding was big last night as well.
Limit turnovers (this is where skilled and high IQ guys shine).
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 10, 2017 11:06:06 GMT -5
It's not just about getting athletes and guys who can jump high and dunk.
It's getting basketball athletes who are skilled (with creativity can shoot, dribble, pass), who have high IQ, who have length and quickness, and who love competing.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 10, 2017 13:01:56 GMT -5
For me, I think Jayson Tatum checks off a lot the boxes I'm looking for.
He's highly skilled, basketball smart, enough athleticism and length and quickness, plays tough and determined, with passion, etc. He's also got a leader-type of personality.
In a few key ways, he's above Fultz as a prospect. But where Fultz trumps Tatum is offensive creativity. Overall package goes to Tatum.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jun 12, 2017 14:23:23 GMT -5
The Celtics are already the only team to beat the Warriors in Oakland the past two seasons. The Celtics have played them very competitively the past two years. The Celtics just need to keep playing the way they already do and add a rebounder (Zizic) or two and another go to scorer (Hayward? Draft Pick)
Derren, do you think Danny would be brave enough to take Tatum with the top pick? Or do you think he's more likely to try to trade down? Funny how all the talk is about Fultz and I haven't heard that much about Tatum. I'll have to go look him up.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 12, 2017 14:31:37 GMT -5
Actually, I'd take Fultz over Tatum if given the choice. Fultz has that one skill that could translate lead to stardom (scoring ability), whereas Tatum is pretty good at multiple skills.
Yeah, funny how you mention that we've beaten GSW twice now on their homecourt. Would you agree that a key was how physical we play them? I don't think GSW likes it when teams play them physical (as evident in Game 4 of the Finals).
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jun 12, 2017 14:55:27 GMT -5
Actually, I'd take Fultz over Tatum if given the choice. Fultz has that one skill that could translate lead to stardom (scoring ability), whereas Tatum is pretty good at multiple skills. Yeah, funny how you mention that we've beaten GSW twice now on their homecourt. Would you agree that a key was how physical we play them? I don't think GSW likes it when teams play them physical (as evident in Game 4 of the Finals). I agree it is the Celtics playing hard and physical that gives them problems. They definitely don't like it when teams are physical. I hope that no matter who the Celtics get this summer, they don't stop playing physical team ball. |
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 12, 2017 15:11:42 GMT -5
Zizic should help with physicality.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jun 12, 2017 15:25:26 GMT -5
Zizic should help with physicality. I really can't wait to see him play! He will help with rebounding, defense AND physicality!!! |
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jun 12, 2017 16:30:42 GMT -5
I found this on the Celtics' website about Jayson Tatum. He looks good in the video. I do worry some that Fultz is getting more notice because he was a good player on a bad team and so was able to showcase himself. Tatum was a good player on a good team that featured more teamwork. And perhaps his injury that kept him out for awhile helped as well. I still wonder if Danny would take a different player than Fultz with the top pick if he likes him better or would he try to trade down to take a different player.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 12, 2017 18:04:28 GMT -5
Tatum played Point Forward, and was a calming leader on a championship caliber team, as a freshman. He earned Coach K's respect and trust.
He's a diverse and skilled scorer. In a team oriented system, I think he can be an exceptional fit, even though he doesn't reach stardom.
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Post by jmost on Jun 12, 2017 19:43:41 GMT -5
I don't see Danny taking anyone other than Fultz with the first pick, simply because the consensus opinion seems to be that Fultz is the best player and why give something away if you can get something for it? But I could definitely see him trading down if he could get a player he really liked PLUS another valuable asset. Like getting McHale and Parish for Joe Barry Carroll. Gotta find the right trading partner though and that won't be easy.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jun 12, 2017 22:58:30 GMT -5
To beat the Warriors, we need players who are fearless in crunch time, who can hit shots in crunch time, who can make good decisions late in games.
Jaylen is fearless, we've already seen that. IT is. We need a whole lot more though.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jun 12, 2017 23:06:07 GMT -5
Marcus Smart is fearless but he needs to work on his shot a bit more so that he is more accurate. I love what Marcus brings to the games in crunch time but his shooting has to improve.
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