The Warriors will be faced with quite a tall task in the 2022 NBA Finals.
The Boston Celtics have the best defense in the NBA, and maybe one of the best that we’ve seen in a few years. What’s more, they are the type of defense that often gives the Warriors trouble. Boston is big at every position and excellent at switching. What’s more, they have a number of rim protectors in the paint, not something that could be said for the Dallas Mavericks who Golden State torched down low.
So what’s the plan? Understandably, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr wasn’t exactly keen on giving away all of Golden State’s trade secrets just hours before Game 1 when he joined his buddy Tom Tolbert on KNBR. He did, however, reveal two strategies the Warriors will use to attack the Boston Celtics.
The first has become a hallmark of Golden State with Draymond Green running the show. Push the ball as often as possible, even off makes.
“It really starts with our defense,” Kerr told Tom Tolbert. “If we can get stops or force turnovers it would allow us to get out in transition. Even if they score, if we don’t foul them we can push the ball off makes. Draymond is the best in the league if we give up a hoop, he just calls for the ball and races it into the front court. Is able to get us into something before the defense can set up.”
Though the Celtics defense is getting all the pub, Golden State’s defense finished the season has the second ranked unit in the league. Playing up to that standard will ensure they can make the Celtics hurt on the other end.
So will moving the ball as much as possible. The Celtics are too big and switchable to try and beat them with ball screens, something that has never been Kerr’s bread and butter. Per usual, the Warriors will have to provide the Celtics with a death by a thousand cuts.
“With any team that switches you’ve got to get a rotation,” Kerr said. “You’ve got to force a rotation. If you just keep running a ball screen and they switch, and another ball screen and they switch, you’re not forcing a rotation. So we’ve got to find a way to get penetration and take advantage of some of their switching, and like you said get the ball swung. If you can get it swung and force the defense to move, you’ve got a better chance to get an open look.”
Podcast will be uploaded shortly.
