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Golden State Warriors: 5 Adjustments For Game 2 vs. Thunder

By Gerald Bourguet

May 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) and guard Stephen Curry (30) on the bench against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in game one of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Golden State Warriors 108-102. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
May 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) and guard Stephen Curry (30) on the bench against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in game one of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Golden State Warriors 108-102. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Golden State Warriors
May 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) celebrates after making a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in game one of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Start The Lineup Of Death

During the regular season, the Warriors’ cheat code of a lineup — Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green — obliterated opponents with a +166 in 172 minutes together, posting a +47.0 net rating in the process.

In Game 1, Kerr’s most used lineup was the so-called “Lineup of Death,” which posted a +8 in 13 minutes of action. The only problem was, the Warriors still may not have used it enough.

The Dubs only had four five-man lineups that posted a positive plus/minus in Game 1, and none of them included Andrew Bogut. Two of them had Ezeli, which could mean the more mobile backup big would be a better option to start at center in this series.

But against an OKC frontline that includes a rising star in Adams, an offensive rebounding machine in Kanter and an all-around stud in Ibaka, the Warriors shouldn’t try to battle the Thunder in a frontcourt-oriented showdown, especially if Ezeli can’t stay out of rapid-fire foul trouble.

Playing small takes a physical toll, especially on Draymond Green, who would be asked to exert an extraordinary amount of energy to keep OKC’s bigs off the boards. But the advantage on the offensive end is entirely apparent, just as it was in Game 1 every time Curry murdered Kanter out of the pick-and-roll.

For the Warriors to avoid falling into the same trap as the Spurs, they have to stick to their guns and counter the Thunder’s size and rebounding advantage with speed, three-point shooting, defensive blitzes, length and up-tempo offense.

In the 2015 NBA Finals, Kerr was faced with a similar decision when the Cleveland Cavaliers went up 2-1 in the series. He put Iggy into the lineup over Bogut, the Dubs won the next three games by an average of 14 points and Iguodala wound up earning Finals MVP honors.

More hoops habit: Golden State Warriors: 5 Keys To Beating The Thunder

Trailing 0-1 in the Western Conference Finals, the Warriors have their backs to the wall once again. As has been the case so many times this season and last season, Golden State needs to turn to that small-ball Lineup of Death to bail themselves out.

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