Golden State Warriors: 5 Keys To Avoiding Elimination In Game 5
2. Battle Of The Death Lineups
The Golden State Warriors are known for their small-ball “Lineup of Death” that has run opponents off the court over the last two seasons.
It’s been a trademark of their success, a turning point in the 2015 NBA Finals and their go-to bailout option whenever the team needed a quick burst to climb back into games.
Leave it to wunderkind Billy Donovan to find and unleash his own, deadlier version of that Death Lineup in the Western Conference Finals.
Thought the Thunder small lineup was good in Game 3? Happened again tonight. Outscored the Warriors 46-20 in 14 minutes. What is going on?
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) May 25, 2016
It wasn’t just the last two games that the Thunder outplayed Golden State’s most unstoppable lineup either. For the series, the Warriors haven’t been able to compensate for their centers’ abysmal play with their bailout lineup because OKC has been able to counter it…and then some.
The Death Lineup is now minus-27 in 34 minutes of the Conference Finals, with 11 turnovers. 40% from the field, OKC shooting 49% against it
— Matt Moore Action Network NBA (@MattMooreTAN) May 25, 2016
After outscoring opponents by 166 points in 172 minutes together during the regular season, the patented Steph Curry-Klay Thompson-Harrison Barnes-Andre Iguodala-Draymond Green has been absolutely massacred by OKC’s Westbrook-Dion Waiters-Andre Roberson-Kevin Durant-Serge Ibaka small-ball lineup.
In the last two games, that small-ball lineup has an astonishing net rating of +89.3 in only 26 minutes of action. The Warriors’ go-to small-ball group, meanwhile, has posted a -92.0 net rating in 19 minutes.
For the series, the Warriors’ secret weapon of a lineup has a -35.3 net rating in 34 minutes together. No one was expecting this, especially from a lineup containing Waiters and Roberson, but the Thunder’s length, passing, speed and defense have helped OKC run the Dubs’ most dangerous lineup off the floor.
In the last 2 games, OKC's lineup of Westbrook, Waiters, Roberson, Durant & Ibaka has outscored the Warriors 91-35. pic.twitter.com/bIcjYov9hh
— ESPN (@espn) May 25, 2016
The numbers are staggering, but it’s hard to tell what the Warriors can do differently. Iggy hasn’t been his usual composed self, Curry has been awful in taking care of the ball and making his usual shots, Thompson has disappeared at times, Green has been a shell of his former self and Barnes is only good for 10-15 points at best.
In Game 5, the Dubs will need to rediscover their cohesion with that unit, find a way to take care of the ball, limit Oklahoma City’s transition opportunities and drill the three-pointers they’ve made all season long.
If the Lineup of Death has another disastrous stretch like they did immediately in Game 4 though, Kerr has to find another viable substitute. Leave Andrew Bogut in, feed the center minutes to Festus Ezeli, hell, maybe even try a dual center lineup. Preferably though, Golden State’s small-ball lineup will be the aggressor this time around.
Next: No. 1