Maybe, instead of Lamb getting tons of minutes during the regular season he should have been giving those minutes to JK...as well as Moody. Both are essentially 20 and needed playing time.

Bonta Hill has been saying Kerr has mismanaged the bench for a long time.

They had JK trying to guard like 3 positions and make him stand in a corner on offense.

DiabloWags said:

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BulaBear3cubs said:

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What happened to Klay and Poole? Felt like Steph was doing it all but you need to spread it around.

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Klay disappeared again.
Literally had 6 points in the entire game until he hit that "3" late.
If the Warriors are gonna bounce back and tie this series back up leading to a Game 7, KLAY CANNOT DISAPPEAR.

PS. I thought that Kuminga would finally see some playing time in the Laker's series given better match-ups for him.
Sadly, Kerr doesnt trust him enough with this moment.

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Historically, when Klay is lighting it up, there's a lot of ball movement and he's moving without the ball, all over the place and getting open catch-and-shoots. Not exactly sure why they're not doing that; maybe the Lakers are doing something to take it away. Seems like what LA is willing to give up is Curry taking it to the hole and then relying on Anthony Davis to thwart him there, just often enough.

Seems like Kuminga could match up with Lebron okay, but he just doesn't do enough on offense. At least Draymond and Looney (to a lesser extent) can facilitate.

This isn't over yet, so I hate to look past 2023, but the Warriors future over the next few years suddenly isn't looking so bright.

Big C said:

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DiabloWags said:

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BulaBear3cubs said:

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What happened to Klay and Poole? Felt like Steph was doing it all but you need to spread it around.

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Klay disappeared again.
Literally had 6 points in the entire game until he hit that "3" late.
If the Warriors are gonna bounce back and tie this series back up leading to a Game 7, KLAY CANNOT DISAPPEAR.

PS. I thought that Kuminga would finally see some playing time in the Laker's series given better match-ups for him.
Sadly, Kerr doesnt trust him enough with this moment.

---

Historically, when Klay is lighting it up, there's a lot of ball movement and he's moving without the ball, all over the place and getting open catch-and-shoots. Not exactly sure why they're not doing that; maybe the Lakers are doing something to take it away. Seems like what LA is willing to give up is Curry taking it to the hole and then relying on Anthony Davis to thwart him there, just often enough.

Seems like Kuminga could match up with Lebron okay, but he just doesn't do enough on offense. At least Draymond and Looney (to a lesser extent) can facilitate.

This isn't over yet, so I hate to look past 2023, but the Warriors future over the next few years suddenly isn't looking so bright.

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The warriors traditional motion offense historically doesn't work as well in the playoffs because after a few games, smart opposing teams kind of get the hang of how to defend it. This is compounded in this case, because lebron knows the warriors offense better than most warriors players. It's even more difficult because AD is camping in the paint to wipe out any back cuts.

The warriors have a very clear counter. Their points per possession is off the charts when they run high PnR against AD. They get a good look almost every single time. The only reason I can see that they stopped running it in the 4th quarter is that curry simply ran out of gas.

Whether the warriors can make this a series will depend on how stubborn curry/Kerr are about running high PnR against AD. Cause thru 4 games, it's the only way they've been able to generate any consistent offense.

But Kerr often out thinks himself and likes to get cute rather than just spamming what's working. We will see

They also need to stop making dumb, unforced turnovers when they are starting to gain momentum.

Big C said:

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BulaBear3cubs said:

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What happened to Klay and Poole? Felt like Steph was doing it all but you need to spread it around.

---

So, Poole comes out a couple of minutes before halftime. complaining about something or other... almost looked like he was crying. If he played in the second half, it wasn't much... at all. Zero points? Seemed like a story that nobody picked up on. Well, they will, I'm pretty sure. 20/20 hindsight, I'm guessing the Warriors wish they hadn't given him that huge contract.

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Poole has played terribly the last two games, and that meant Curry had to play more minutes the last game.

first time I saw Curry so visibly tired

it's a team game

"Look, you couldn't get 8 points out of me tonight even if you used the jaws of life."

"Nikola Jokic is the second player in NBA history with 300 points, 100 rebounds and 75 assists through 10 postseason games, joining Oscar Robertson in 1963. Tuesday's triple-double also moved him past Wilt Chamberlain for most by a center in the playoffs (10)." Axios

graguna said:

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bearister said:

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"Nikola Jokic is the second player in NBA history with 300 points, 100 rebounds and 75 assists through 10 postseason games, joining Oscar Robertson in 1963. Tuesday's triple-double also moved him past Wilt Chamberlain for most by a center in the playoffs (10)." Axios

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but unlike Wilt, none of Jokic's triple doubles included 10+ points, 10+ rebounds, 10+ women

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What happened to Klay?

Looney too tough for AD.

bearister said:

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Looney too tough for AD.

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Goons.

stu said:

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What happened to Klay?

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He has essentially disappeared during this ENTIRE series.
Not good.

Big C said:

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Seems like Kuminga could match up with Lebron okay, but he just doesn't do enough on offense. At least Draymond and Looney (to a lesser extent) can facilitate.

This isn't over yet, so I hate to look past 2023, but the Warriors future over the next few years suddenly isn't looking so bright.

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Not sure what Warriors season you've been watching, but Kuminga can definitely score when he's given the chance. As soon as he enters a game, he scores. I'd like to see more of him, especially in this series given the possible match-ups.
JK is a massive talent!

"MVP Joel Embiid was named to the All-NBA first team for the first time on Wednesday night, while LeBron James extended his all-time record to 19 selections (!!!).

First team: Embiid (76ers), Jayson Tatum (Celtics), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), Luka Doncic (Mavericks), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)

Second team: Steph Curry (Warriors), Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), Jimmy Butler (Heat), Jaylen Brown (Celtics)

Third team: James (Lakers), De'Aaron Fox (Kings), Domantas Sabonis (Kings), Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers), Julius Randle (Knicks)

Fun fact: For just the second time in NBA history, all five first-team selections averaged at least 30 points per game. This also happened in 1961-62.

2022-23: Embiid (33.1), Doncic (32.4), Gilgeous-Alexander (31.4), Antetokounmpo (31.1), Tatum (30.1)

1961-62: Wilt Chamberlain (50.4), Elgin Baylor (38.3), Bob Pettit (31.1), Oscar Robertson (30.8), Jerry West (30.8)
-Axios

HoopDreams said:

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Big C said:

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BulaBear3cubs said:

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What happened to Klay and Poole? Felt like Steph was doing it all but you need to spread it around.

---

So, Poole comes out a couple of minutes before halftime. complaining about something or other... almost looked like he was crying. If he played in the second half, it wasn't much... at all. Zero points? Seemed like a story that nobody picked up on. Well, they will, I'm pretty sure. 20/20 hindsight, I'm guessing the Warriors wish they hadn't given him that huge contract.

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Poole has played terribly the last two games, and that meant Curry had to play more minutes the last game.

first time I saw Curry so visibly tired

it's a team game

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He played under a lot of restraint last night. I saw only one ill advised shot where he didn't get balanced and rushed into it.

That was a good sign!! The mental aspect is huge.

Shooting is all about confidence, comfort. No doubt his has been shaken. Yet, he responded well.

DiabloWags said:

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Big C said:

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Seems like Kuminga could match up with Lebron okay, but he just doesn't do enough on offense. At least Draymond and Looney (to a lesser extent) can facilitate.

This isn't over yet, so I hate to look past 2023, but the Warriors future over the next few years suddenly isn't looking so bright.

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Not sure what Warriors season you've been watching, but Kuminga can definitely score when he's given the chance. As soon as he enters a game, he scores. I'd like to see more of him, especially in this series given the possible match-ups.
JK is a massive talent!

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There was a game last season, Kuminga rookie, where he had to guard Lebron for a long time.
Everyone lauded his performance and Kuminga was all impressed and excited with himself, too.

I don't know why, but he's in the doghouse same as wiseman was.

Maybe W's need to be testing the mental or psychological profile of players they draft.

Interesting how both Payton and moody have low key egos, are willing to play minor juniors to the kings of the team (DG and SC) while wiseman and Kuminga both seem to have run afoul of something.

Poole ran afoul of it, attitudinally, and he got dropped for it!

Things may change when DG leaves, whenever that is. But I wonder what it's like to have SC as your leader. He's quiet, but definitely has his opinions of who he wants to play with!

Kuminga is a huge talent, yes, but he hasn't gelled spiritually with the leaders.

So what's your prediction?
Who wins on Friday in LA?

I think Lebron and AD are going to fight and play bully ball with everything they've got.

It's hard to stop Lebron when he's determined.
But I'd love to see it!


If the lakers do it right, they should win.
And there will be a party in LA.

I think it would do a lot for any Steph-Lebron discussions.
Like, people say:

*Both have 4 titles
*Steph got the better of Lebron in 3 head to head finals
*Maybe Steph is better.

If Lebron ends Steph tomorrow night or on Sunday, it's a marked victory for him personally in that head to head matchup, because I don't see the W's dynasty coming back looking the same.

But if Lebron fails yet again to Steph, after being up 3-1, it also says a lot. He doesn't want that! He respects a lot about Steph, but not enough to share the stage with him.

I think Lebron is going to play like a madman possessed and will definitely score 30+.



Here's hoping Steph gets the last laugh.

I missed most of the game last night. From the little I saw it appeared this was the first game that wasn't really about coaching adjustments and strategies but instead the outcome flowed from the fact that GS was the more physical team, that they imposed their will on the Lakers. I don't know who wins Friday but I very much expect a response that doesn't let that happen again.

As the Chuckster said, Friday night IS game 7, because there's no way LA is winning a potential game 7 in SF on Sunday.

Must see TV.
These are outstanding playoffs this year.
So many stars, teams, upsets, storylines.

I'll predict a Phila-Denver championship matchup. Two dominant 7 footers who can hit the 3 and pivot in the paint, and who have the last 3 mvp awards.
That's a classic in itself!

tequila4kapp said:

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I missed most of the game last night. From the little I saw it appeared this was the first game that wasn't really about coaching adjustments and strategies but instead the outcome flowed from the fact that GS was the more physical team, that they imposed their will on the Lakers. I don't know who wins Friday but I very much expect a response that doesn't let that happen again.

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Refs wanted a game 6, so the GunShotWounds were able to foul with impunity while the Lakers got ticky tack calls on their end.

bearister said:

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Looney too tough for AD.

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AD is the softest guy on the court....That "blow" that took him out didn't look too bad to me....He definitely has a glass jaw....I thought it was hilarious when they said he had a wheel chair take him to the locker rooom....

tequila4kapp said:

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I missed most of the game last night. From the little I saw it appeared this was the first game that wasn't really about coaching adjustments and strategies but instead the outcome flowed from the fact that GS was the more physical team, that they imposed their will on the Lakers. I don't know who wins Friday but I very much expect a response that doesn't let that happen again.

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Though now a lot depends on how healthy AD will be.

sycasey said:

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tequila4kapp said:

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I missed most of the game last night. From the little I saw it appeared this was the first game that wasn't really about coaching adjustments and strategies but instead the outcome flowed from the fact that GS was the more physical team, that they imposed their will on the Lakers. I don't know who wins Friday but I very much expect a response that doesn't let that happen again.

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Though now a lot depends on how healthy AD will be.

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Espn says "How could he be using a wheel chair?" They claimed, the screaming guy, that they watched the play and he did not have a violent collision. So they think he was faking it to rest? They claim he has a history of disappearing . Dr will determine if he has a concussion. ThenS Stephen A can eat his words.

bearmanpg said:

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bearister said:

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Looney too tough for AD.

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.He definitely has a glass jaw....I thought it was hilarious when they said he had a wheel chair take him to the locker rooom....

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Dude you aren't the only one.

DiabloWags said:

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Big C said:

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Seems like Kuminga could match up with Lebron okay, but he just doesn't do enough on offense. At least Draymond and Looney (to a lesser extent) can facilitate.

This isn't over yet, so I hate to look past 2023, but the Warriors future over the next few years suddenly isn't looking so bright.

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Not sure what Warriors season you've been watching, but Kuminga can definitely score when he's given the chance. As soon as he enters a game, he scores. I'd like to see more of him, especially in this series given the possible match-ups.
JK is a massive talent!

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Good catch! I had been watching that season from 2015-16, when we won 73 games in the regular season. Why? Because the W's were so awesome (until the finals). But then I forgot to switch back to this season...

No wonder I hadn't seen Kuminga's scoring ability!

Lakers fans on here will probably disagree with me, but I think Darvin Ham made two tactical mistakes in game 5

First, I'm a little surprised the Lakers didn't just punt game 5 like they did in the Memphis series. I felt like the lakers didn't have very high expectations of winning game 5. Lebron went hard, but at maybe 80-85%? I feel like the Lakers needed to either go All-in trying to end it, or completely punt it. By going halfway, Lebron played 39 minutes, AD was on track to play similar minutes before he got hurt and both lebron and Schroeder looked like they re-aggravated previous injuries.

The much larger tactical error was revealing how the Lakers are going to counter the high PnR against AD. Clearly, even with AD switching off of green, it wasn't helping as both Wiggins and GP2 were eating the lakers alive leading the 4 on 3.

So I think Ham mistakingly showed his counter of just switching everything. Now Kerr has two days to game plan against it. I would've saved this wrinkle for game 6

Again, I don't think there's a great solution for the warriors high PnR. You can't play 4 on 3 with AD on the perimeter. Switching isn't an awful option. But it has its flaws. First, when AD switches onto curry, AD is now attached to curry on the perimeter. Effectively allowing the warriors to play 4 on 4 with AD on the perimeter. I'm sorry, but Wiggins is just going to destroy Schroeder/Reaves when AD is not protecting the basket. Second option is you can also run curry around on off ball screen with AD trying to follow. Third option, curry can just try to cook AD on the perimeter.

If I'm the lakers, and if I'm going to switch everything, I think you've got to play Vanderbilt more. He only played 11 minutes in game 5. I don't care if he hamstrings your offense. You stick him on curry. You play AD on Wiggins. When the switch comes, Vanderbilt switches onto Wiggins. At that point, if you're the lakers, you take your chances. If curry beats AD one on one, you tip your hat. But at least you go down with your best player on the warriors best player.

If I'm the warriors, I keep spamming the high PnR until the lakers prove they can stop it (they haven't yet). If the warriors keep going to the PnR, play smart and don't turn the ball over and don't play hero ball and still lose? I can live with that. The lakers are the better team.

bearmanpg said:

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bearister said:

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Looney too tough for AD.

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AD is the softest guy on the court....That "blow" that took him out didn't look too bad to me....He definitely has a glass jaw....I thought it was hilarious when they said he had a wheel chair take him to the locker rooom....

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I was like, "Who are you, Sonny Liston in Lewiston, Maine?"


Of course, it was later determined that Liston did take a pretty good shot... and AD might've taken an elbow to the temple, which could, conceivably, be no joke whatsoever.

concordtom said:

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DiabloWags said:

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Big C said:

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Seems like Kuminga could match up with Lebron okay, but he just doesn't do enough on offense. At least Draymond and Looney (to a lesser extent) can facilitate.

This isn't over yet, so I hate to look past 2023, but the Warriors future over the next few years suddenly isn't looking so bright.

---

Not sure what Warriors season you've been watching, but Kuminga can definitely score when he's given the chance. As soon as he enters a game, he scores. I'd like to see more of him, especially in this series given the possible match-ups.
JK is a massive talent!

---

There was a game last season, Kuminga rookie, where he had to guard Lebron for a long time.
Everyone lauded his performance and Kuminga was all impressed and excited with himself, too.

I don't know why, but he's in the doghouse same as wiseman was.

Maybe W's need to be testing the mental or psychological profile of players they draft.

Interesting how both Payton and moody have low key egos, are willing to play minor juniors to the kings of the team (DG and SC) while wiseman and Kuminga both seem to have run afoul of something.

Poole ran afoul of it, attitudinally, and he got dropped for it!

Things may change when DG leaves, whenever that is. But I wonder what it's like to have SC as your leader. He's quiet, but definitely has his opinions of who he wants to play with!

Kuminga is a huge talent, yes, but he hasn't gelled spiritually with the leaders.

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it's the playoffs. Kerr has his guys who have delivered for him in the playoffs before. And then he has guys who haven't. Those in the latter group have much shorter leashes. Kuminga started the playoffs in the rotation and sucked. After a few games of sucking he lost his spot. Moody got a chance and did his job so his role has maintained / grown.

It's all about winning and production. These guys welcomed Boogie Cousins to be a role player and he's not exactly a wallflower. If they think you're helping them win, then great. If you're playing the 4 for 15 minutes and not getting a single rebound while the team gets crushed on the glass then you lose minutes.

(the other part of Moody vs Kuminga is matchups and options. Dante has been bad. Poole has been terrible. They can't play more than 1 big right now but reliable guards off the bench are hard to find. Meanwhile Wiggins returned and can go 35-40 minutes which eats up Kuminga's time. Draymond and Looney split the 5. Wiggins and Klay split the 4. If JK was playing well maybe he gets some of the run Moody has been getting and likely he gets the start over JMG a few games ago but he hasn't played well and they probably think the others are better for spacing.)

ducky23 said:

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Lakers fans on here will probably disagree with me, but I think Darvin Ham made two tactical mistakes in game 5

First, I'm a little surprised the Lakers didn't just punt game 5 like they did in the Memphis series. I felt like the lakers didn't have very high expectations of winning game 5. Lebron went hard, but at maybe 80-85%? I feel like the Lakers needed to either go All-in trying to end it, or completely punt it. By going halfway, Lebron played 39 minutes, AD was on track to play similar minutes before he got hurt and both lebron and Schroeder looked like they re-aggravated previous injuries.

The much larger tactical error was revealing how the Lakers are going to counter the high PnR against AD. Clearly, even with AD switching off of green, it wasn't helping as both Wiggins and GP2 were eating the lakers alive leading the 4 on 3.

So I think Ham mistakingly showed his counter of just switching everything. Now Kerr has two days to game plan against it. I would've saved this wrinkle for game 6

Again, I don't think there's a great solution for the warriors high PnR. You can't play 4 on 3 with AD on the perimeter. Switching isn't an awful option. But it has its flaws. First, when AD switches onto curry, AD is now attached to curry on the perimeter. Effectively allowing the warriors to play 4 on 4 with AD on the perimeter. I'm sorry, but Wiggins is just going to destroy Schroeder/Reaves when AD is not protecting the basket. Second option is you can also run curry around on off ball screen with AD trying to follow. Third option, curry can just try to cook AD on the perimeter.

If I'm the lakers, and if I'm going to switch everything, I think you've got to play Vanderbilt more. He only played 11 minutes in game 5. I don't care if he hamstrings your offense. You stick him on curry. You play AD on Wiggins. When the switch comes, Vanderbilt switches onto Wiggins. At that point, if you're the lakers, you take your chances. If curry beats AD one on one, you tip your hat. But at least you go down with your best player on the warriors best player.

If I'm the warriors, I keep spamming the high PnR until the lakers prove they can stop it (they haven't yet). If the warriors keep going to the PnR, play smart and don't turn the ball over and don't play hero ball and still lose? I can live with that. The lakers are the better team.

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I don't pretend to know a lot about basketball x's and o's, so forgive the poorly worded question in advance. It seemed to me that in games 3 and 4 (especially 4) the high PnR resulted in a lot of great open looks at the basket based on curry's decision making, but that often it left Thompson sitting not getting much action. To my untrained eye, it either worked to perfection (whether a score or not); or it got mucked up due to good defense and then either a bad decision was made resulting in a TO, or it just looked like the warriors were kind of stuck; the action didn't work and then it was up to someone to make a one on one play, which is not usually sustainable.

In game 5, when they ran it, it looked great for the most part again - and can see the adjustments that the lakers made especially in the 3rd Q with the switch. Would it make sense that the W's should start this action earlier in the shot clock, in order to then have a backup plan to get back to their motion offense if the high PnR doesn't result in a good shot? Honestly - to my untrained eye - it seems like for this series it's either feast or famine; the W's either get phenomenal looks, or it turns into a mess and that results in a real bad shot or a TO.

On the flip side - the Lakers were getting just as many great looks of their own, and were shooting at a pretty insane clip (48% for the game; but in the first half I could have sworn it was close to 60% from the floor). It definitely seemed that either team was having long stretches of not being able to stop the other. Are you seeing any counter's for what the W's can be doing on defense to slow the lakers down, or is it pretty much a given that they are going to shoot ~50% for the rest of the series?