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The Warriors ended up running one play down the stretch against the Rockets and it was one that the Rockets couldn't quite overcome. Let's take a look.
Warriors actually ran the set in Game 5 to end the first half with KD still in the game. Iguodala screens for Curry on one side, KD/Draymond stagger for Klay on the other. The Rockets switch and Curry ends up getting a 3 vs. Harden
The next time they run it the Rockets try to be more aggressive. Notice it's still two guards in the action. Rivers/Paul both stay with Curry which opens up Iguodala for the roll to the empty side. Tucker sprints to help which leaves KD wide open for 3.
Still in Game 3, Warriors now have Draymond as a screener with Capela in the action. Rockets switch the action and Capela is guarding Curry 1v1. Watch the weakside, Harden/Paul both showing help and Tucker switches on to Klay. Curry beats Capela, Harden helps, another 3 for KD.
Fast forward to Game 4, the Rockets have decided to go ahead and trap Curry in P&R. Aggressive, taking away space and helping off the roll. I didn't see it at first (@crawdaddty) but the Rockets were helping off every big. Bogut, Looney, Bell, Jerebko. Not Draymond.
@crawdaddty At the 9:57 mark in the 4th the Warriors go back to the set out of a timeout. Draymond is now the screener and it's only a single screen for Klay on the weakside. There's no show on the P&R from Tucker, Gordon/Capela trying to switch and Harden reaches. Ends up with a Curry layup
@crawdaddty Warriors got back to it this time more in the flow of the offense than the set. Weakside is stagnant instead of having a screening action. Draymond/Curry still in side P&R, this time Capela is in the action. Rockets switch and Curry hits a one dribble pullup. D'Antoni was irate.
@crawdaddty Rockets are now small when the Warriors run it again. Good timing on the weakside to occupy the defense. Rockets weakside not locked in/showing help. Tucker tries a quick show to recover to Draymond's roll but doesn't impact Curry's drive, no nail help, only Harden pulls over.
@crawdaddty So at this point we've seen the Rockets basically not show or have a quick show with Tucker and Capela switched once. It's clear they don't want to trap and give Draymond that roll to the basket.
Rockets do have Tucker trap here and Draymond slips into space. No weakside action on this one just Looney at the dunker with shooters spaced. Capela actually reads it and helps but that opens up the lob to Looney. They don't convert but now that's in the back of your mind on D.
Warriors went back to it in transition. Rockets had Tucker trap Curry again and Draymond slips into space. No weakside action but Gordon is hugging Klay didn't even see the action. Capela helps early but watch Looney's cut. Harden sees it and tries to rotate but it's too late.
So at this point we've seen the Rockets go from Tucker not showing to a quick show/recover to a Capela switch and now Tucker has trapped twice. Rockets have given up two Curry layups, a Curry 3 and a lob and dumpoff to Looney.
Out of a timeout, the Warriors run the same set with a counter. Draymond screens and slips, Tucker after those two traps fakes and recovers. He's expecting the drive as is Capela on weakside. As soon as Curry passes he's cutting off Draymond, gets the handback for an open 3.
Rockets stick with Tucker trapping. Warriors go back to having Klay come off the stagger on the weakside. Draymond is again able to roll into space. I don't know if it's a foul or not that's not my bag but I do know Capela was pulled over this time. Rockets got a stop.
After going back to Tucker trapping and getting a stop, the Rockets have Tucker switch the P&R. Takes away DG roll. Look at the Rockets weakside and the space that Curry sees on this drive. Looney is spaced, Klay is near 1/2 court, no one is helping and when they do it's too late
Rockets again switch Tucker on to Curry. Gordon is pulled over to help off Draymond this time. Now everyone on the Rockets is locked in to what Curry's doing. They stopped the roll, this is great 1v1 defense from Tucker, nothing you can do about this one.
Back to back switches, Rockets go back Tucker trapping. Draymond rolls. No stagger, Looney at dunker. Watch Capela's stunt he fakes at Draymond and then commits, Harden helps on Looney leaving Iguodala. Watch Paul/Tucker, Paul stunts, Tucker sprints to Klay but it's too late.
From a big picture and larger perspective it reminds me of a wise man who once told me that if you don't pick a poison on defense you're in trouble. you might still die but you know how. if you don't pick that poison you're going to give up everything.
Playoff time we talk about this concept of making the defense pay for helping. It's important. It creates doubt. It adds another threat, it's another thing the defense has to account for. Can take a defense that is dictating and anticipating to a defense that is now reacting.
