Originally compiled from: The Athletic
Written by Tim Kawakami
原标题：Kawakami: Inside the Warriors’ moves and mindset that led to a Game 3 victory without Draymond Green
The Warriors beat the Kings at home, and with Green suspended, Curry led the team to a hearty victory
It's a game that must be won
The Warriors heralded winning the third game more than a day before the game began.
They were ready to win the inevitable game before training on Wednesday. They were bound to win the game, in fact, on Tuesday night, minutes after the league informed Bob Myers that Dreams would be banned at G3, Myers called Green to tell him the amazing news.
The Warriors had won the game when Myers told Green, Steve Kerr and Stephen Curry that they couldn't lose focus and criticize the media or league's decisions because they had to win the game and save the series. Green then re-emphasized those points by giving a brief speech to the team, which Myers said in his post-training press conference.
The coaches listened. The players took these words to heart and the players leaned in together. On Thursday, even after learning that their defensive ace Peyton Jr. would be missing the game due to illness, the Warriors were energetic, beating the Kings 114-97 at Chase Center, narrowing the Kings' series lead to 2-1, with Game 4 due Sunday.
Green's suspension has only made the Warriors more eager to win
If the Warriors want to successfully defend their title and even avoid the embarrassing situation of being out of the first round, they still have a long way to go in this series and later playoffs. But if the Warriors are self-pitying and listless in Game 3, it will all be over. Instead, the Warriors bottomed out from their two losses in Sacramento, and they seemed to have found themselves.
Because they feel like they're back to being themselves — fighting, desperate, and focused on showing the outside world how hard it takes to beat them.
"I think Bob set the tone at his press conference," Cole told me late Thursday. "He attended our coaching meeting and talked a little bit about the importance of getting that message across to the players. Then he went to interview the media. I think that's the smart way to handle things, and there's nothing good in complaining about the decision. You just have to move forward. ...”
"That's Bob, Dreams, and my message about this. It will affect our scrambling and defense, but there is nothing we can do about it. But our players did very well. ”
It's not that there isn't a lot of annoyance, it's just that it doesn't show it... Until the end of the G3 race. In the fourth quarter of G2, after Green was ejected for stepping Sabonis Jr.'s chest, no one would have thought that the league would add other penalties in addition to the expulsion, but the league made the decision to ban Green for one game. "Part is based on Greene's history of unsportsmanlike behavior."
G3 is a team win
The warriors saw this. They expected it. They responded. It all happened in Game 3 — the crazy defense had 12 steals, Kevin Rooney took on Green's rebounding responsibilities almost alone, and he scored 20 points himself. Donte DiVincenzo, Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga have made significant contributions, and of course, the guy in size 30 has been here with every high and low with Green.
"They say there's a history to chasing dreams, and so do we," Curry told TNT immediately after the game.
That's a sign of anger. That's the energy of the team. But it is directed, not out of control. One example: after 20 errors in G2, they only had 11 errors in this game. This is the result of their handling through a calm attitude and adjustment. While they can't replace everything Green has brought to them, they can win the game for Green.
"I know Bob said here yesterday — we still have work to do and there's nothing we can do about it," Curry said in a news release. "So, all we have to do is focus on the task at hand and know that we've accomplished a lot at this stage." We also have to be clear about the difficult situation right now and where we know where we are giving our opponents their comfort zone. When you're cornered, you have a game like tonight. This has certainly given us a lot of life, and it's a good response to the last 48 hours. ”
Cole made effective adjustments in the face of Green's absence
They didn't win without Green. This is their response to the Union and everyone else. Now they wait for Green to come back and play the fourth game.
"It's frustrating," Klay Thompson said. "But you accept it, and you move on. There are many people and we know we can solve Green's suspension and we did it tonight. ”
Rooney said: "We are a team to be proud of. When we are cornered, we know how to cope. We've been through this too much.... I want to dream about that. He knows that even if he can't play tonight, I'll respond for him and he knows we can control the situation while he's away. We're excited to have him back in the next game. ”
Cole also had to make some tactical adjustments. It's no surprise that he put Jordan Poole in the starting spot vacated by Green. But many, including Kings coach Mike Brown, believe the Warriors will have to switch to zone defense to compensate for the huge drop in defensive firepower. In the absence of their best staring defender, Payton Jr., the Warriors had to play zone defense against the Kings' lethal combination of scoring ability, right?
However, no.
"You're wrong, Coach Brown!" Thompson said with a smile. "We do leak people from time to time, [but] I think we played well tonight, especially in terms of targeting."
The Warriors played almost exclusively on the defensive line, but they effectively controlled Daron Fox (26 points on 22-shot shooting), Sabonis Jr. (six turnovers) and Malik Monk (1-of-9). The key, Cole said, is that they didn't play badly defensively in the two games they lost to the Kings. They just need to control their mistakes and give the king a chance to let go.
"We've had great half-time performances in all series," Cole explained. "What killed us in the first two games were turnovers and rebounds. I've always believed that when pre-match planning doesn't work, you don't need to make adjustments if the most basic issues are killing you. So we don't need to make any adjustments. We just need to take care of the basics. Grab the rebound and keep an eye on the damn ball. We did it. ”
"The first two games we were really good at half-time, but because of our mistakes, our advantage in half-time was simply not enough. Then they seized all the opportunities for a second attack. I think tonight we played more energetic and smarter. ”
Curry is still Kerr's most important card
Kerr also made considerable adjustments to Curry's rotation. Instead of replacing Curry only once in the half (usually at the end of the first and third quarters and then returning a few minutes after the start of the second and fourth quarters), Kerr replaced Curry just six minutes into the first quarter and back near the end of the first quarter. Then do it again halfway through the second and third quarters. That kept Curry playing the full fourth quarter until the end of garbage time.
Part of the benefit: It got Curry on the court with the second lineup at the start of the second and fourth quarters, which helped bring Kuminga, Moody and DiVincenzo on. Of course, this is usually Green's job.
"We just think it's important, when we're 2-0 down. We feel that it will balance the different line-ups well. We love the feeling of being on paper. I talked to Curry about this yesterday and he said, 'I understand this arrangement, that's good.'" One thing we are clear about... Sometimes he uses the first quarter to get a little feel for the game. I think [assistant coach Bruce Fraser] talked to him about playing aggressively. Because you're going to have a break after six minutes into the first quarter, don't hold back the first six minutes. Playing a typical Curry, he can dominate everything in the game. ”
Curry has always been amused by the attention paid to when he will go off the court and when he will play, but he also understands how important it is to do it well. He finished the game with 36 points and had a plus/minus of +24 in 37 minutes. When the Warriors maximize the value of Curry's playing time, they can win championships, and games like this happen in G3.
"Considering I was asked this in the first game, we just wanted you guys to keep guessing my rotation and playing time." Curry said with a smile. "My rotation timing may change again in G4. We'll see. ”
The defending champion will not fall easily
Even without Green igniting the team's passion (and occasionally igniting the league's top brass), the Warriors feel like they've found their old selves. The Warriors may not win this series, or even if they can beat the Kings, they won't get very far in the playoffs. But on Thursday, the Warriors wanted the world to know that they could survive even if they were wronged. It's as if they're saying, "We are invincible!" ”