Explain One Play: How Steph Curry and Kevon Looney(!?) closed out the Warriors-Pacers game
Strategy, hustle and the will of the basketball gods
A list of all Explain One Play articles and videos is at The new Explain One Play index.
The Warriors had an impressive comeback from five points down in the last two minutes of the 2021.12.13.GSW-IND game to steal a grindy game from the Indiana Pacers. Here’s an analysis of the cat and mouse game that got Steph Curry big points down the stretch and Kevon Looney a huge putback layup for the winning points.
Co-starring a super hustling Otto Porter Jr. and Draymond Green. Plus on the bench, Gary Payton II, Juan Toscano-Anderson and a very peculiar Andre Iguodala and Jordan Poole. Also with Malcolm Brogdon, Domantis Sabonis, and Myles Turner.
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So happy you got a "Looney Looney" in there. A few things I noticed: 1) On the Brogdon drive/Sabonis dish, Dray shouldn't have left his feet. Brog was too far out to make a decent shot, and Dray gave up the pass when he jumped like that. 2) My guess is that when Curry sees a screen coming like that, he makes his first dribble early (before the screen can be set) and then the screener knows to screen the other side so Steph can crossover. This also cuts down on the possibility of an illegal screen because it gives the screener more time to establish a position. 3) Otto should get an assist for that tip to Looney. 4) Monty Python Peasant Iguodala is my Halloween costume next year.
Eric! you're so good. I'm officially starting the campaign for you to replace Fitz or Kelenna. Either one, your pick.