Is Steph the best in the league at causing "friendly fire" screens in opposing defenses? I feel like he is. That's one of the tricks The Most Interesting Guy on the Court has had to pick up to find open looks I suppose.
Fun breakdown as usual! I will say, it sounds like you felt obligated to break down Steph's insane play (which, fair, it was nuts) instead of Bjelica's, but if anything I appreciate it more when you look at someone who's not usually the focus of attention. So I'm always looking forward to more Beli/Loon/Juan/whoever E1Ps in the future!
Marveling at Steph's brilliance is awesome, but sometimes it feels like there's less to learn because of his incomparable skills such as, "You thought you were defending me? Nah." (See also: E1P on Steph vs the Nets in the previous game.) This video was a great case study in a different aspect of his game, what I'm going to start calling the "off-ball triple threat" of curl/pop, dive/backdoor/roll, or (back/down)screen. Few players in the league are actually credible threats for all three, but Steph is astoundingly elite at all of them.
Incidentally, this year the Warriors are *loaded* with other guys who embody the off-ball triple threat: DLee, Bjelica, and OPJ, for example. Poole is getting better. Last-we-saw-of-Klay he was pretty good at it too. It's very efficient basketball, but also just fun to watch.
That was a great breakdown. As usual I was watching at the time, yet missed everything. Poor Okoro just couldn't keep up. A couple of notes: 1. I LOVE when right out of the gate you haven't seen the play and you correctly predict exactly what's going to happen. It's hella entertaining. Consider doing an E1P that's like "Stump the Apricot" where you have the footage and have to guess right or wrong what's gonna happen. Even if you're wrong your logic will probably be superior to what happened. Stump the Apricot is a terrible name. 2. The smidge of daylight Steph needs to get off a clean three is so small. I mean, I already knew that, but it's underscored here so amazingly. 3. Kevin Love has his head down in his towel at times on the bench, even when the play is near him. Maybe it's nothing, maybe he's just tired, but he has mentioned mental health concerns in the past. I'm the last guy interested in shaming him. I'm a therapist -- just not his therapist. I point it out to say kinda "poor guy," and ruminate aloud about how tough it must be to have to keep a smile on your face and a bounce in your step for millions of viewers if you happen to not be feeling it. I don't know that's where he's at, but I can certainly say by the numbers that there are always going to be human beings not at their best, and they deserve our compassion, not judgment. It happens at your office, imagine it happening at an arena. Proud of Love for talking about it, takes guts in a macho sub-culture.
As a casual fan (if screaming at the TV every time they turn the ball over counts as casual), I've learned more about screening watching these videos than anywhere else. Thanks for doing these breakdowns.
On a completely irrelevant note, I know people always compare the 2017 Warriors vs. 96 Bulls for greatest team of all time but . . . I don't really think that one is that close (adjusting for all time great teams of course).
For me, it's far less Warriors vs Bulls, but 17 Warriors vs. 86 Celtics.
There's a great YouTube series on this, I think Clayton Crowley did it: best teams of all time. He makes a long video with lots of footage and good, unbiased logic.
Yeah, can’t accept that the 86 Celts belong in the conversation. That team had no answer for the Lakers, who beat them in the 85 & 87 Finals. They just got lucky that the Rockets took out the Lakeshow in the playoffs.
Bill Walton played 80 games that year. The next year he played only 10 and was done. You can't really look at the 85 and 87 teams without recognizing that.
We’re not talking a pre-foot injury Walton who dominated Kareem in the 77 playoffs. We’re talking about a post-foot injury Walton who averaged 7 ppg in 86. The Celts had no answer for the Lakers speed/quickness advantages — saw it constantly in the 80’s. Walton wouldn’t change that equation.
Walton did change that equation, even though it is true he was a shadow of the (all time top 5 level) player he was earlier in his career. I can't just handwave a team that went 40-1 at home in the regular season (the all-time record) so - gonna have to disagree with you on that one.
It is always the same music, which lets it fade into the background, but just like Kerr trying out different Steph rotations, a great mind always mixes it up every now and then.
Yeah this season I changed the music and now go back and forth between a few different ones. I actually got a few messages telling me they missed the old classic music haha
Is Steph the best in the league at causing "friendly fire" screens in opposing defenses? I feel like he is. That's one of the tricks The Most Interesting Guy on the Court has had to pick up to find open looks I suppose.
Fun breakdown as usual! I will say, it sounds like you felt obligated to break down Steph's insane play (which, fair, it was nuts) instead of Bjelica's, but if anything I appreciate it more when you look at someone who's not usually the focus of attention. So I'm always looking forward to more Beli/Loon/Juan/whoever E1Ps in the future!
Marveling at Steph's brilliance is awesome, but sometimes it feels like there's less to learn because of his incomparable skills such as, "You thought you were defending me? Nah." (See also: E1P on Steph vs the Nets in the previous game.) This video was a great case study in a different aspect of his game, what I'm going to start calling the "off-ball triple threat" of curl/pop, dive/backdoor/roll, or (back/down)screen. Few players in the league are actually credible threats for all three, but Steph is astoundingly elite at all of them.
Incidentally, this year the Warriors are *loaded* with other guys who embody the off-ball triple threat: DLee, Bjelica, and OPJ, for example. Poole is getting better. Last-we-saw-of-Klay he was pretty good at it too. It's very efficient basketball, but also just fun to watch.
Cheers!
Wow, didn't think Draymond would miss a homecoming game. Guess he really is hurt.
or NOT.. #soft
No Curry, Draymond, Andre, or OPJ tonight.
Alright Poole, time to find your 3pt shot, please?
Yikes. This is like "Count to ten but you can't use vowels." Ulp.
2019 Warriors led by Bjelica baby!*
*plus the new guys
So time to guess the starting lineup:
Poole
Lee
JTA
Big Wigg
Looney
Eh?
That would be my guess
First time the depth is really put to the test tonight. Wouldn't mind Moody announcing his arrival.
That was a great breakdown. As usual I was watching at the time, yet missed everything. Poor Okoro just couldn't keep up. A couple of notes: 1. I LOVE when right out of the gate you haven't seen the play and you correctly predict exactly what's going to happen. It's hella entertaining. Consider doing an E1P that's like "Stump the Apricot" where you have the footage and have to guess right or wrong what's gonna happen. Even if you're wrong your logic will probably be superior to what happened. Stump the Apricot is a terrible name. 2. The smidge of daylight Steph needs to get off a clean three is so small. I mean, I already knew that, but it's underscored here so amazingly. 3. Kevin Love has his head down in his towel at times on the bench, even when the play is near him. Maybe it's nothing, maybe he's just tired, but he has mentioned mental health concerns in the past. I'm the last guy interested in shaming him. I'm a therapist -- just not his therapist. I point it out to say kinda "poor guy," and ruminate aloud about how tough it must be to have to keep a smile on your face and a bounce in your step for millions of viewers if you happen to not be feeling it. I don't know that's where he's at, but I can certainly say by the numbers that there are always going to be human beings not at their best, and they deserve our compassion, not judgment. It happens at your office, imagine it happening at an arena. Proud of Love for talking about it, takes guts in a macho sub-culture.
https://www.statmuse.com/musings/there-have-only-been-3-seasons-in-nba-history-where-a-player-has-average-d0c4c797
And: https://www.statmuse.com/musings/most-games-with-9-threes-in-a-season-9-steph-2x-7-steph-4-steph-4-harden-381a5dc9
It's getting obscene...
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWdzVpxvZLJ/?utm_medium=copy_link
Those are beautiful. I’m not even a sneaker guy
63149 Likes
6 minutes ago
Lowe's 10 things he likes or dislikes has a bonus for Warriors fans this week, in that Steph and the Warriors are #1 and the text is fully available in the free preview: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/32662557/lowe-10-things-simmering-sixers-sophomore-ugliness-houston-stephen-curry-induced-panic
As a casual fan (if screaming at the TV every time they turn the ball over counts as casual), I've learned more about screening watching these videos than anywhere else. Thanks for doing these breakdowns.
It's like a game of tag and the person who is "it" finds a table or tree to create some separation from the friends who are chasing him haha
But the tables and trees can move too. Much more fun. LOL
Haha yes
Somebody need to ask the warriors the real questions. Does the Cleveland visitors locker room still smell like champagne?
That smell is never coming out :)
On a completely irrelevant note, I know people always compare the 2017 Warriors vs. 96 Bulls for greatest team of all time but . . . I don't really think that one is that close (adjusting for all time great teams of course).
For me, it's far less Warriors vs Bulls, but 17 Warriors vs. 86 Celtics.
There's a great YouTube series on this, I think Clayton Crowley did it: best teams of all time. He makes a long video with lots of footage and good, unbiased logic.
Best teams I’ve seen:
1) 72 Lakers (Wilt, West, Goodrich)
2) 83 Sixers (Mo, Erving, Cheeks, Jones, Toney)
3) 17 Warriors
4) 96 Bulls
Yeah, can’t accept that the 86 Celts belong in the conversation. That team had no answer for the Lakers, who beat them in the 85 & 87 Finals. They just got lucky that the Rockets took out the Lakeshow in the playoffs.
Bill Walton played 80 games that year. The next year he played only 10 and was done. You can't really look at the 85 and 87 teams without recognizing that.
We’re not talking a pre-foot injury Walton who dominated Kareem in the 77 playoffs. We’re talking about a post-foot injury Walton who averaged 7 ppg in 86. The Celts had no answer for the Lakers speed/quickness advantages — saw it constantly in the 80’s. Walton wouldn’t change that equation.
Walton did change that equation, even though it is true he was a shadow of the (all time top 5 level) player he was earlier in his career. I can't just handwave a team that went 40-1 at home in the regular season (the all-time record) so - gonna have to disagree with you on that one.
Blah, I meant far more 17 Warriors vs. 86 Celtics in terms of GOAT teams.
86 Celtics had that 40-1 home record right? Helluv a team for sure. Damn shame about Bird's back or they could probably have kept it going.
Great stuff, as always!!
Another great video breaking down Steph and the 4th q. Not as good as Eric’s of course but still good content
https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=367&v=Qq-ewGMk73A&feature=emb_logo
Thanks James, I'm gonna put this in the article. Great stuff!
Yeah, I like Ben Taylor!
Thanks EA, love these (except the music).
Glad you can look past the music! I don’t want it to be silent, but it’s hard to make everyone happy with the choice
Maybe mix it up? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It is always the same music, which lets it fade into the background, but just like Kerr trying out different Steph rotations, a great mind always mixes it up every now and then.
Yeah this season I changed the music and now go back and forth between a few different ones. I actually got a few messages telling me they missed the old classic music haha
A brilliant mind once wrote "it's hard to make everyone happy with the choice"... can't quite remember where I read that, tho
Understood. Terrific work, and much appreciated.