23 Comments
Jan 1, 2021Liked by Eric Apricot

Happy New Year to all! Wonderful explanation Mr. Apricot, the only thing more chill than your background music is your vocal tone. Apparently learning can be relaxing. My rookie question would be are play signs ever disguised? It seems that in a playoff series an appropriate defense could be initiated if there was an understanding of what was coming.

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Good question. GSW hasn’t changed the Head Tap call ever as far as I can tell. Advance scouts go to games (with teams mutual cooperation) and write down the play calls and diagram plays. And a good play should have options to handle typical counters any way.

In playoff series, after a couple games, teams know the other team’s base playbook anyway

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Since the Warriors have so much committed to payroll, I’m sure they appreciate when these E1P’s are free.

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Apricot I love these so much sir!

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This E1P paradoxically gives me more and less hope for the team because you can see how disjointed and rough the play execution is right now.

For the near term, there will definitely be a bunch more losses because ultimately those shots that Wigs took were not really good looks, so you can't expect those to go in reliably enough to win a close game.

But it also shows how much the team can improve just by having some goddamn continuity, injuries/coronavirus precautions permitting. By the end of the season, everyone on the roster had better be able to run Head Tap properly at least.

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By the way, happy new year everyone! May it be better than this torturous 2020.

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Jan 1, 2021Liked by Eric Apricot

Thank you, Eric. These are so cool, and very helpful for the less sophisticated (though passionate) Warrior fans.

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In case it's not clear, I'm speaking of fans like myself...

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Seems like Wigg could be getting more out of that first screen with a little jab step in the opposite direction: feint across the key and then pop to the top (or the reverse). They're just running off the screen straight to their spots. Ugh

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Still learning, no doubt. Give it some time. As demonstrated by Wiseman in the vid, first they have to get to their spots!

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Dec 31, 2020Liked by Eric Apricot

Interesting to see this broken down, particularly seeing how rough the execution is, albeit affective.

When Looney catches the ball at the top of the key it looks like a game of hot potato, leaving the impression he is not comfortable with the ball in his hands. Seeing head tap broken down, I realize what looks like getting rid of the ball is actually running the play to perfection and not giving the defense time to react.

Also, you can really see how effective Wiseman is setting screen. His natural stance has his legs pretty wide, which makes it difficult for the defender to get around. Next step is to see him dive to the basket off the screen so he can box out for the put back and/or set up in the dunker's spot.

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Dec 31, 2020Liked by Eric Apricot

Very cool to see how Wiggins can utilize this play so effectively. Also, a really good illustration of how the team could benefit from more time and practice together.

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Tbh I don’t think Wiggs uses the play well, but can’t complain about the results in that game.

Two things he could do:

- look to pass out of the deep post

- attack faster on the catch after the zipper

KD also did those same inefficiencies, but when you’re KD, you can get away with a LOT and still be good on O

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When Wiggs and Oubre see a double/triple-team, their first instinct seems to be "ok let me see if I can beat them" rather than "where is the open guy?" Wiggs is a little better and that play that resulted in the step-back three worked out but obviously that play should've been an open three for DLee or Wanamaker

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It /is/ mystifying. I guess it comes with being hyper-athletic, even for the NBA. Seems to make guys think they can always beat their guy.

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I trust the coaches on helping them with this. And I include Draymond when I say that.

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Dec 31, 2020Liked by Eric Apricot

It looks like Det. covered all the variations pretty well. Wiggins was pretty hot. I'm not sure GSW can depend on that every game.

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We will be lucky to see a stretch from Wiggins like that once a month

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I think a typical night for him will be 2 less 3’s made and one more 2 made, so about 24 points a night on about 8 for 19 shooting wi 3 for 8 on 3’s.. He’s clearly going to get a lot of shots leading the non-Steph minutes.

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Also, Wanamaker yelling “head tap” while tapping your head is pretty hilarious. Let there be no mistake about it!

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Not as hilarious as if he were yelling 'head tap' while pounding his chest...

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Interesting plays. Seems like the Warriors are relying a lot on Wiggins for shot making. Thanks for the analysis!

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Definitely seems to be Wiggins Time when Steph sits.

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