TAKEAWAYS FROM THE MOST INTERESTING SERIES IN THE LAST DECADE

Warriors vs. Thunder.  Skill vs. Size.  Shooting vs. Athleticism. Call it what you will, but I’m going to call it the most interesting series in the last decade.  The narrative was a sports writers dream and it lived up to the hype.

Here are four things we can takeaway from the Western Conference Finals…

1. GOLDEN STATE HAS MADE THE 3 POINT SHOT “THE GREAT SEPARATER”

Let’s not make this more than it is.  The 3 point shot used to be the “The Great Equalizer.”  The Golden State Warriors have made it “The Great Separater.”   They have the 2 most deadly shooters in NBA history on the same team.  You can say whatever you want to about Durant and Westbrook not stepping up.  I’m not buying it.  The 3 point shot was the only significant advantage Golden State had in this series.  Just look at some of the stats…

• FG%: OKC- 43.5%  GSW- 44.2%  Advantage- Push
• FTM/%: OKC- 155/77%  GSW- 119/72%  Advantage- OKC
• Rebounds per game: OKC 48.1  GSW- 43  Advantage- OKC
• Assists/Assist to TO Ratio: OKC- 147/1.56  GSW 154/1.54  Advantage- Push
• 3’s Made/%: OKC 55/32%  GSW- 90/40%  Advantage- GSW

What players can takeaway…

Do not underestimate the value that of the 3 point shot.  If you can shoot it well (by well I mean 38%+ in games), there will always be a place for you on a good team.  Even if you don’t make a single 3 in a game, you can add offensive value simply by being in the game to spread the floor for your teammates.

Look at the 4th quarter game 7.  The Thunder seemed so spread out on defense.  When Steph, Klay, Draymond, or Livingston would drive, there was so much space inside.  Conversely, every time Westbrook or Durant looked to drive there was a cluster of Warrior bodies clogging the lane.  When they would kick out to the open man, OKC’s guys looked like they didn’t even want to take a 3 point shot.  This allowed Golden State to crowd the lane.  Great shooting spreads the floor.  A spread floor leads to an easy game for the offense. 

Get in the gym this summer and do the work necessary to make yourself a better 3 point shooter.

2. BAD BODY LANGUAGE CAN BE THE NAIL IN YOUR SEASON’S COFFIN

The Thunder’s body language in the second half of game 7 really hurt them.  As I watched one example of bad body language after another, I could literally see the energy being drained from their team.  They didn’t get through screens like they had before.  Their transition defense suffered.  They did not rebound as well.  These are effort aspects of the game.  Instead of making the extra effort to do these little things well, OKC wanted to point a finger and let the world know it was someone else’s fault.  Even the best players can get sucked into this energy vampiric state of mind.  But you just can’t do it if winning is the top priority.  You have to choose winning over your feelings. 

Not only could you see the Thunder’s energy level decreasing, but it was obvious how much the Warriors fed off of the bad body language of OKC.  They were energized.  They smelled blood in the water, and went for the kill… and they got it.  You can’t let a championship team see you bickering or vulnerable.

What players can take away…

When your team is facing adversity:

• Be an energy giver, not an energy vampire
• Do the little things(dive for loose balls, get through screens, take charges, communicate in transition D, rebound, etc.)
• Carry yourself as if you are unphased, unshakeable.
• Win one possession at a time.

3. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF ROLE PLAYERS

With all the talk about Curry and Thompson, the impact of the Golden State’s other players has been huge during their last two playoff runs.  With the series on the line in games 6 and 7, these guys stepped up and made play after play.  Shaun Livingston, Harrison Barnes, Mo-Buckets, and Andre Igoudala attacked the game with no fear.  They know their role on the team and they embrace it.  Are they capable of more?  Of course they are, but they’re about winning.  It is beautiful to watch.

What players can take away…

Put your ego on the shelf and do your job.  Even if you have a small role on the team, ferociously attack it every day.  If you do this, you will be ready to step up for your team when your number is called.  You could be the difference maker in a championship run.

 

4. STEPH CURRY AND KLAY THOMPSON ARE FROM ANOTHER PLANET

Okay.  Players, let me level with you.  Steph and Klay are not normal.  These guys are anomalies.  The degree of difficulty of the shots that they make from behind the arc on a consistent basis is unprecedented.

Here’s the thing.  I’m just going to say it.  Their shot selection is terrible for nearly everyone in the world besides them.  Many of these shots aren’t even good shots for anyone else in the NBA.  But they keep hitting them.  And we keep thinking it is awesome because well… it is. But just because what they do is amazing does not mean we should be doing it when we play.

Shot selection is dynamic.  Shot quality will be different for each player because it is based on the individual player’s skill.

Example:  What is a good shot for Steph Curry is not necessarily a good shot for Draymond Green.

Remember when Allen Iverson exploded onto the NBA superstar scene.  A.I. was special, but he left And 1 mixtape tours and a generation of players wearing arm sleeves for cosmetic reasons just trying to cross people up in his wake.  It took nearly a decade for the game to recover from the abundance of arbitrary dribbling that Iverson inspired.  I hope we don’t have the same issue with Steph Curry.  I definitely could see him inspiring a generation of mouth-piece chewers that live to take high degree of difficulty 3’s.  For the sake of your own game, let’s call it what it is… Bad shots.

What players can take away…

Let their incredible shooting ability and work ethic inspire you, but don’t try to be them.  Their shot selection is not recommended for most NBA players.  So why would a high school player think he should shoot those shots.  Enjoy watching them play.  Learn all you can from them.  But when it comes to their shot selection… PLEASE, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.

Steph is great for the game, but trying to be him right now will be bad for your game.