Warriors Breakdown: Three-Ring Circus

Thursday’s Nets-Warriors game had it all.

A New Jersey double-digit third-quarter lead; a 22-0 Golden State fourth quarter run; a New Jersey comeback to reclaim the lead; a hectic final two minutes; a point guard not named Jason Kidd registering a triple-double; hack-a-Boone in the third quarter; and most importantly for Golden State, an exciting 121-119 Golden State come-from-behind victory.

The Warriors' defensive philosophy was less (or none)-is-more.  Their offensive gameplan relied on little more than iso’s, post-ups, and screen/rolls, and their guards spent all day cherry-picking in New Jersey’s back court.

Still, because the Warriors were far more athletic than New Jersey, Golden State was able to put up points at a blistering pace which the Nets couldn't totally match.

Baron Davis (10-22 FG, 3-8 3FG, 12 REB, 10 AST, 5 STL, 2 TO, 25 PTS) is clearly the ringleader and main attraction of Golden State’s three-ring-circus.

Playing loose and unstructured, Davis was given free reign to go wild against the Nets. Maybe he’d drive and dish, maybe he’d shoot a quick three, maybe he’d post up, maybe he’d simply reverse the ball from the top of the key; the guessing game was part of the routine.

But whatever he decided to do always left the fans screaming for more—and the Nets screaming for help.

Davis loved to use his right hand around screens, but also went left in early offense when he found seams to the basket. Either way, all of his penetrations and finishes were done with tremendous strength and creativity. High bank shots, reverse layups, up-and-unders, step-back jumpers, no shot was too difficult for Davis to take, and hit.

Davis had no problems finding the paint and dishing to cutters, or kicking it back to the perimeter for open shooters.

Knowing Jason Kidd’s rebounding prowess, Davis was wise not to join his fellow guards in racing up the court on every shot attempt. Davis was the only Warrior who attacked rebounds rather than waiting for them to drop into their hands.

Except for an absentminded third quarter where he missed three layups, made a stupid jump pass to Josh Boone, and had Vince Carter pickpocket him from behind, Davis was no match for Jason Kidd (too slow) or Vince Carter (too soft) to defend.

Davis also played some good defense, using quick hands to pick off sloppy dribbles and telegraphed passes for five steals.

While Davis has never had any intentions of running an offense, and has always looked for his own shot first, last, and always, the Nellie Ball system gives The Baron infinite freedom to take the first good look he sees. That freedom gives Davis the confidence to pass the ball to his teammates in any situation.

It’s a flawed strategy, for sure, but as long as Golden State’s up-tempo offense generates enough shots for Jackson, Harrington, Barnes, et. al., then nobody on the Warriors will have reason to complain over their role.

Davis wasn’t the only significant contributor to Golden State’s victory over New Jersey.

Monta Ellis is Golden State’s lesser version of Leandro Barbosa. Lesser because, while he’s just as fast as Barbosa (if not faster), Ellis is as poor of a decision maker, and an inferior ball handler that makes it difficult for him to create his own shot.

Against the Nets though, Ellis would leak out on shot attempts, catch an outlet pass at halfcourt, and race Jason Kidd to the hoop. Since New Jersey’s transition defense was abhorrent all game long, Ellis was able to tally a ridiculous 39 points on 13-18 shooting, nearly all coming in transition.

Al Harrington has the body of a power forward, the game of a two-guard, and the psyche of an infant. Still, his explosive long-range bombing (4-4 FG, 3-3 3FG, 11 PTS) over Malik Allen ignited a 22-0 fourth quarter run.

Stephen Jackson (5-14 FG, 1-4 3FG, 3 REB, 7 AST, 4 TO, 1 STL, 4 TO, 13 PTS) was remarkably bad. The ball always came to a stop when Jackson massaged it, either backing his defender in the post, or dribbling aimlessly on the wing.

Plus, Jackson’s high assist total was misleading. While a few of his passes were legit, such as a first quarter drive and dish to a cutting Ellis for a layup, most of his assists came on wide open fast-break outlet passes or simple passes around the perimeter where shooters would jack a shot up on the catch.

Every shot Jackson took was the result of a one-on-one situation, and not once did Jackson maneuver himself in a position to be a finisher on a play. Plus, one of Jackson’s five baskets came as the result of a questionable goaltend, and another came after he took an extra step which the referees decided was somehow completely fine.

The most disappointing part about Jackson’s game was that he was passive, timid, and soft while defending the cowardly Vince Carter. Jackson is the only guy on the team that takes any pride in his ability to lock a player up on defense. If Vince Carter is carving up S-Jack, then Golden State doesn’t have a prayer against the elite Western Conference teams.

Can Golden State’s helter-skelter circus basketball succeed in the playoffs?

Yes, but only with the following caveats.

— Golden State must face a team with inferior athleticism.
— Golden State must face an offense easily suckered into playing out-of-control.
— Golden State must face a team that will allow itself to be bullied around.
— Golden State must face a team with small guards.
— Golden State must face a team prone to losing focus on both ends of the court.
— Golden State must face a team with a paucity of solid individual defenders and a poor concept of help defense.
— Golden State must face a team that wont hit clutch baskets.
— Golden State must face a team that can’t match them in firepower; i.e., the Suns.

The only talented Western Conference teams that Golden State can possibly knock off are limited to Dallas, Houston, Portland, Los Angeles, and New Orleans.

It's happened before. Don't count on it happening again.