What We've Learned About Golden State Warriors in Their Quest for a Championship

The Golden State Warriors are in the hunt for their first NBA championship in 40 years by using a faster tempo, spreading the ball around and playing sticky defense.

We’ve learned that this group can regroup at a moment’s notice. Head coach Steve Kerr and his staff continue to make adjustments on the fly. The Warriors have met expectations and even raised them to the next level. They expect to win the title, and anything less would be a disappointment.

As strong as the regular season proved with a franchise-record 67 wins, the Warriors were rarely tested compared to the playoff atmosphere. Golden State has proved its mettle with comeback wins and the ability to limit star players.

The Warriors had their way with James Harden, one of the NBA's most dangerous scorers, in the final seconds of their Game 2 99-98 win over the Houston Rockets on May 21.

The Dubs found another level with their 115-80 dismantling in Game 3 on May 23. The offense committed only one first-half turnover. The defense held the Rockets to only 37 points after two periods.

However, all of that positivity took a blow in Houston’s 128-115 Game 4 win on May 25. Stephen Curry took a nasty fall, and the Rockets couldn’t miss. We're headed for at least a Game 5.

Here's what we know so far.

What Is Working: The Motion Offense

Golden State has succeeded this season with the switch from the primarily isolation-based offense to a team that cannot wait to make the extra pass.

The additional helper creates space for hitting the three-pointer or making a run to the net. Curry is league MVP, the leader and the rock this franchise has been missing for years.

The Warriors' play has also paved the way for Klay Thompson to be more aggressive with the ball, forcing the defender to take an extra step back. He is comfortable driving and finishing at any time on the court.

Draymond Green has added two more approaches to his resume. He can step back and hit the clutch three, but he can attack the full court with his dribble.

Andrew Bogut is getting more looks in the postseason. He is the easy alley-oop recipient and can be successful converting shots in the post.

The bench is another dangerous weapon. It can can take over ballgames when the first team is struggling and coexist well with the starters.

The end result is the pass–friendly offense creating spacing and room for open jumpers or opportunities for highlight shows.

The Switch Defense

Golden State is a tough group to penetrate on the defensive end.

Looking at the playoff stats, the two fiercest Warrior defenders sit at the top of defensive ratings with Bogut (94.7) and Green (96.4). The team as a whole has lowered its regular-season rating (101.86) to 100.7 in the playoffs before the start of Game 4.

The Warriors' switching style of play, where the next man in the area slides over, limits the opponent’s spacing. Having five capable defenders on the floor at most times gives the Warriors added ammunition.

The versatility of each player lets Kerr and Ron Adams use different players to stymie opponents.

According to Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle, Kerr was happy with Barnes' defense on Harden in Game 3.

"With any great player, you just have to give him different looks," Kerr said. "You can’t feed him the same thing over and over again. We tried to mix it up a little more tonight. I think that’s the strength of our team: our versatility defensively."

The staff will study the lackluster defensive effort provided in Game 4. Adjustments will certainly be made in order for the Warriors to take control of Game 5 and close out the series.

The Small Lineup

Golden State has done a great job exploiting opponents with its smaller lineup. Green manning the center position, along with everything else he brings to the floor, opens up holes against opponents.

The quicker, smaller group takes advantage of opposing bigs. This unit can dart in for the quick basket or space the floor to get an open jumper.

Usually teams give up a lot on defense when running this type of strategy; not here with the Warriors.

Green’s strength and basketball IQ make him a formidable opponent, even at 6’7”. He is quicker and can beat opponents to the ball or spots on the floor.

Barnes is another asset that is used in this style. He can play the 4 position with ease, and his athletic skills help him push the pace on offense.

The known quantities of the Splash Brothers or backups Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa can make the transition game a nightmare for slower lineups.

This group can't be used at all times. However, Kerr has been effective employing this unit to help secure victories.

What Plagues Golden State: No Lead Is Safe

The Warriors did a better job in the regular season putting away teams early and holding on to big leads. The playoffs have shown a different story.

In the first-round series against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Warriors took their foot off the gas and let the Pels almost walk away with a victory in Game 1.

The first two games against Houston felt the same way.

Per Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News, Bogut points out that leads can easily evaporate:

"

(In a) playoff series, it's never going to end with an 18-point lead when you have it, I don't think. It rarely happens. I think it's good for us -- that Memphis series, I think, was key. Even New Orleans to a point where we had some close games, had to scrap it out and claw and get stops and figure out what that feels like...It's good the first two series has prepared us for a team like Houston.

"

Golden State needs to keep the foot on the gas. Every possession matters, and the game isn’t over until the final buzzer sounds.

Kerr has done a good job juggling the rotations. However, as Golden State gets deeper into the playoffs, there is less room for error.

Champions Know How to Finish

The Warriors have been successful with an 11-3 playoff record through 14 games and are one win away from a berth in the NBA Finals.

They have escaped with victories in last-second battles and have come back from a 20-point deficit. However, their best was Game 3 in Houston, where Golden State was dominant on both sides of the court.

Per Sam Amick with USA Today, assistant coach Ron Adams broke down the success of Game 3 in Houston.

"I think what a lot of people may not understand is that our offense tonight was integral to our defensive success—integral," Adams said. "When we produce low turnovers in a game, and we're ready defensively, then we become a pretty special team."

After such a dominant effort and Houston’s season on the verge of ending, the Warriors came out with a dud in Game 4. Golden State allowed 45 points in the opening quarter and looked listless. Kerr did not want to see this in a potential close-out game.

It didn’t help that Curry took a nasty fall; however, the team relied on way too many threes (46 attempts) and not enough ball movement.

The empty looks fueled the Rockets' transition game.

Kerr is a good communicator, but he can’t let his team go into a game unprepared like what happened in Game 4.

He has the championship experience and will most likely have his team prepared at home, where the Warriors hold a 45-3 record this season. No doubt, they do not want to have to return to Houston for a potential Game 6.

Looking Forward

If the Warriors can win the series, they will most likely face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, as Cleveland holds a 3-0 lead over the Atlanta Hawks through May 25.

Cleveland has one of the most dangerous players in the Association: LeBron James.

Kevin Love is out, and Kyrie Irving is on the mend with an injured left knee, yet Cleveland still has quite a few weapons with J.R. Smith and Matthew Dellavedova excelling.

The Warriors beat the Cavs at home on Jan. 9 without the services of James, but then they went to Cleveland and were beaten pretty soundly by LeBron's 42-point effort in a 110-99 loss on Feb. 26.

Golden State will need to do a better job with its defensive schemes to handle James and company. It will have to use a complete team effort to cover everyone.

In an article by Marcus Thompson of Bay Area News Group, Barnes summed up the effort needed to win the defensive battle.

"It's a collective effort," Barnes said. "What's allowed us to lock in, especially on these key guys and make it tough on them, is we literally have all five guys willing to help. Not only do you have Andrew Bogut on the protection, you have the guards digging in. Everybody is on the same page."

The Warriors' mission is a simple one, but it is still five wins away.

Forty years is a long time, but this squad wants to start a new legacy of Warriors basketball.

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