NBA: Duncan feels uneasy coaching Warriors

Chapter 240 The coach has the advantage

Other teams are gradually finishing the series.

Both the Cavaliers and Clippers completed sweeps of their opponents.

However, compared with the Cavaliers facing a bunch of weak teams in the Eastern Conference, the Clippers swept the defending champions, and this sweep was full of gold.

The Warriors defeated the Rockets 4-1 and met the Clippers at the top of the Western Conference.

In the Eastern Conference, the Eagles advanced.

This Eastern Conference game is a little more exciting, but not much.

The Hawks are number one in the regular season, but their performance in the playoffs is actually quite stumbling.

The shortcomings of civilian teams being weak in the playoffs are reflected.

It is simply incomparable to the Cavaliers led by the Big Three.

Generally speaking, the more intense competition is still in the West.

Both the Warriors and Clippers have been rated as one of the super teams. Now that the two teams can meet at the top of the Western Conference, it also proves that the expectations for them have not been fulfilled.

Even when the Clippers faced the defending champion Timberwolves in the last round, they were almost unanimously optimistic about advancing.

But this round, between the Warriors and the Clippers, none of the major authorities are so optimistic about the Clippers again.

To analyze this series between the Warriors and the Clippers, we must first analyze the Clippers' lineup structure this season.

Why can the Clippers suddenly emerge as a super team?
First of all, at the beginning of the season, the Clippers made a huge trade.

At the beginning, no authoritative organization was optimistic about the Clippers trade, and they were not optimistic about the Clippers in the new season.

In the strength rankings at the beginning of the season, the Clippers were once rated at the bottom of the top ten by major mainstream media.

Because no matter how you look at it, the Clippers have been weakened.

Paul's replacement with Lillard would be considered a downgrade, Griffin's replacement with George would be considered a replacement, but throwing out an extra Jordan, who was already almost an All-Star, only to replace him with Batum is too outrageous.

At the same time, there is also the operation of using the team's immediate combat power to exchange for draft picks.

After the change, the only center left in the Clippers' lineup was Davis, who was then traded away by Su Chen.

Without a center, the Clippers can only rely on two rookies to top the team. This makes the Clippers obviously have shortcomings in the new season.

But the emergence of super rookie Jokic changed the Clippers' pattern.

According to the scouting report, on multiple lists that reflect player influence this season, newcomer Jokic is in the top three of many lists.

Even if you only look at the stage where Jokic played his best, he could even reach the first place.

Jokic's style of play is very easy to fill up high-level statistics, and he has a variety of offensive methods.

Three-pointers, low post, and mid-range almost cover all reasonable shooting areas.

At the same time, Jokic has the most historically unparalleled passing ability of a center.

The Clippers are equivalent to parachuting out a superstar player for nothing, and because Jokic can do everything on the offensive end, this even covers up the weaknesses of Lillard and George.

George and Lillard are both types who have difficulty handling the ball after dealing with high-intensity double-teams. George can basically only pass the ball out but it is difficult to seize the opportunity, while Lillard's more method of handling is to attack against people. .

But Jokic is different. High-intensity flanking means that he will be very aggressive. Faced with this aggressive defensive method, Jokic is more able to calmly find an opening and pass the ball.

Many times Jokic just makes a casual move, and the ball goes into the hands of an open teammate, and the play does not feel like a ball but like art.

Coupled with the fact that there is a blue-collar center Capela who is above the standard, the Clippers' weakest point has turned into the strongest point.

This is why the Clippers can truly become a super team.

However, the Timberwolves did not exploit the Clippers' weaknesses at all.

Even if the team is not suitable for using three-pointers, Rivers still forces the use of three-pointers to target the Clippers' weaknesses.

Rivers didn't trust Middleton at first. Judging from Middleton's last game, the Clippers' defense of three-pointers with the ball is indeed relatively weak.

The Clippers' problem with the defensive weakness of three-pointers with the ball lies with Jokic.

It is true that Jokic can be said to be very comprehensive on the offensive end, with all-inclusive offensive organization.

However, on the defensive end, because Jokic's speed does not meet the mobility of centers in this era, most people can only choose to retreat when defending three-pointers with the ball.

For ordinary shooters, the Clippers still have defensive rotations that can impose some restrictions on shooters.

But for elite shooters, it is not that simple to rely on help defense to defend pick-and-roll three-pointers with the ball.

The Warriors have Curry and Thompson, and the Splash Brothers are both good three-pointers.

Especially Curry, his shooting speed is as fast as shaking the ball out. With a little gap and shooting space, he can complete a shot of good quality.

With Curry's shooting speed, if Jokic chooses to retreat, it will not be easy for the Clippers to rely on help defense rotation.

And Lillard, the Clippers' second core player, has never been a defensive champion.

When Jokic and Lillard form the first and fifth positions, it is difficult for them to deal with super guard-level players.

So in this preview of the Warriors and Clippers, the Warriors still have the upper hand.

Moreover, the Warriors' inside position is not necessarily something Jokic can handle.

Chandler was the former DPOY, and Draymond Green was also selected to the defensive first team this season. The Warriors' interior line is obviously not a soft persimmon.

Jokic's versatile offense may not be fully utilized, and Curry will use it as a cash machine sight on the offensive end.

Besides, even if Jokic can barely handle the Warriors' interior, Jokic's more offense must be two-point and two-point in order to be safe.

In comparison, Curry can make three-pointers.

At the same time, there is Thompson, an elite shooter, so that the opponent does not dare to target Curry too much.

The reason why there are still a small number of people who do not support the Warriors.

One is because the Warriors' small forward is almost useless. The original champion Richard Jefferson has begun to decline after winning the championship, and he is too old to be the starting small forward all the time.

Corey Brewer's ability obviously does not meet the starting small forward level of a super team.

His body is on the thin side and he will suffer in confrontations against some strong strikers.

If Su Chen hadn't intercepted Iguodala, then the inside would have turned into Chandler's Warriors, the small forward and Iguodala would have been a top-notch lineup.

This is also the reason why Lacob has never had a good impression of Su Chen.

Secondly, it’s because of the coach.

Cole is indeed a capable coach. He has demonstrated his abilities in this season's regular season and in the playoffs against the Mavericks and Rockets.

He has been able to use the passing and cutting system in an extraordinary amount, and the team's running-in system is also running in very well.

But even so, it is still hard for fans to forget how Cole was suppressed when facing Suchen last season.

Suchen's operation of playing with Cole while applauding was still too profound.

Therefore, we are not all optimistic about the Warriors.

ESPN made a lineup analysis for the series between the two teams.No matter what the actual game is like, let’s analyze it on paper first.

Moreover, I have done a pre-match analysis between the Clippers and the Timberwolves before, and the response was pretty good. If there is traffic, I will continue to do it.

The first is naturally the comparison of point guards.

The Clippers' starting point guard is Lillard, and the Warriors' starting point guard is Curry.

Lillard and Curry's playing styles are somewhat similar, but not completely.

For example, Lillard's off-ball ability is not as good as Curry's. He needs to hold the ball a lot to be influential.

At the same time, Lillard does not have Curry's ability to distribute the ball when surrounded. In terms of dealing with flanking attacks, Curry can pass the test.

Being able to truly deal with flanking attacks is the standard for a superstar.

Although the two of them often play three-pointers with the ball, there is a gap in their shooting percentages, and Curry can cope with more situations.

Obviously, from the point guard point of view, the Warriors have a huge advantage.

The two are not even the same level of players.

Then there is the comparison of the starting shooting guards of the two teams.

Strictly speaking, the Clippers' shooting guard should be Reggie, but Reggie was moved to the bench by Suchen, so this position became George.

The Warriors' shooting guard is Thompson.

It's not a good comparison between the two, because one is an elite shooter, and the other is an elite defender and forward with ball-handling offensive power.

Thompson's defense is not bad either. Originally, the two should be roughly even.

But since George's role in the Clippers has been reduced and Thompson is the core of one of the Splash Brothers, Thompson's offensive ability will be maximized.

And George plays more of a role outside the system, occasionally making pull-up three-pointers and taking away part of the ball.

Therefore, the Warriors still have a slight advantage as the starting shooting guard.

Then there's the small forward position.

In fact, the small forwards of both teams are not very strong.

Corey Brewer's integration into the Warriors system has turned into a 3D model that shoots more three-pointers and then defends.

However, due to his own limited talent, being a 3D player is not a competent 3D player. He still has to occasionally participate in chaotic battles to reflect his value.

In this regard, Jeff Green is still better than Brewer in terms of functionality.

His defense is more pressing, and his ability to finish inside the basket is much better than Brewer's.

It's a bit interesting at power forward.

What Draymond Green of the Warriors does is more of an organizer, and his defensive ability is also very strong.

The Clippers' Batum is somewhat similar to Draymond Green. He will also be responsible for the forwarding task.

It's just that compared to Draymond Green, he has very few ball rights, unlike Draymond Green who has a lot of ball rights for the Warriors.

In terms of organization and defense, Draymond Green is still much better than Batum.

After all, Draymond Green has just been selected for the first round this season. Batum has no honors in the NBA except for awards such as Best of the Week.

However, Draymond Green's disadvantage is that his three-pointers are unstable. Even if Cole asks him to practice three-pointers, Draymond Green's three-pointers can still be released occasionally.

Batum needs to be more functional. His three-pointers are relatively more stable. If you let him shoot open three-pointers, he is quite accurate.

But even if Draymond Green has a three-point problem, judging from the performance of the two, the Warriors still have the advantage in this position.

Then there is the biggest difference between the two sides, the center position.

If the Warriors are a team with a core of guards, then the Clippers are a center-driven team.

With the center as the core, in fact, under the rules of this era, it can almost be said to be an inverse version of choice.

However, Jokic is almost omnipotent on the offensive end and can handle all the ball rights, which is in line with the position of being a core player with the ball.

The path of a ball-carrying core is still possible. The Cavaliers led by James, the strongest team in the Eastern Conference, are actually a ball-carrying and core team.

He can score by himself, organize his teammates, and make them functional.

Top-level offense coupled with top-level organization, with a big core holding the ball and at least playing ball, will be a style of play that is very attractive to fans.

But it's hard to say that the Clippers must have a huge advantage at the center position.

Although the Warriors' center is not a top center, defensively, veteran Chandler is very experienced.

Especially on the defensive back, Chandler's protection of the basket is very good.

If Jokic can't beat Chandler's defense, then Jokic's point is not only not an advantage but a disadvantage.

Because Curry will definitely hit Jokic on this point.

Curry's normal style of play is to target the opponent's center, let alone a large and slow center like Jokic.

Jokic's ability to protect the frame is actually quite good, but the rules of this era are not suitable for slow-moving centers like Jokic. Top three-point guards like Curry must punish the opponent's slow-moving big center.

Before the defensive rules changed, Roy Hibbert once led the Pacers and the Heat's Big Three to the tiebreaker. At that time, George's performance could only be described as average.

But after the rules were changed, slow-moving big centers like Roy Hibbert suddenly changed from top centers who could compete with the Heat's Big Three in seven games to zero-egg centers.

Of course, this also has some problems with Roy Hibbert himself, but when the big rules prevail, it is unfriendly to slow centers.

The Clippers' ability to sweep all the way to promotion is actually due to the opponent's style of play.

Although the Spurs have three-pointers, their style of play still favors the old-school style of play, without the kind of three-pointers that involve holding the ball and taking a lot of shots.

The Timberwolves are poor in three-pointers as a team, and Middleton, who is better at three-pointers, has not been reused by Rivers in many games.

The current Warriors are truly a super team of this era.

This series is also a golden test for Jokic.

Is this rising star in Los Angeles a true superstar, or just another Roy Hibbert?

Then there is the comparison between the coaches of both sides.

It can be said that the name Su Chen is the important factor that really makes it impossible to draw a conclusion about this round.

Won championships with different teams for two consecutive years.

At the same time, facing Cole last season can be said to be a crushing from the coaching level.

The contrast between Cole and Suchen is quite obvious.

Both of them are relatively new to the head coaching profession.

One has already won two championships, and the other has only achieved a good record in the regular season, and was crushed in a direct confrontation with Su Chen.

(End of this chapter)