NBA Finals: Stephen Curry and Golden State Warriors Defense Was a Deadly Combination for the Boston Celtics

In these years I have seen NBA Finals with the Warriors protagonists the ritual never fails. Before each game, almost an hour and a half before, Stephen Curry try those shots so varied – some crazy as they go viral on the networks – and from a long distance. Later, during matches and already dressed in the player’s uniform, the Golden State star performs that extensive offensive repertoire. Nothing is a coincidence. The curry starts to toss floats, then hooks, then with changed foot and hand, continues to shoot after dribbling and continues from 8 and 9 meters. Pull and pull relentlessly. He stops, goes to the foul line and then continues to test the basket again, but already exiting imaginary screens and so on until he finishes his own warm-up ritual in every game.

On Friday night, at the TD Garden in Boston, he reflected on the field everything he had tried in the previous e it was uncontrollable for the Celticsgiving the feeling that every ball that passed through his hands had a sure destination for conversion.

They run him, physically play him from the start, try to deny him the exits by blocking them and try to never let him go, but Curry continues to prove himself an expert at receiving the ball, in direct and indirect curtains. To add insult to injury, they always chase him, but from behind. They never break his screen or neutralize his movement in circles by denying the fast lane. If the big one comes out, he escapes with a short guard dribble and evades any attempt to stop him. If you have changed, you move them in such a way as to cause an upset in your assignment.

When it happens, it continues and in motion it receives again. There is no way to deny him possession. Always, and with a higher percentage – merit of him – than him, he tries to receive and convict with any of the releases described above. Curry had 43 points in episode 4 of the finals where the Warriors beat the Celtics 107-97 equalize the 2-2 series and regain the advantage on the pitch. But it wasn’t the most striking thing, he transformed those 43 points by shooting only 26 shots. Marvelous.

Golden State didn’t just stand out for its individual work. He also had a collective defense which was a web for any perimeter player trying to attack the basket. Both teams defend equally, they control the ball well (except Curry, of course) and jump in all sorts of help. The difference is that those led by Steve Kerr they are faster to recover and many recoveries lead to stealing the ball with a fascinating technique of using the arms. On the other hand, Boston confuses the offensive path on many possessions. They go to the basket and always end up forcing shots. In this series, according to the biotype of the five initials in the field (practically with only one internal), it deserves that in each penetration there is an open passage and more to punish said action before the defensive help ends.

Boston clashed this Friday against a multitude of legs and arms in every attack. Being trapped by the defensive, the Ime Udoka they still suffered a lot of losses that resulted mainly in offensive responses on the open field, the terrain in which the Warriors feel most comfortable.

Beyond the task of the man of the night, it was creepy that of jordan poole. It is a mini curry. At just 22, his speed and decision-making skills are incredible. Sometimes he even surprises his own teammates by the speed with which he shoots. The two in court CHAOS.

Of course Klay ThompsonSlowly he is entering the series and his presence deserves extreme attention, like that of his two companions. If you add it Andrea Wigginsand the offensive setup is deadly. The spaces appear like the rest of the perimeter is so gravitating. The only one that gives defensive advantage and relief is Draymond Green, who to my liking still played very badly and with too many minutes on the pitch. He doesn’t look at the circle and his shots lack conviction. He shows up every night that passes.

Wiggins and Thompson, in the defensive phase, literally canceled from the field Jaylene Brown and much more Jayson Tatum, the figures of the Celtics. It was the key to building a solid defense supported by those individual assignments and backed by collective assists.

Boston missed a huge opportunity, but it wasn’t a bad night. It was solely due to Golden Statewhich did not allow him to reach the offensive volume and in many possessions he invited badly taken and forced shots. UNCOMFORTABLE BOSTON JUICE.

So he continues, once again he moves to San Francisco, where once again the Celtics will test his character and his stats, the ones that make him come back after a bad result or a game.

The NBA Finals have been barbaric and time will tell who can best adapt their attacks. The Warriors depend too much on their star Stephen Curry and the Celtics need his offensive fluidity, to play more and from the inside out and not from the perimeter to the edge. The table is served.