Don Nelson: Draymond Green Made Playing Small Possible For Warriors

Post #1 » by **RealGM Wiretap** » Thu Jun 18, 2015 5:40 pm

Don Nelson is skeptical that the Golden State Warriors' smallball strategy will create a league-wide shift since it takes a certain collection of players.

"It started with San Antonio (last year) with the ball movement, and Golden State played that way," Nelson said.

"But you've got to have the personnel. Not everybody has Draymond Green" -- a highly skilled power forward -- "and he's the one who made it possible."

Nelson was one of the pioneers of playing small throughout his coaching career.

Via Jon Wilner/San Jose Mercury News

hyberx · Post #2 » by **hyberx** » Thu Jun 18, 2015 8:29 pm

Nellie is the master of small ball, no doubt.

Green's success might popularize this play-making, 3-point-shooting stretch 4 and 5 position trend. Not that it's something new, but it's definitely something that is overlooked in the NBA for a long time.

Pickled Prunes · Post #3 » by **Pickled Prunes** » Fri Jun 19, 2015 12:02 am

The opponent and their style of play also helped. Mozgov was only an offensive threat because Lebron made him one. GS didn't play that small in the previous rounds because of the opponents they faced. Fortunately they had the ability to play big or small based on match-ups. That is a luxury a lot of small-ball teams never had.

RSP83 · Post #4 » by **RSP83** » Fri Jun 19, 2015 4:21 am

hyberx wrote:Nellie is the master of small ball, no doubt.

Green's success might popularize this play-making, 3-point-shooting stretch 4 and 5 position trend. Not that it's something new, but it's definitely something that is overlooked in the NBA for a long time.

If only Royce White isn't such a headcase.

jozef · Post #5 » by **jozef** » Fri Jun 19, 2015 6:30 am

It is an overreaction. There was a pure example of Cavs inability to use a height advantage: Mozgov posting up Iguodala who goes in front of him and Green waiting to help from behind - instead of callin for high-low pass " a cerebral player" LeBron James forced a lob pass.
The success came from inserting Iguodala into starting lineup. The guy was +16 in first 3 games. Even if Iguodala would replace Harrison Barnes (not Andrew Bogut) it would still kill the Cavs. Part of Bogut's minus numbers in first 3 games comes to Draymon's inability to make an open 3-pointer (1-8 in first 3 games).