The Golden State Warriors victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 5 in the Western Conference semi-Finals may have future ramifications for the NBA. The injury to Kevin Durant in the third quarter triggered the Splash Brothers (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson) to return to pre-KD era form, hitting key shots to propel the Warriors to victory.
Although Durant's injury was proved to not be that serious, Durant won't return for this series. More than likely next round if the Warriors prevail and if his strained calf heals in time. But with Durant ruled out, what should be the appropriate plan Warriors head coach Steve Kerr presents to his team?
Pretty simple: play Warriors basketball.
The Warriors 2016 NBA Finals collapse to Cleveland Cavaliers exposed a big flaw within the Warriors offensive infrastructure. While the Warriors deflated teams with their pace, Curry and Thompson were and are not the type of players to take over a game without a play call. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving thrive in those scenarios, and eventually picked them apart.
So going into the 2016 offseason, it's clear the Warriors wanted another shooter but also someone who can score without needing a play call. Of course, Kevin Durant more than fit the bill. So it made complete sense then and now on why Durant signed with the franchise.
The Warriors under Kerr presented an unorthodox brand of basketball when he first took over in 2014: they utilized off-ball screens to get players open for threes, emphasized passing the ball while players who didn't have the ball attacked by cutting to open spots. Durant's addition was to be the neutralizer when the system broke down. Over the last three seasons, it's safe to say he has more than done what he was brought in to do.
However, Durant's talent as an offensive basketball savant is so grand that at times Kerr relies on Durant too heavily. Thus, the Warriors brand of basketball becomes a diluted form. With Durant out, the Rockets will be forced to face the Warriors attack 100% of the time, as opposed to maybe, 50%.
It's the main reason why Kerr's system propelled the Warriors into a dynasty and Curry/Thompson as the best shooting backcourt ever. It is no coincidence, too, that the Warriors are 29-4 when Curry plays and Durant sits.
The Warriors offense is simply more potent and less forced without Durant in the equation. This isn't to downplay Durant's importance, though. When he, Curry and Thompson are all clicking, they are nearly unbeatable. But Kerr's system is designed for Curry and Thompson to get open and to let the game come to them. Too many times this postseason it felt we watched the Splash Bros do the opposite.
With Curry and Thompson back as the focus for the offense, the Rockets will have to account for everyone is a threat to not only pass but to score and cut. With Durant, half the time he does what he was brought in to do: break the system. Without Durant, the Warriors won't have the anxiety of wondering when the offense will change. When Durant gets going, it just makes more sense to let him continue attacking. But this also leads to the Warriors doing more ball watching. Of course, this has become their gift and curse.
But just as clarity is what makes the Rockets so good, clarity is also what makes the Warriors so dangerous. Curry, Thompson and a bruising but versatile Draymond Green are the focus. Everyone else knows their roles, and it will be up to the Rockets to keep up.
Defensively, the Warriors must continue to use Green and Thompson as their best defenders. Thompson guarding James Harden may use a lot of energy, but to close out the Rockets, the Warriors have to do what's necessary. Even having Green to continue to switch on Harden will help, too. They won't be able to replace Durant's length, but the two are still very versatile defenders.
The Rockets use volume to cover for efficiency. Their brand of basketball will always keep them within striking distance in games. If the Warriors defensive efforts can keep the Rockets under or around 100 points, that should increase their chance to defeat them whether in Game 6 or Game 7. In their losses, the Rockets scored 126 and 112 points respectively. In their wins, the Rockets scored 100, 109 and 99 points. Avoiding the 18-50 from three nights and keeping them at 13-50 from three will make all the difference.
To be fair, Durant's scoring ability will be a difficult thing to replace. The Warriors have grown accustomed to the ingredients he presents for their offense, and overall it did mesh well with their system. But Game 5 in the fourth quarter gave the sports world hope that the pre-Durant Splash Brothers were still here. In order to beat the Rockets, they won't have to be superhuman. Their only requirement is to run their system.
So while it will still be a tough test, Durant's absence will force the Warriors to rely on the tenants that made them a force in the first place. The series will be won from the true style and natures of both teams: volume or efficiency. Team basketball or hero basketball. Pace and space or math.
Both teams have the opportunity to win this series. But the Warriors system and brand of basketball changed the league for the better. on Friday night at 9 PM Eastern time, Kerr, Green, and the Splash Brothers have a chance to remind us how.
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