Hello everyone! After a long break, we are here with an exciting topic. We will be discussing the offensive strategies of the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Boston Celtics. This won't be an in-depth analysis of their playbooks, but rather a general evaluation of their offensive focuses, objectives, and emphasis. So let's get started.
First, let's start with the Golden State Warriors. As you know, the Warriors don't have a roster filled with numerous athletic playe
rs. Their frontcourt rotation, consisting of players like Kevin Looney and Draymond Green, can be described as solid but not highly athletic. Additionally, their backcourt rotation, although not as athletic as their frontcourt, still lacks considerable athleticism. However, despite these factors, Golden State is a team that thrives on running and fast breaks. Over the years, they have perfected their transition offense and become an unstoppable force. After securing a rebound, the identity of the player who brings the ball up the court is irrelevant. The shooters quickly position themselves in the corners, leaving the defending team helpless. I don't think I need to emphasize the shooting prowess of Curry and Thompson. Their entire offensive dynamics are built around the threat of their three-point shooting. Any help defense against the Splash Brothers is immediately punished. This renders help defense almost impossible, and Golden State intelligently tries to capitalize on this with smart passes. They consistently find ways to maintain a numerical advantage by always considering the extra pass. Although Kelly Oubre, who has previously shown great performance, struggled to adapt to this intelligent style of play with the Warriors and had a truly abysmal performance.
Now let's move on to The King and the Los Angeles Lakers. As you know, LeBron has the ability to change the chemistry and game plan of any team he joins, and the Lakers are no exception. Due to LeBron's advanced age, the Lakers have become a team that thrives on set plays but excels in fast breaks. We have the fastest-footed center in the NBA and perhaps the most unstoppable player in LeBron. Additionally, they have several athletic players (such as Troy Brown, Lonnie Walker, and Jarred Vanderbilt) on their roster. However, LeBron's age unfortunately doesn't suit this style of play. When they rely on set plays, the similar roles of D'Angelo Russell and LeBron, as well as their weaknesses in off-ball play, become a drawback for the team. Fundamentally, this offense revolves around Davis setting picks and rolling to the basket, with the aim of finding open shooters on the perimeter. While Russell and LeBron are capable of making those passes, their occasional poor shooting percentages can lead to inevitable struggles for the Lakers. Apart from that, they can continue the pick and roll with Davis, which almost always yields positive results.
Lastly, let's discuss the Boston Celtics. Unlike the other two teams, there isn't much to elaborate on when it comes to the Celtics. They have essentially entrusted themselves to the hands of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. When Tatum brings the ball up the court, he looks to play one-on-one and create scoring opportunities. On the other hand, if Jaylen has the ball, he tends to force penetrations that can lead to turnovers and defensive lapses. They also have players like Marcus Smart who understand the value of the ball. They have a bit more sharing mentality and make logical decisions on the court. Although Smart's assist numbers may not be high, his experience allows him to distribute the ball effectively. Additionally, having a skilled passer and finisher like Al Horford at the center position puts more responsibility on Tatum and Jaylen. Alongside these key players, having someone like Malcolm Brogdon, a strong half-court player, makes it easier for the Celtics to score when the bench players are on the court. Role players such as Derrick White, Grant Williams, and Time Lord (if healthy) contribute to the offense by providing scoring through shooting or chasing offensive rebounds.
In this article, we have analyzed the offensive organizations of perhaps the most popular teams in the NBA. Writing this series has been enjoyable for me as well. In the future, I am considering doing the same for other teams. You can leave your suggestions for teams in the comments. Take care of yourselves. Stay with Bball...
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