Xs-and-Os-wise, two of Brandin Podziemski’s answers on the podium summarized how the Warriors beat the Rockets in Game 4:
As the series has gone on, they’ve tried a bunch of different things with their defense and so I think having high-IQ players on our side, being able to recognize that kind of thing and make adjustments throughout the game, within the game, it’s been huge. I think our coaching staff’s done a good job in-game, adjustment-wise. Obviously, the starting lineup with Buddy kind of put Sengun on me, which is fine with me and so they made an adjustment by playing Adams and going zone most of the night and that’s how you saw me and Buddy get a lot of our threes…
…I think that’s what makes a team. You wanna commit two players for one and leave your guys kind of in zones to help off, I think that’s what a team’s about. And I think we did a good job of — or Steph did a good job of getting off the ball. When they’re doing that for 48 minutes, there can be a, “Hey, I need to get a shot up,” or, “Hey, I need to do this.” And I think he was just super-cognizant, especially in the second half, of just getting off the ball. I think we had one turnover as a team in the second half, so we were just taking what the defense gave us. A lot of times, me, Jimmy, were on the baseline, around the corners when Sengun and Adams closing out to us and so getting the ball there and driving a closeout, making a play.
So the formula was the high IQ of Golden State, but also stars stepping up in clutch moments, exemplified by Draymond Green’s stop of Alperen Sengun and Jimmy Butler skying for the rebound.
Incidentally, on that final defensive sequence, don’t forget to credit Kevon Looney for absorbing the force of Steven Adams on the boards, which enabled Butler to grab the ball high off the rim.
Seconds before that, credit Gary Payton II’s wily ability and physical strength to prevent Fred Van Vleet from setting the inverted screen on Draymond, that might have yielded a less desirable Sengun-v-GP2 final duel or Van Vleet launching another three (8/12 this game) with his feet set.
“I gave a little ground and Stack (Jerry Stackhouse) always tell us it’s a time that you have to get serious,” Green said postgame. “You just try to pick that point. I don’t want to pick it too early where he’s facing me and now I pick up a cheap one, so just try to find that sweet spot and where to get serious, as Stack says, and thought I found a good spot. He took a deep jump hook.”
I’m curious to see how Sengun responds in Game 5. Will the young talented All-Star big be filled with doubt in pivotal situations down the stretch or will he “shake” it off — pun intended: Hakeem Olajuwon reference — and get one back on the Hall-of-Famer DPOY guy?
For the 30-somethings on the Dubs, let’s hope it’s the former. Should they close out tonight in Game 5, DubNation will want to root for the Timberwolves to do the same, asap, with the Lakers. That shouldn’t be hard to cheer on.
NBA Playoff scheduling is all about that Sunday national TV spot. My guess is, if GSW and MIN can close out no later than Friday, you’ll see a Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday setup for the Western Conference Semifinals. Obviously, that would mean more rest for one Wardell Stephen Curry, as well as Dray and Jimmy in between Games 1 and 2.
After that, games tend to become every-other-day. Games 1 and 2 were spread out to start this opening round with HOU because of the sheer amount of other playoff games launching. But Games 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 all have occurred or will occur every other day.
In 2023, the Warriors eliminated the Sacramento Kings in seven games, ending on a Sunday. They then embarked on an every-other-day series with the Lakers. Like, every game of that six-game series was 48 hours or so after the previous one. The NBA Finals dates are fixed, so you can see how the “slinky” of NBA Playoff scheduling works. The rest really comes in-between series.
Of course, I could be wrong about all this, just as I was wrong in-game about Trayce Jackson-Davis (thought it would be Looney) plugging up minutes for the the foul-troubled Draymond in Game 4, although I did mention Trayce as my preference for more rebounding after the Game 2 loss. So, take the above scheduling stuff with a grain of salt.
Here’s some really great courtside footage of the Dray and Jimmy going to work on the final stop, followed by the podium visits of, in chronological order this time: Steve Kerr pregame, then postgame Q&As of Steve, Jimmy, Podz (+ bonus interview from practice), Dray and Steph.
Gotta credit my guy Anthony Schlander for the clips from his courtside seats:
Btw, I haven’t started editing the podcast yet, but I believe I’ll get it done before tonight’s 4:30PM tipoff and Watch Party. As always, it’ll be an edited version of the long 5.5-hour Game 4 livestream and often times my co-host Dean “of Positivity” Chambers and I delve into evergreen topics, so please come check us out!
I’ll unlock the entire transcripts behind the paywall down below after I post the next article, as is the new routine, but you can read the transcripts by visiting the Comments section of each video interview…