Nearly a decade ago, the Golden State Warriors redefined defensive strategies in the NBA, sparking a transformation that would drive their rise to becoming a basketball dynasty and continue influencing teams across the league today. The year was 2015, the postseason—an epochal moment when the Warriors dared to challenge convention with a strategy that paid dividends.
Central to this shift was a second-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies had taken a 2-1 lead, prompting the Warriors to make a daring strategic adjustment. The assignment was audacious: have Andrew Bogut, typically occupying the center position, guard Tony Allen, a player with a 28.2% career average from the three-point range. The rationale was clear yet bold—the Warriors banked on Allen’s lack of shooting prowess to give their defense flexibility. The move proved ingenious as it effectively limited Allen's playing time, reducing his court presence from nearly 35 minutes to about 21 minutes over the final trio of games. This maneuver ultimately shifted the momentum in favor of the Warriors, leading to a series victory and underscoring an important lesson: strategic adaptability wins games.
Fast forward to recent NBA matchups, and the Warriors' defensive innovations still echo in the strategies of modern teams. Take, for example, the Memphis Grizzlies versus Jrue Holiday. As Milwaukee’s adopted sharpshooter, Holiday has maintained an impressive shooting record, consistently hitting over 40% from beyond the arc since his move to Milwaukee before the 2020-21 season. This consistency, however, came under scrutiny during a game against the Grizzlies, when he launched a career-high 17 three-point attempts, a substantial increase from his previous high of 13 attempts in any single game.
The Grizzlies countered by deploying Jaren Jackson Jr. to guard Holiday, a move that resulted in mixed success. Holiday only managed to connect on 4 of his 17 attempts, echoing the calculated risks that teams have adopted since the Warriors' strategic shift of 2015.
Meanwhile, adapting to new trends in offensive play, the Boston Celtics are making headlines, steering their offense toward more three-point attempts than two-point shots this season. Their strategy reflects a league-wide embrace of perimeter shooting, buoyed by high efficiency, given their scoring rate of slightly above 1.2 points per possession. Yet, even an offense as efficient as Boston’s is not immune to setbacks, exemplified by a recent home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
This paradox of prolific shooting amid fluctuating performance is further highlighted by Jrue Holiday's transition in shooting accuracy. While he made 42.4% of his open shots last season, his percentage from wide-open attempts has dipped to 35.8% this season. This decline raises questions about the nuances of playing space and defensive pressure that remains a balancing act in the modern NBA.
The resonances of the Warriors’ 2015 defensive development endure, serving as a testament to its adaptability and influence over contemporary coaching decisions. As NBA teams continue to evolve, melding tried-and-true strategies with innovative techniques, the Warriors' blueprint remains a pivotal referential point, celebrating creativity and adaptability in pursuit of victory.