Warriors Offense: Draymond's Shooting Impact

Tecfai Editorial Team

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Post on Nov 05, 2024

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Warriors Offense: Draymond's Shooting Impact

The Golden State Warriors are known for their explosive offense, built on a foundation of ball movement, spacing, and elite shooting. While the likes of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson receive well-deserved praise for their prolific scoring, Draymond Green's impact on the Warriors' offensive efficiency often goes overlooked.

The Draymond Green Paradox

Draymond Green is a unique player. He's not a high-volume scorer, averaging just 8.5 points per game for his career. But his influence on the offense goes far beyond his own scoring contributions. Green is a master facilitator, averaging over 7 assists per game throughout his career. He's a brilliant passer, finding cutters and shooters with pinpoint precision. But it's his shooting, or lack thereof, that has a profound impact on the Warriors' offensive scheme.

The Gravity of a Non-Shooter

Green's shooting struggles are well-documented. He's a career 31% three-point shooter, a number that plummets to a dismal 26% over the past three seasons. This shooting deficiency has a ripple effect on the Warriors' offense in a few key ways:

• Spacing: When Green stands on the perimeter, opposing defenses can afford to collapse on Curry and Thompson, knowing Green is unlikely to punish them from beyond the arc. This crowding forces the Warriors into difficult shots or creates turnovers.
• Defensive Focus: Defenders can focus on guarding Curry and Thompson more aggressively, knowing Green is less of a threat. This leads to double-teams and more difficult shots for the Warriors' stars.
• Offensive Flow: Green's reluctance to shoot sometimes slows down the Warriors' offensive flow. When he hesitates to take open shots, it can disrupt the rhythm of the offense and lead to stagnant possessions.

The Silver Lining

However, there's a silver lining to Green's shooting limitations. Because opponents don't respect his shot, it creates opportunities for him to drive to the basket and draw fouls. This is where Green's passing prowess comes into play. When he draws double-teams, he can find open teammates for easy baskets.

The bottom line: Green's lack of a reliable outside shot can create challenges for the Warriors' offense, but it also presents unique opportunities for their other players to shine.

What's Next?

As Green enters the later stages of his career, it will be interesting to see how the Warriors adjust to his evolving skillset. While he may not ever become a consistent outside shooter, his passing ability and defensive impact remain vital to the team's success. The Warriors will continue to rely on his intelligence, court vision, and leadership to navigate the challenges of a demanding season.

Whether Green can find a way to improve his shooting remains a question. But one thing is certain: his impact on the Warriors' offense, both positive and negative, will continue to be a fascinating topic of discussion for years to come.