Joe Viray

@joeviraynba.bsky.social

NBA Writer. Warriors words for Golden State of Mind. General NBA words for SB Nation NBA. email: jviray90@gmail.com

Melton gets crossmatched against Zion in transition but does a good job fronting to deny the entry pass. This gaves Draymond an opportunity to tell Melton to "get out" and scram switch so that it's Draymond defending Zion on the post up, which pays off.

On-off numbers aren't gonna show it but IMO that was lowkey one of Draymond's best defensive performances this season. The disruptiveness and how he moved around the floor to put out fires was vintage Draymond. Just didn't have enough defensive talent around him to close it out.

Warriors┃ "Down" SLOB STS action underneath the rim serving as window dressing for "Chicago" action for Spencer to go downhill, gets the paint touch and goes all the way to the rim for the layup. Again, Spurs keeping things strictly 2v2 with Wemby as their anchor.

Steve Kerr with the timeout after this Fox layup, angry about something. I'm assuming it's because Moody went over the screen instead of under. Scouting report on Fox probably says to go under considering he's not much of a pull-up outside threat.

Melton-Draymond PnR, peep at the movement on both sides. Exchange on one side, Moody lift on the other, the action is strictly 2v2. Draymond gets the pass, Wemby is there to contest but Draymond draws enough contact on the shot for the and-1.

Warriors┃ "Twirl" Draymond brings the ball up and signals to Melton they're running "Twirl" (making a twirl motion with his finger) for Moody. Moody immediately goes to the nail, sets the back screen, then comes off the down screen for the three.

Draymond having to help on the Harper drive and still being able to tap the ball out to prevent the Wemby offensive board creates this transition opportunity and a highlight GP2 pass to Spencer.

Warriors┃ "Small" ATO Out of the timeout, Kerr draws up "small" action (inverted PnR) for Draymond with Moody setting the screen on Wemby at the FT line. Draymond gets downhill and draws contact at the rim for the foul.

Warriors┃ "5 Out" ATO Steve Kerr draws up split action, ball gets fed to GP2 in the left block. Initial screen for Gui, who turns around to screen for Podz. GP2 with the "grenade" DHO, Podz gets into his middy rhythm around the handoff to drill the middy plus the foul.

Important floor-spacing Post minutes tonight with Wemby on the floor. Will have to hit shots like these to force Wemby to have to choose between sitting in the paint or lifting up to contest shots on the perimeter.

Biggest challenge for the Dubs tonight will be finding ways to score against a Spurs defense that can afford to stay put with a generational rim protector anchoring them. Moving the ball and finding open looks as much as they can on the perimeter (and drilling them) is one way of doing it.