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OAKLAND – OAKLAND – Within four seconds, Warriors forward Draymond Green defended an opponent at the post, basket and out.
This second-quarter snapshot explains how Green's presence helped the Warriors win a 116-99 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday at Oracle Arena.
"Draymond really set the stone," said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. "I'm not sure I've seen Draymond play better since I'm here than what he's doing."
This footage also accounts for what made Green so unique in his seven-year career in the NBA. He prevented Tyus Jones, Minnesota goalkeeper, from rolling in the driveway for an open lay-up. Once Warriors forward Jonas Jerebko doubled the paint set, Jones then threw the ball to Anthony Tolliver for an open 3-pointer. This move did not remain open because Green immediately jumped on the perimeter to dispute.
How does Green do it?
"One of my strengths is my basketball IQ," Green said. : So I can see some things happen before they happen. It helps me to take a step forward.
So, in a game that the Warriors had to face with a sputtering offensive, Green started his engine with a good old-fashioned defense. The Timberwolves (4-5) had an 87-83 lead with a single turnover in the fourth quarter. After that, however, Minnesota scored 12 points for the fourth quarter and shot a combined total of 5 out of 23 from the field and 1 out of 11 from the back.
Most of these figures go back to Green, which Kerr praised for having "a brilliant basketball, defensive spirit. Green led the Warriors to deny Minnesota the open cuts and open shots he had won earlier in the game.
"Just the decision-making and the balance and the ability to overcome adversity," Kerr said. "He knows how much we need him. He raises everyone. It's really fun to watch him play. "
It was also fun for Green to hear Kerr's compliments.
"It means a lot," said Green. "It's obviously something I'm proud to want to be a guy who brings a lot to this team in different facets of the game."
Green has brought these different facets in recent times, sharing whenever he can the fact that he wants to win the title of defensive player of the year in the NBA. Last year, he lost to the second NBA defense because of inconsistent performances and overlapping injuries to his right shoulder, knees and right elbow. Against Minnesota? Different story.
"These days, you have to cover so much ground with all three-pointers," Kerr said. "Draymond has the ability to exhaust and challenge a 3, but also to keep the job and scramble for everything else. He just has a great spirit for that, as well as the athleticism and strength that relate to it.
Chicago Klay made an appearance at Oracle Arena.
Nevertheless, the warriors have also prospered because of the usual suspects. Kevin Durant scored 33 points on 11 throws out of 19. Stephen Curry also added 28 points while shooting 11 of 24 and 4 of 12 from 3 points. But it was Klay Thompson who unleashed the most warriors.
He had fewer points (22) while he had 9 points out of 17 from the field and 4 points out of 9 beyond the arc. But Thompson scored with a similar skill when he set an NBA record in 3 points (14) earlier this week in Chicago. He scored 10 points for the fourth quarter while shooting 4 out of 6 from the field and 2 out of 4 from the perimeter.
Thompson opened the fourth quarter scoring eight points in the space of one minute and 41 seconds. He then converted on a roll of finger and set up Andre Iguodala for a dunk giving the Warriors a 97-93 lead with 6:03 to go.
"Klay's play to start fourth was one of the keys to the game," Kerr said.
Alfonzo McKinnie is more and more comfortable as a 3 point shooter.
Last sign that McKinnie is in the Warriors' rotation: he earned a spot on the podium after scoring eight points on three out of four shots, two out of two to three and eight rebounds in 27 minutes. This does not happen to a lot of camp camp guests.
"It matters a lot to me," McKinnie said. "I talked about my story every day. I am pleased to say it every day. I need one and I am blessed and grateful to be in the position I am today. "
Kerr viewed McKinnie as "a huge surprise" in the way he appeased the Warriors' concerns about the depth of their thin wings, their defensive offensive and their reliable shot outside. But the warriors quickly got used to that. So much that McKinnie played all the fourth quarter with the game in question.
The main reason; McKinnie became a reliable 3-point shooter.
"If I can pull the 3s and do them consistently, I can work to get to the ground," McKinnie said. "Being on this team, guys are encouraging me to shoot at them. I am often open because of the guys on the floor. "
McKinnie also managed to open these outside shots. McKinnie shot 5 times out of 12 beyond the arc. This is a small sample. But that's exactly the point. McKinnie has only few opportunities to take and do a 3 when he shares the pitch with all the combinations of Curry, Durant and Thompson.
"There is no hesitation," Curry said. "That's what you need from a guy who comes in and does not really know when his minutes are going to be. "But when he's outside, he's trying to make an impact.
Do warriors need more shootarounds?
On the one hand, the Warriors still finished their victory over Minnesota. By cons, the Warriors (9-1) seemed slow compared to previous performances.
Yet the warriors have done very well. So, why spend a morning exhausting unnecessary energy? Assistant Warrior coach Chris DeMarco was wondering the same thing and suggested Warrior coach Steve Kerr to let his players rest.
"He has a good impression for our guys and for our team," Kerr said of DeMarco, who is also the team's director of player development. "It seemed like a good idea. So we did it.
The team did not quite take their time. Kerr estimated that "half of the guys still came forward to get moving." By acting out optional practices, the Warriors are still waiting for their young players to show up at the gym. But as for the All-Stars of the Warriors, they do not need to be present. They proved in Friday's game that they could manage without a barrage.
Kerr did not want to join Magic Johnson's allegedly controversial encounter with Lakers coach Luke Walton.
Kerr and Walton remain close to each other since he has guided the Warriors to a record 39-4 as an interim coach for the start of the 2015- season. 16. But Kerr respectfully refused to share his views on Johnson, who allegedly accused Walton of the start of game 3 to 5 of the Lakers and his system.
"It's not my business," Kerr said. "I'm very lucky to coach the Warriors. Luke is a good friend and I support him. What is going on there is not my business. "
Still, Kerr argued at training camp that Walton remained the ideal coach for the Lakers in a high-pressure environment. They have a superstar (LeBron James). They have a wide range of veterans (Rajon Rondo, Michael Beasley, Lance Stepenson, JaVale McGee). They have young players (Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart).
"Luke was born to be a coach. He has the right temperament, "said Kerr. "He has an incredible knowledge of the game and the sensations. He is laid back and brilliant and can take good with evil and keep going. He is always happy. He knows what he is doing. He grew up in the NBA. He grew up in his childhood and in the locker room of the NBA. He has seen almost everything. I'm not worried about Luke. "
Kerr has sympathy for Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau
Kerr's curriculum vitae is not comparable to the front office of the Phoenix Suns.
"I was not a good general manager," said Kerr, who lasted only three seasons (2007-2010) before resigning.
As a result, Kerr had a great deal of respect for Thibodeau, who had both the responsibilities of head coach and front office officer. This left Thibodeau in a precarious situation as star player Jimmy Butler requires an exchange.
"For me it would not work," said Kerr. "I would need to do one or the other. But that does not mean that it can not work for someone else. I think these are two very difficult tasks on their own. "
Update of the wounds
Warrior veteran Shaun Livingston missed Friday's game against Minnesota, scoring the fourth consecutive game he missed with a sore right foot.
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