Can Golden State Warriors’ Dynamic Shooting Win a Championship?
It’s an old bit of wisdom that perhaps you’ve heard before — Championship teams in the NBA are built from the inside-out and not the outside-in. From Charles Barkley to your local barber shop, it’s believed that in order to win a title in the NBA, a team must have the ability to get easy baskets in the paint. Because postseason play tends to become more physical, it’s believed that teams who rely on perimeter shooting will ultimately get tired and start missing those shots.
This theory usually comes up whenever the question is asked — Can the Golden State Warriors win a title by just outshooting their opponents? There is widespread belief that the Splash Brothers are dynamic and are arguably, the best back court in the NBA. Though some will undoubtedly downplay their skills and achievements, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are proving to be among the NBA’s best.
But the question still remains, can a team win it all by simply being deadly from the outside?
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In recent years we have had examples of “Dynamic Duos” making title runs. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have made a living the last few years ripping the hearts out of teams with their deadly outside shooting and explosive drives to the rim. In South Beach, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade led the Heat to multiple finals appearances and championships without a true low post threat.
But the critics still insist that a team like the Memphis Grizzlies are better built for the playoffs than the Warriors are because of their beef down low in Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. They insist that those same jump shots Klay and Steph hit with regularity in the regular season will start coming up short when the game slows down.
Many Warriors fans — and basketball fans in general — don’t believe in that logic. The Warriors may not have the quintessential low post threat, but that doesn’t mean they are just hoisting up three’s and relying on miraculous shooting nights to beat teams. What has made the Warriors’ offense such a nightmare to guard on a nightly basis is their excellent ball movement and floor spacing.
Steve Kerr has implemented a system that relies more on flow and cohesiveness rather than isolations and one on one play. Andrew Bogut may not be the dominant low post scorer many believe is needed to win it all, but his ability to pass and be the facilitator has freed up Curry and Klay to unleash their out of this world shooting talents with more freedom and frequency. The Warriors have the second highest offensive efficiency ranking in the league, and are number one in field goal percentage. Not only that, they Warriors are holding their opponents to a league low .424 shooting percentage from the floor.
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Now, we all know that championships are won on the court. They’re not won because of statistical advantages, or because of what is said by the so-called experts in the television studio. There is widespread belief that the Warriors, despite lacking that low post threat, still have the blueprint to win it all. They have a league MVP candidate in Curry, an All-Star running mate in Klay, and a team full of glue guys who are willing to sacrifice individual stats and accolades for one common goal — an NBA Championship.
So in June, don’t be surprised to see the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy being hoisted up by those dynamic Splash Brothers and their win at all cost teammates.