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Golden State Warriors: How does Stephen Curry get so many open threes?

By Connor Littler

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 05: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors attempts a shot against the Toronto Raptors during Game Three of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 05, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 05: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors attempts a shot against the Toronto Raptors during Game Three of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 05, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Stephen Curry
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 07: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors is defended by Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors in the second half during Game Four of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 07, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

1. Relocation

This is probably the thing that Curry is most famous for besides his shooting itself. He is consistently amongst the players who travel furthest per game.

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Last season he ranked 19th in the entire NBA in distance covered per game. As well as that, he ranked 20th in average running speed on offense amongst players who’d played more than 20 games.

Curry’s a great finisher at the rim and mid-range which means that if he ever gets into the lane then the defense will collapse, allowing him to kick it out.

Most often the defense will not give up a pass to Thompson or Durant so the only options are to non-shooters, like Draymond Green or Kevon Looney.

Then Curry quickly sprints to one of the corners or wings where he’ll receive a screen from one of these big men. Then he can receive the pass for what is often a wide-open three-ball.

The Warriors are experts at this particular action and they have found even smarter ways to implement it to get Curry even more space, especially against good defensive teams.

One way they do it is by having Curry pass to a big man in the short corner and then sprint to the corner directly behind the big. The big then drops the pass through his own legs to where Curry is running to in the corner.

This allows the big man to set a screen quickly without needing to turn around first to pass the ball and then back to set the screen. This was something we saw the Warriors try a lot in the playoffs against the Houston Rockets last season and it worked excellently for them.

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