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Golden State Warriors: Why the team’s motion offense is better than isolation

By Connor Littler

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 17: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors and Team Giannis reacts to contact from Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors and Team LeBron during the NBA All-Star game as part of the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend at Spectrum Center on February 17, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 17: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors and Team Giannis reacts to contact from Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors and Team LeBron during the NBA All-Star game as part of the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend at Spectrum Center on February 17, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Golden State Warriors
PORTLAND, OR – MAY 12: Manu Ginobili #20, Tony Parker #9 and Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs watch from the bench in the fourth quarter of Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center on May 12, 2014 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won the game 103-92. 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 (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs kept their core together of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Tim Duncan together over the longest time. This allowed Coach Popovich to add more and more to his playbook every season and meant that the longer they played together, the better they got at it.

It’s clear to see that as time went on the Spurs moved the ball faster and had more counters and wrinkles out of each of their actions. This allowed them to read what the defense was giving them and make smart decisions based on that.

They still had some isolation plays, however, particularly in crunch time when they would just give it to Duncan down low to create a shot.

Parker also ran a lot of pick-and-rolls which weren’t part of any motion offense and definitely fall further towards the isolation end of the spectrum.

Motion-to-Isolation Spectrum Rating: 15

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