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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
MIAMI, FL – OCTOBER 30: (L) Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat, (C) Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat and (R) LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat pose with their 2012 NBA Championship rings prior to the game against the Boston Celtics at American Airlines Arena on October 30, 2012 in Miami, Florida. 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 Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /

Miami Heat

These Miami Heat teams were of course built around LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.

That’s a lot of talent all on one team and so Coach Spoelstra decided that the best way to maximize offensive efficiency from these guys would be through lots of isolations, as well as set plays designed to get the ball to one of their big three.

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James got a lot of assists off of his isolations from the post and from the perimeter, whereas Wade was primarily a scorer. They both scored using actions that Spoelstra ran for them including a fair amount of Horns sets.

This is where there is a player at each elbow and a player in each corner, and the ball handler is at the top. From there, the offense ran various actions, but one that was particularly useful for them was a type of Horns Flex option.

This can take various forms but basically it is a play where a cross-screen is set for the man in the corner and then the screener receives a down screen from the man at the elbow for him to pop out to the top to receive a pass. From there he can drive or shoot or flow into other actions.

Despite having some really nice set plays, this Heat team didn’t use them much, instead favoring the brilliance of Wade, Bosh, and James most of the time.

Motion-to-Isolation Spectrum Rating: 65

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