Golden Gate Sports
Fansided

Golden State Warriors: How Steve Kerr plans to use D’Angelo Russell

By Connor Littler

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 18: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles around Los Angeles Lakers defense during the third quarter of the game at Barclays Center on December 18, 2018 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 18: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles around Los Angeles Lakers defense during the third quarter of the game at Barclays Center on December 18, 2018 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Golden State Warriors
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 21: D’Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles the ball during the third quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Barclays Center on January 21, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 D’Angelo Russell (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

2. Pace

Last season, Curry averaged a pace of 104.18, whereas D’Angelo Russell averaged 102.40. The numbers are quite close together but this is masked by a few factors.

Firstly, Russell always had the green light to dribble up the court and just pull up from three if he wanted to. These possessions would increase his pace statistic, despite his actual time per possession excluding those plays being relatively long.

His pace is actually slow because of his high frequency of pick-and-roll actions. He would have to wait for the proper spacing to be set up and then for the big man to come and set a screen for him.

Sometimes he would have to take it out and get a re-screen if nothing came of the first action. This is a time-consuming process which led to stagnant offense.

With the Warriors, Kerr will aim to make sure the setup phase is much quicker firstly. As well as that advantage, D’Angelo Russell will also have much more versatile big men. He’ll have Willie Cauley-Stein for the traditional pick-and-roll in a James Harden and Clint Capela type of action.

Golden State Warriors: Why the team’s motion offense is better than isolation. light. Must Read

But he’ll also have Draymond Green who can catch the ball on the short roll if Russell is doubled. From there, Green can make plays in a four-on-three situation, which he is excellent at.

This added versatility should increase the pace for Russell as there will just be more options available for him to make a play, meaning he won’t have to isolate or re-screen as much as he did with the Brooklyn Nets.

In addition to increased big-man versatility, Russell will also have more quick actions designed for him. It is likely Kerr will get his players setting early, high drag screens for Russell in semi-transition.

This is something the Warriors do a lot of for Curry already, so it should be no difficulty at all to implement this for Russell too.

Home/Golden State Warriors