Nearly a decade ago, the Golden State Warriors transformed the way teams in the NBA approached defense. Their innovative strategies, particularly showcased during the 2015 postseason, laid the foundation for their ascent into a basketball dynasty. One such tactic, spearheaded by the Warriors' coaching staff, was the defensive assignments against the Memphis Grizzlies that would ripple through the league for years to come.
In a pivotal matchup with the Grizzlies during the 2015 playoffs, the Warriors faced a challenging situation. Memphis had taken a 2-1 lead in the series, and the Warriors needed to make a strategic adjustment to tilt the series in their favor. The solution came in the form of an unlikely approach: assigning Andrew Bogut, a center known for his rim protection and interior presence, to guard the less threatening perimeter shooter, Tony Allen.
Tony Allen, a stellar defender in his own right, was not known for his offensive prowess beyond the arc, holding a career shooting average of just 28.2% from three-point range. By daring Allen to shoot from distance, the Warriors effectively limited his contributions. This decision reduced Allen's playing time significantly, from nearly 35 minutes per game to about 21 minutes over the final three games of the series. The tactical shift not only neutralized one of the Grizzlies' key players but also catapulted the Warriors to win the series and continue their march to success.
The legacy of Golden State’s approach is evident even today, influencing contemporary NBA tactics and strategies. Teams have recognized the potential in exploiting similar defensive adjustments to disrupt opposing offenses. One such recent illustration of these evolving strategies occurred in a game involving Jrue Holiday and the Memphis Grizzlies.
In a remarkable display, Jrue Holiday attempted a career-high 17 three-pointers in a single game against the Grizzlies, surpassing his previous highest attempt count of 13. Defended by Jaren Jackson Jr., Holiday made 4 of these attempts, showcasing both the liberties he was afforded on the perimeter and his own aggressive scoring mentality. Holiday, who has consistently exceeded the 40% mark from three-point range since joining Milwaukee before the 2020-21 season, managed to push his limits and take risks against a defense willing to leave him open.
Yet, this era of three-point emphasis is not exclusive to Golden State or players like Holiday. The Boston Celtics last year achieved the most efficient offensive rating in NBA history, and this season, they are on pace to attempt more three-pointers than two-pointers. Currently, the Celtics have an impressive scoring rate, slightly above 1.2 points per possession.
Despite this offensive prowess, the Celtics recently faced a setback at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies. This notable victory underscores Memphis’s own defensive capabilities as they strive to contain elite offensive teams like Boston. Interestingly, despite Holiday’s recent struggles with wide-open threes, shooting 35.8% this season, his historical efficiency on these shots remains impactful. Last season, Holiday converted 42.4% of his open three-point shots, further demonstrating how players must constantly adapt and refine their shooting in the modern NBA landscape.
As the season progresses, the strategic adjustments inspired by Golden State's defensive schemes will undoubtedly continue to influence new dynamics and counter-plays across the league. With defenses increasingly focused on limiting high-percentage scoring and offenses simultaneously evolving to exploit every inch of the court, the NBA’s tactical battleground remains as nuanced and exciting as ever.