OAKLAND — The Warriors looked as lethal as they had all season in Wednesday’s 116-95 win over the Mavericks.
Granted, the Mavericks were down Dirk Nowitzki, Deron Williams and Andrew Bogut. But this was less about the opponent and more about a strategy shift on offense.
That change is with Draymond Green.
Golden State’s motormouth power forward had his most efficient and aggressive game of the season, scoring 16 points on 6/11 shooting including 4/5 from downtown. Green admitted to reporters he hasn’t been thrilled with his offensive production to start the season, especially his three-point shot.
But he’s done being a background player in the offense.
“I told myself regardless: shooting well or not, you’ve got to shoot the ball and shoot it with confidence,” Green said. “Tonight I did that.”
Let’s be clear: Draymond’s most valuable skills are his defense, his rebounding, his passing and his blunt on-court leadership. The Warriors will rely on those traits more than his scoring. The only player in the league who can do more on a basketball court is LeBron James.
But when Green is aggressive with the basketball in his hands, it gives this 2016-17 Warriors’s offense a much more dynamic feel. It makes the offense flow more like the last two seasons. Remember, the best stretch of basketball Green’s played in his entire NBA career was at the start of last season, when interim coach Luke Walton gave him a green light.
It’s hard to even compare that situation to now, given that four-time scoring champ Kevin Durant is in the fold. But when Green’s attacking with his jump shot, other defenses have to pick their poison and start to crumble. The entire floor opens up. The Warriors found themselves with a 33-point second quarter lead and all four star players were in double-figures by halftime. Dallas had no idea who to guard.
Steve Kerr, who ESPN.com’s Ethan Sherwood-Strauss reported is harder on Green than any other player on the roster, said he has no qualms with Draymond continuing to try and score. But he didn’t necessarily encourage it.
“You know, Draymond is going to be a streaky three-point shooter,” Kerr said. “And when I say streaky, I’m not just talking about making them — taking them. Some nights he feels it, some nights he doesn’t. He feels the game out so well, he has such a good understanding. Tonight was just a night he was looking for it, and he was knocking them down.”
While he was teetering a little around the question, Kerr does have a point: Green can be hit or miss from behind the line. Against the Blazers in the Western Conference Semifinals he shot 43.3 percent from three and averaged six attempts a game; in a tumultuous series against the Thunder, he shot just 20.8 percent.
But Draymond’s three-point percentage has increased every year he’s been in the league: 2012-13 (20.9 percent), 2013-14 (33.3 percent), 2014-15 (33.7 percent), 2015-16 (38.8 percent). In fact, Green’s three-point percentage last season ranked 35th in the league, ahead of notable shooters Bradley Beal, Channing Frye, J.J. Barea, Patty Mills and…wait for it…Durant.
So because Green is surrounded Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, we get lost in the fact that his three-point shot is in the upper echelon in the NBA, and thus, an outstanding source of overwhelming the opponent. Curry himself said earlier in the season the Warriors added just one new play to their offense. Despite all the new players, it’s mostly the exact same.
So if it’s the same, the Warriors need Green more than people realize.
While it puts more stress on others to rebound, and will take away shots from Thompson, Durant and Curry, the Warriors need to be conscious of getting Draymond more jump shot opportunities.
After all, it’s a proven formula for the Warriors.