It was just one Twitter thread, but from a well-respected NBA marketer who was blogging about the league long before it was a cool thing to do.
Nate Jones (aka @JonesOnTheNBA), who once correctly wrote that Twitter for the NBA was like the bar from the old sitcom “Cheers” (link is unreliable, but luckily my post for GSoM back in 2010 retained it), is a well-respected NBA “Twitterer” who came up through the venerable and now-defunct AOL Fanhouse.
Jones now works for one of the top agents in the NBA, Aaron Goodwin, so he’s become one of the most keen observers of “The Association” and presents his thoughts in a tempered, mostly unbiased, and always polite manner.
I’ve never met him in person, but we’ve crossed paths now for at least five years, if you do the math above.
And after Stephen Curry‘s 53-point performance yesterday, capping three straight masterful games by the Golden State Warriors point guard, leading the Warriors to a dominant start of the 2015-16 NBA season, Jones brought up a lot of points that #DubNation will surely want to hear.
Allow me to re-organize his 140-character thoughts, with all of his tweets linked:
On Curry…
“Curry can hit a shot from anywhere with a (second) of space, and his handle and footwork allow him to create space better than any PG on the NBA. If you’re a defender that tries to play up on Curry and prevent the jumper and space for the jumper at all costs, he will blow by you. He’s so quick and his handles are the best in the NBA now. Any seam and he’s going to the cup. And if you help, he’s a CP3 (Chris Paul) level passer now.
“And he plays on the Warriors. A well spaced team with guys that can finish and hit 3s all over the floor and will swing the ball like crazy. And I haven’t even talked about Curry in pick and roll yet. Guarding a guy that can shoot that well with a (second) of space in P&R is deflating.
“Maybe we are to the point that you have to aggressively double (Curry) as soon as he crosses half court and pick your poison? Still problematic.”
Jones follower Matt Movahhed replied, “That’s probably the solution, but requires combo of athleticism, speed, depth, and discipline on (defense) that very few teams have.”
Jones continued:
“Steph is going to swing the ball if he’s pressured with doubles and traps like that, and the Warriors are so disciplined (and have) shooters all over.
“If Steph was on another team, he wouldn’t present as much of a problem. But Steph with his current supporting cast is TOUGH.
“You put a player like Steph with a versatile supporting cast that can all shoot and pass and it’s just damn near impossible to stop.”
…To The Warriors’ Offense…
And once you’re scrambling, there are very few teams that can rotate well enough with the Warriors ball movement.”
Follower James Cole said, “So many times when I see him doubled, Warriors get the defense scrambling and Curry gets a wide open corner three.”
Follower Jake Brown suggested, “probably aggressively trapping, with good rim protection on the back line and wearing (Curry) out,” but Jones replied that that would still result in a scrambling defense, not much difference in the amount of three-point attempts the Warriors could put up, and mere hope that shooters not named Curry would have a bad shooting night.
Movahhed pointed out, “(Defending the Warriors’ ball movement) requires (2012-13 NBA Finals champion Miami) Heat-level rotations, which no one has. (Oklahoma City Thunder) at least has the athletes to do it, but (they’re) not there yet.”
Follower Jake Henson opined, “The best form of (defense) on Curry is the bulldog (Russell) Westbrook charging at him on the other end for 36 minutes,” but Jones’ rebuttal was that Westbrook would also be dogged on defense, picking-and-rolling Westbrook “to death”.
Follower Leon C. asked Jones, “Which team do you think has dealt with him most effectively? (Memphis) Grizzlies?”
Jones answered the Cleveland Cavaliers, although Klay Thompson and Draymond Green didn’t shoot the ball effectively in the NBA Finals. However, Andre Iguodala did, and that was another shooter the Cavs were willing to concede to in exchange for intense focus on Curry.
Follower Eddie Simmons suggested a lineup for the San Antonio Spurs to counter with, involving putting Kawhi Leonard at the power forward position to defend Green, then matching shooting guard Danny Green on Curry, but Jones replied that Tim Duncan or LaMarcus Aldridge would have to be benched.
Follower Mark Meroney submitted that Leonard still “owns” Thompson in the head-to-head matchup (for example, in the last Warriors-Spurs game from 2014-15, Thompson shot just 3-for-11 for 6 points). However, Jones pointed to the Spurs’ transition defense, lack of a “good hedge guy in pick-and-roll”, and suggested that Green, Curry, Thompson, and Barnes have all improved since the last few outings against San Antonio.
Follower Nadeem Moughnieh finally lamented, “Just pick your poison and hope (Harrison) Barnes and Draymond beat you, I guess.”
The Warriors will face the currently fellow 3-0 Los Angeles Clippers next Wednesday (four nights from now), but Jones thought the “Warriors (are a) much more versatile team. If Blake (Griffin) was a versatile defender, they’d be much more trouble for the Dubs.”
…To Draymond Green…
“The defensive versatility of Iguodala and Draymond, allows the Warriors to always have an offensive juggernaut that’s tough to match up with.
“Draymond still might be the most underrated player in the game. Having two Swiss Army guys on the level of Dray and Iguodala is incredible.
Follower compared Green to Boris Diaw of the 2005-06 Phoenix Suns that lost to the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals. Diaw averaged 13.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists that season.
But Jones thought Green is a more valuable player than Diaw: “Dray on that Phoenix team next to Amare (Stoudamire) and Matrix (Shawn Marion) is probably what they were missing.”
…To The Warriors’ Repeat Hopes
“So they are unbeatable this year as well?” asked J.H. aka @AdonDeacon.
“If the Cavs would have had a bit more offensive firepower, they may have had them. But tough to stop for 7 games,” said Jones.
“And yes, I know Curry is going to have off nights. But I’m talking over the course of a season and a 7 game series. That TKO is coming,” Jones later added.
Follow @JonesOnTheNBA
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(Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account via AP)
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