5. The Lakers have trouble defending shooters.
The modern NBA is more about efficiency and tremendous perimeter shooting. The Spurs couldn’t have won the Finals without the hot hands of Patty Mills, Danny Green, and Kawhi Leonard. The Golden State Warriors have two of the best shooters in the league.
Today was more about defensive shell drills, working on Byron Scott’s scheme. Lots of 5-on-0.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) October 8, 2014
It gets worse than that. Not only were Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry on fire from the field, but Jason Kapono, David Lee, Brandon Rush, and Marreesse Speights all chipped in from the perimeter as well. The Golden State Warriors finished the game shooting 56% from the field. They were 12 of 21 behind the 3-point line.
Help-the-helper defense works well, but only when players have great court awareness, communication, and reaction to the ball. Once a late rotation is made after the ball gets swung a couple of times, a jumpshooting team will make them pay.
The Warriors made them pay.