The alarm clock rings at an ungodly hour, but for true Warriors fans, this first round playoff game at 6 a.m. feels like Christmas morning. I've been covering this team through three championship runs, and I can tell you there's something special about starting your day with playoff basketball. While casual fans might be looking ahead to that 11:40 a.m. tee-off featuring Tabuena, Johnson, and Oosthuizen in their golf tournament, we're here to break down what really matters - the Warriors' strategic approach to this critical playoff series.
Watching the Warriors' opening quarter at dawn reminded me why this team remains fascinating despite their aging core. They came out running their signature motion offense, but with several crucial adjustments. Instead of their traditional drive-and-kick patterns, they've incorporated more Spain pick-and-roll actions, creating chaotic defensive rotations that led to three wide-open corner threes in the first six minutes. I counted at least four possessions where they ran their "split action" with Curry coming off double screens - a play that generated 12 points in the first half alone. Defensively, they've clearly studied their opponents' tendencies, aggressively jumping passing lanes and forcing three early turnovers that translated into easy transition buckets. What impressed me most was their discipline in sticking to the game plan even when shots weren't falling early - they trusted their preparation, and by halftime, they'd built a comfortable 15-point lead.
The third quarter, traditionally the Warriors' strongest period, revealed another layer of their playoff strategy. They opened with their "death lineup" featuring Draymond at center, immediately going on a 14-2 run. The spacing was absolutely beautiful to watch - with all five players capable of handling the ball and shooting, the defense simply couldn't rotate quickly enough. I particularly enjoyed watching Andrew Wiggins attack closeouts more aggressively than we've seen all season; he scored 8 points in the first four minutes of the quarter. Their defensive communication reached playoff intensity too - you could hear them calling out switches and rotations from the upper deck. This is where championship experience truly matters, and the Warriors have more of it than any team in the league.
As the game entered its final stages, the strategic chess match became even more fascinating. With about seven minutes left, the opponent started double-teaming Curry on every pick-and-roll, something we haven't seen them do consistently all season. The Warriors' counter was brilliant - they started using Curry as a decoy, running him through screens away from the ball while Draymond operated in the short roll. This created numerous 4-on-3 advantages that resulted in either open threes or layups. I've always believed that the true mark of a great team is how they adjust to defensive schemes designed specifically to stop them, and today's performance demonstrated why the Warriors remain so dangerous in playoff settings.
Looking at the broader playoff picture, I'm convinced the Warriors have the strategic versatility to make a deep run, though their margin for error is thinner than in previous championship seasons. Their offense is still generating 112.3 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs, which would rank them in the 89th percentile historically. Defensively, they're holding opponents to just 44.2% shooting from two-point range - an impressive number given today's offensive-friendly rules. What worries me slightly is their rebounding; they got outrebounded by 8 today, and against bigger teams like the Grizzlies or Suns, that could prove costly. Still, when their shooters get hot, they remain virtually unstoppable.
While golf enthusiasts might be focused on whether Tabuena can outdrive Johnson or if Oosthuizen's putting stroke holds up under pressure, basketball purists understand that the real artistry is happening on the hardwood. The Warriors represent basketball at its most beautiful - constant movement, unselfish play, and strategic innovation. Having covered this team for over a decade, I can confidently say that when they're executing like they did today, there's no more entertaining product in sports. Their journey through these playoffs will depend on maintaining this level of strategic execution while staying healthy - no easy task, but if any team has earned our trust, it's this veteran group that understands what it takes to win in May and June.