Even though nobody but me thought the Golden State Warriors would win at the start of the 2014-15 season, it seems that many teams love the look of the small ball. Several teams are looking to base their team on the championship winning Warriors.
You could say that some teams try to look up to San Antonio, but that’s a long-term thing. That system takes years. What’s popular about the Warriors’ system is that you can get it in one or two years. The Charlotte Hornets plan to do the small ball, with Kemba Walker and newly acquired Jeremy Lin. At least that’s head coach Steve Clifford’s vision.
Q: You’ve said you’re intrigued by the potential in playing point guards Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lin together. Can you describe your vision for that combination?
It’s always good to have two pick-and-roll players on the floor. That way you can put pressure on the defense at one side, then switch it to the other. That makes more room to play similar to how Golden State does. You’ve got Steph (Curry) on one side, so defenses have to load up there, and then you’ve got Klay Thompson on the other with room to operate.
That’s what Kemba can do for Jeremy and Jeremy can do for Kemba.
Safe to say that Lin and Walker isn’t Curry and Thompson, but I see where Clifford is coming from. And maybe that was the reason why Lance Stephenson didn’t fit?
