The Golden State Warriors gave us a blueprint on how to be a very successful team in today's NBA, and that is to go "small." Head coach Steve Kerr, intelligently switched up his rotation in the NBA Finals versus the Cleveland Cavaliers by starting Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes, Andre Igoudala, Klay Thompson, and Stephen Curry. Obviously, the lineup alteration helped the Warriors lure in their first NBA Championship in 40 years.
This past off-season, many teams found themselves guilty of trying to duplicate what the Warriors did, and many believe that it will become a new trend in professional basketball. If it hasn't already. The obstacles some teams may come across are not having the sharp shooters, and two not having the versatile forward…show more content… When it comes to playing "small ball," at times it will work, but it isn't guaranteed success for every team. For example, if a team has a low-post big man that is capable of demanding double teams, that system isn't for them.
When you look deeper into the surface, you then begin to realize that maybe the new trend is due to the lack of talented big men in the NBA. On top of that, more and more teams are looking to become more versatile on both ends of the floor. It's all about adaptability.
Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy made a brilliant statement to Michael Bradley of Lindy's Pro Basketball Magazine that expresses how he feels about teams going to, "small ball.":
" What it's really coming down to is the ability to play more different ways and to prepare to be more versatile. Flexibility is key."
What Green has done has created an uproar in the NBA, and it is important to remain realistic here. How often will a player come into the league and provide what Green does as a second-round pick? Not often right? The goal hasn't changed as a GM or coach, find roles for the players you have and apply it. Too many times we've seen a player forced into a new role that didn't fit his talent. Josh Smith's brief stay in Detroit is a perfect