[Video Playbook] Draymond neutralizing himself to stop Capela

This started in Game 1 with Harden's drives, but in Game 2, it's showing ripple effects throughout the GSW defense...as Deuce points out

Draymond's Game-Plan to stop Capela Alley-Oops

Have you ever been the best player on a team (on defense in Draymond's case) and went into a game determined to shut someone down. But by doing so, you limit the amount of times you feel involved at the point of attack, and you develop an itch to cheat and get yourself back into the center of the action. Against New Orleans and Anthony Davis, Green and GSW knew if they could limit AD's easy buckets, they could easily out-score the rest of Pelicans. Green stuck to Davis and that worked like a charm, and Draymond got his praise, because the spotlight is on AD.

While Green was doing that, Capela was getting tons of press for dominating Karl-Anthony Towns and the likely DPOY Gobert. So, despite Popovich last year doing a sag on Capela, yet Pau still challenging Harden's drives, and Snyder doing the same with Gobert this year, Draymond and Kerr have it in their mind that they have a new way. Their primary goal appears to be to completely take Capela out of the offense.

Problem is: Rockets don't need Capela's scoring, like NOLA needs AD's.

This video series examines if Draymond "The-Capela-Stopper" Green is actually neutralizing himself by doing so.

Warriors first stop Capela oops by switching High PnR and the guard (Klay switching off Harden usually) impedes Capela from dives to the basket, while Draymond takes Harden. Draymond is pretty good at that, so we countered by moving Capela to the short corner (low block) to take Draymond with him. Then MDA uses a different picker to get Harden and Paul favorable mismatches on switches.

What's mind-boggling is Draymond will stay on Capela hip in the short corner, and not provide any help defense at the rim. Does his ego just not want to have an occasional Oop making it over him for highlights of Capela dunking?

Here's the result. Listen to the announcers point out no rim protection.



Example of Ripple Effects of Draymond the Capela Stopper

Here we see David West come in for Iguodala, and Capela starts in short corner with West.

Draymond wants so bad to be at the point of attack, but he's caught having to leave the Nail and follow PJ to the opposite long corner, whereby Capela comes forward for a pick in a token Spain PnR, that we use simply to get a switch to get Klay off Harden, replaced by Livingston.

But the play isn't what I find interesting in this. Watch how Draymond tries at all costs to get back into the play, by play-calling West to go get PJ.

Note: Draymond is trying to call West out of a Spain PnR read while Toyota Center is screaming their heads off. Can West even hear him?​

Here's a still of DG calling the switch with West.



Here's the play



Rockets shooting 21-24 at the rim against Hamptom 5. On 38% of FGA

 

Draymond Freezes Himself Out by Sticking to PJ


OK, what would Belichick do once he sets up the PJ long bomb. He'd bet the safety would freeze on coverage underneath.

Enter MDA.

1. What the hell is Draymond doing blanketing PJ 30' out on a side-lined out-of-bounds play?
2. Next, Harden calls PJ over to his side, then sets up Gordon for a drive on Cupcake.
3. Lastly, Ariza gets Draymond's head spinning again for watching PJ too closely.
4. This is all really sad.
5. But not as sad as our next installment of Tom Brady ('err Chris Paul), now knowing he has Draymond setup for leaving PJ.

Here's the three plays

 

Before we get into Paul going full-circle on bamboozling Draymond Green's game-plan to neutralize Capela, here's one last look at Green getting caught between options like a Free Safety taking on Brady and Belichick.

Draymond Stuck in a 3-2 Zone with Corner Responsibility


Has anyone read that people are saying Brad Stevens is ahead of the pack on exploiting switching by getting defenses to position themselves in odd ways. Well, since MDA has Bzdelic's defense to watch every day, and two HOF PGs to discuss scenarios with, D'Antonio might have something to say about being one ahead of switching defenses.

This might not be a 3-2 zone as planned, but if not, then the Rockets put GSW in it, and attacked in with a 3-2 Zone Busting 101 play.

1. Notice how Draymond wants so bad to be involved, and he actually has to leave PJ (according to #CapelaBeforeEverything #CBE game plan), because
2. Klay doesn't have much hope stopping an Oop to Capela, if he steps out.
3. Check-minus on Cupcake's inability to stay in front of Ariza

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Now for the Chris Paul to PJ Tucker Finale



At this point, Rockets totally have Draymond set up for anything.

1. Forced to help a feeble Curry, Draymond must give up PJ slam
2. Paul dares Draymond to leave PJ again.
3. Paul gets Draymond to leave PJ

Video

 

2nd installment uploaded in 2nd post

 

3rd Installment uploaded in 3rd post