What changes can Warriors make to save season?

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The Warriors are in trouble, so naturally the talk turns to adjustments. Is there some magic trick that can save them? Or are the Thunder simply better in ways that cannot be countered?

Between Games 3 and 4, Steve Kerr didn’t make any significant changes. He was obviously frustrated with the team’s effort in Game 3, believing the issues to be bigger than strategy. Now, with the Warriors clinging to life, one can reasonably expect changes. One complicating issue for Kerr and the Warriors is they already adjusted so much at the beginning of the series.

Andre Rover-son

Andre Roberson is the focus of much Golden State strategy, and currently, a major source of its pain. In Game 1, the Warriors unleashed a nifty plan wherein Draymond Green played the part of rover, sagging far off shaky shooting Andre Roberson, so he could provide extra rim protection against Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. To further confuse Oklahoma City’s offense, Klay Thompson was to guard Serge Ibaka.

Oklahoma City’s first points of the series challenged this tactic: Roberson cut behind Green for an easy layup. Green is an active, high-intensity defender, who found it difficult to negotiate a territory between “ignoring” and “guarding” Roberson.

In Game 2, Golden State made a solid adjustment to the rover tactic, placing Andrew Bogut on Roberson duty. Apart from his size, Bogut’s best quality is his awareness. As he demonstrated when “guarding” Tony Allen last playoffs, Bogut excels at keeping track of a guy who mostly operates off the ball.

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Placing Bogut on Roberson worked wonderfully, save for an unexpected problem: Fouls are forcing the Aussie off the floor. Bogut is currently averaging 3.3 fouls per his 14 average minutes of playing time this series, pushing the Warriors into the penalty and reducing Kerr’s use of the big man.

That’s too bad for Golden State, as …

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