Warriors set their defense free in Game 5 victory

2:11 PM ET

OAKLAND, Calif. — When caught in a bind, the Golden State Warriors can usually rely on their creativity to see them through. This time, facing win-or-go-home games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they’re changing their defense by simplifying it, sanding off wrinkles they added at the beginning of the series.

It’s less an exercise in being “light-years ahead” — owner Joe Lacob’s description of the Warriors organization in a recent New York Times Magazine interview — than one in retracing recent steps, so as to be more sure-footed.

Maybe it’s the proper strategy or maybe it’s just what seems to fit this particular moment. When Stephen Curry is at peak form, the Warriors have leeway to experiment. Right now, in desperation mode, they must slow down the game and take stress off their MVP. They head into Oklahoma City for Saturday night’s Game 6 looking vulnerable after being throttled in their past two games at Chesapeake Arena.

Whatever the case, Golden State’s adjustments (really a removal of adjustments) worked in Game 5. To start the Western Conference finals, the Warriors had employed a tricky “rover” strategy, much like the one that turned last year’s Memphis series in their favor. It was a wacky tactic against Oklahoma City. Draymond Green operated as a free safety, largely ignoring shaky-shooting Andre Roberson. Klay Thompson guarded Serge Ibaka. Perhaps most significantly, Curry guarded Russell Westbrook, albeit with plenty of insurance in the paint.

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