How to Run the Warriors Transition Offensive Actions

In this video I breakdown the Warriors Transition Offense a SIMPLE, yet extremely complex play by the warriors and it shows how Klay Thompson is able to get easy three pointers while in transition offense.

We all know Klay is an incredible shooter, so how in the world does he continually get open?

Steph Curry catches an outlet pass and immediately his eyes are up the court. While most Point Guards are thinking about how they can now attack and get their own scoring opportunity. Steph Curry is always thinking about how to best help his teammates. This is one of the main reasons why he has been so successful, yet not completely understood as a great player. Most people think he just shoots three pointers. This breakdown shows you exactly why he's so special.

Now, all the way down court, you have players hustling to get into a position to help a teammate. While most players only run over half court, and expect the ball to passed to them, the Warriors consistently look to help each other out. In this case Kevon Looney is already working with Klay Thompson to get him quick down screen. Remember, this is completely in transition so it has to happen very fast and they all have to be working together. In most teams, the players just jog down the court and wait for the point guard to do something. The Warriors on the other hand are always looking to make plays for each other. It's a great sign of great coaching and a great team. They don't just run down and shoot three pointers like most people think.

Looney ends up setting a perfect down screen for Klay Thompson, and Klay plays it perfectly by selling it low and then popping fast to the ball without any space for the defender to creep through.

Curry is so good like a great quarterback in football, Steph makes the pass before Klay even comes off the screen. That's how amazingly in sync they are, he literally makes this long pass in transition knowing that Klay is going to run off the screen.

Klay Thomspons is 100% to shoot as he comes off the screen, but he is also a very unselfish player who would be willing to pass if the defender steps up in his face. That being said, Looney does a great job of holding the screen long enough and then rolling hard to the basket. Notice how he sprints to the basket, and doesn't jog in there. He's open for the pick and roll, and he's also getting in there to rebound.

Now, on this possession Klay chooses not to make the pass, but I've seen him make that pass before, and Looney will continue to roll knowing that it will be there later in the game.

Finally, one of the most important parts of this play is that after Klay Thompson drains this three pointer, he immediately seeks out Looney to give him a high five. Why is this so important. Well, he knows that he can't get open by himself, and he knows that basketball is a team game. They can only get to the Finals with all five guys completely invested in their roles. Klay acknowledging the great screen by Looney just reaffirms that Looney is doing the right thing and he will continue to do it again and again.

If you watch other teams, especially in the NBA, a player will come off a screen and hit a three, and they will immediately start to celebrate and turn to the crowd and show off. While this may be fun at times, they make no acknowledgement to their teammate for the great screen, and therefore start to think that it's all about them. The teammates then start to get bitter, and before you know it, you have a player scoring 40 a night, but they can't win a game. It's not a coincidence.

Basketball is a team game, and if all the players buy in to the team, it can be a lot of fun!

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