Warriors World Q+A: Clippers or Rockets Debate

3. Both potential Western Conference Finals opponents have elite guards. Who would you have as the primary defender on Chris Paul and why? Who would you have as the primary defender on James Harden and why?

Jared Williams: For me, defending Harden and Paul is more about the defensive scheme as a whole and less about the primary defender. In terms of Harden, a great deal of his value lies in his ability to get teammates open threes. As such, I don’t want the Warriors’ defense to over-help on a Harden drive. In the four games Harden played vs. the Warriors this season he averaged 25.3 points -the Warriors still won all of the games. I’d rotate Harden defense duties between Klay and Iggy, but I’m less worried about The Beard then I am about him setting up his teammates.

CP3 has been genuinely incredible these playoffs. You couldn’t help but feel good for him when he shut up every “Chris Paul can’t win in the playoffs” hater by hitting the most clutch shot of these playoffs (yes, more clutch than Steph vs. New Orleans in Game 3). The thing with deciding who guards CP3 is, the guard who doesn’t get Paul recieves the honor of chasing JJ Redick around a never-ending cycle of baseline curls every possession -not an easy task. I’d start with Curry with on Paul, but wouldn’t hesitate to switch Klay onto Paul like Klay switched onto Conley in the Grizzlies series.

Mar 8, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA;  Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Ramirez: I’d leave the positional battles as themselves, with Curry guarding Paul and Thompson guarding Harden. I expect this will be the case to start either series, but like their series against Memphis, I also expect a ton of cross-matching as the series progresses. Thompson is well aware how to guard opposing point guards, and he won’t be left on an island for an entire series against Harden either. Curry can hold his own against Paul or JJ Redick, and Thompson can guard Harden, but if foul trouble ensues then Kerr will have to get creative.

Daniel Leroux: My primary assignment would be Klay Thompson on both CP3 and Harden. Klay did an excellent job on Mike Conley and that allows Steph to save himself a little more for a heavy offensive load, especially with CP3 on him if they face the Clippers. Andre Iguodala would also be huge on Harden though I like him more as a help defender. One other thing I’ll add is that Coach Kerr should try to make sure Steph plays every minute CP3 sits to take advantage of a horrendous LAC backup point guard situation. Doc keeps reliable rotations so this is totally doable.

Jesse Taylor: I would have Steph Curry on Chris Paul for most of the game but Klay Thompson on him during crunch time. Curry feeds on competition and adrenaline and there is something about matching up with CP3 that gets him going. With his improved defense, he does a solid job on CP3 on one end while rising to the occasion of the premier point guard match up offensively. But when it counts the most, Klay’s defensive ability, highlighted by his length, is the Warriors best chance to stop CP3.

Regarding Harden, Klay Thompson is the Warriors best 1-on-1 wing defender and plays more minutes than Andre Iguodala, so he will be the primary defender. However, because Harden has the ball in his hands so often and consistently creates fouls, Steve Kerr is likely to use a mix of Thompson, Iguodala and even Draymond Green or Harrison Barnes to slow him down and keep Klay out of foul trouble. And when the Warriors are up 20 in the third quarter of each of the first four games, expect to see quite a bit of Brandon Rush and Justin Holiday on Harden.

4. What is your prediction for Game Seven?

Jared Williams: The not-so-deep Clippers just got two full days of rest in between Game 6 and tonight’s franchise defining Game 7. The future of the Clippers is on the line today (they have so many question marks this coming summer), and they know it. I’m picking the Clippers.

Jordan Ramirez: This series is weird. Josh Smith’s greatness aside, the Clippers have the better starting lineup, coach and confidence knowing they beat the San Antonio Spurs just days before in a Game 7. Can the supporting cast of Houston perform like they did in Game 6? Will Chris Paul fail again in leading his team to a conference finals? Who will flinch first? This has all the makings for the ugliest Game 7 in history, but something tells me the Clippers learned their lesson. I expect a close, not so pretty Clippers victory.

Daniel Leroux: Despite the comeback, I did not see anything in Game Six that convinced me that the Rockets are a better team than the Clippers. They certainly could win but I expect a narrative-shifting LA road win and the Warriors/Clippers series Bay Area fans have been wanting for thirteen months.

Jesse Taylor: Clippers, because Chris Paul is not going to let them lose a Game 7. We saw what he did in his last Game 7 against a much better Spurs team.