Now a by-word in the NBA, the “death lineup” refers to the generally smaller players utilized by the reigning champs Golden State Warriors. It is a concept developed by the team’s current head coach, Steve Kerr, during the team’s first championship run in 2015 leading to the Warriors getting its first ring after a 40-year drought.
What makes this playstyle unique from other small-ball iterations in the past is that the lineup is agile and versatile enough to defend bigger players while boasting of great offensive and passing skills to create mismatches and space the floor on the other end.
It came almost as a coincidence when Kerr first employed in during the 2014-15 Finals. The new coach needed to better contend with LeBron James and his favored Cavaliers team. He experimented by injecting Andre Iguodala in the starting lineup, replacing the slower Andrew Bogut. In effect, the team was able to outpace the Cavs with Curry, Thompson, Green, Barnes, and Iguodala on the floor. It was a kind of position-less basketball that had the defense-focused Green playing mock center and Iguodala becoming a stretch 4. Iguodala ended up getting the Finals MVP award that year.
Now, with Kevin Durant in the team, the initial death lineup is completely realized, with Iguodala and Durant playing the wing position while the so-called splash brothers Curry and Thompson as guards. The agile Green maintains his role as pseudo center. This concept has largely led to the Warriors winning two more championships in the past three years. This death lineup just might get even deadlier, once new acquisition DeMarcus Cousins returns from injury.
Stephen Varanko III is a graduate of Randolph Macon Academy, where he was a student-athlete and served as the captain of the varsity lacrosse, cross-country, and basketball teams. He ranked 12th in his class and was the recipient of the All-American Scholar Award in chemistry. For more articles like this, click this link.
What makes this playstyle unique from other small-ball iterations in the past is that the lineup is agile and versatile enough to defend bigger players while boasting of great offensive and passing skills to create mismatches and space the floor on the other end.
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Image source: sbnation.com
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Now, with Kevin Durant in the team, the initial death lineup is completely realized, with Iguodala and Durant playing the wing position while the so-called splash brothers Curry and Thompson as guards. The agile Green maintains his role as pseudo center. This concept has largely led to the Warriors winning two more championships in the past three years. This death lineup just might get even deadlier, once new acquisition DeMarcus Cousins returns from injury.
Stephen Varanko III is a graduate of Randolph Macon Academy, where he was a student-athlete and served as the captain of the varsity lacrosse, cross-country, and basketball teams. He ranked 12th in his class and was the recipient of the All-American Scholar Award in chemistry. For more articles like this, click this link.
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