The Golden State Warriors lead the first-round series against the Houston Rockets 3-2, despite a devastating 116-131 loss in Game 5 on Wednesday night.
The Warriors, who score just 103.6 points per game and rank ninth in the NBA in defensive rating (112.7) during the series, must win at home on Friday to advance to the next round.
Advertisement
On NBA on TNT, Shaq criticized the league’s “copycat” reliance on pick-and-roll, arguing that stars like James Harden and Steph Curry suffer when doubled repeatedly.
“This is the problem we have with the copycat league,” Every time he comes off a pick and roll, they’re doubling him [Harden]. He can’t get around two people.”
He recommended more one-on-one isolation, one-four flat, to unlock their scoring potential.
During the regular season, Curry averaged 24.5 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game, with a 44.8% field goal rate and 39.7% from 3-point range.
In five games this series, Curry’s numbers are slightly down, averaging 23.4 points per game on 48.8% shooting from the field and 39.6% from beyond the arc.
Advertisement
While it’s not a terrible dropoff, Shaq argues that when Curry drifts off the ball, doubled on the catch, he loses the burst to re-engage the play, highlighting why more isolation sets could boost his scoring output.
TV analyst Shaquille O’NealDarren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Too often doubled or tripled in pick-and-roll schemes, Shaq argues he needs more ISO opportunities, especially in late-clock situations, to exploit one-on-one matchups.
For both Harden and Curry, future Hall-of-Famers, Shaq’s plea is simple: give them room to do what they do best.
Related: NBA Makes Major Nikola Jokic Announcement Before Playoffs
Related: Bronny James Dealt Bad G League News Before NBA Playoffs