If they allow hand checking and don't allow illegal screens than it is fairly easy to beat the warriors because the only effective player than would be durant. Donkey draymond commits over 50 fouls a game. Curry can't do anything when played physical. When you play klay physical it's a 50/50 chance he might play decent or might not. Durant should still be able to succeed regardless though
You beat them by being physical in the low post. Have two bigs who can play back to the basket and who can rebound the hell outta the ball along with a SF who can rebound as well. Have aggressive perimeter defenders. Having said that, SAS come closest to giving them a challenge because they have two very good bigs in Gasol and LMA, a top SF in Kawhi and a good perimeter defender in Green. If Tony Parker can somehow rekindle some of the old and at least make Curry work defensively, it will make it an intriguing contest. They still have Pop.
Length to contest their shooters, first and foremost. And you need offensive players that will go at Curry and Green, make them play defense, get them frustrated. The Cavs had that in Kyrie and Lebron. I would say that scoring on the wing and in the middle are much less important. A big, physical PG like Westbrook and a long, skilled PF like Anthony Davis would really break them down.
I read the posts here and you REALLY underestimate Zaza. I didn't watch much of Dallas last year but when he was the starting C of the Bucks he not only was a great positional defender but also a great passer. He may not be as great as Bogut but he is one of the best passers at C. Also he's not as injury prone and is 10 times better in offence. Teams ignored Bogut but you can't just completely ignore Zaza. (well you will have to, but he can make shots in contrast with Bogut). The good thing is that Zaza is 32 and always loses many games with calf injuries etc. AND I don't see any way this team loses for the foreseeable future.
Good positional defender, tough, bad rim protector. He's definitely a good fit for them. I know they won't go 82-0, but the Warriors seriously should be favored in every single game they play next year and it will feel like a fluke anytime they lose. Any loss will be the old "well anything can happen" kind of thing.
No, that isn't all the problems that the Warriors had. Their offensive perimeter play makers struggled once Bogut was out of the line up. The Warriors averaged under 100 points those last three games, and were a late lay up away from failing to score 100 points in any of those games. For as much as I hate playing Andrew Bogut, he was a huge part of the Warriors offense and defense. Defensively all the perimeter players fell apart without having an elite anchor inside to switch and keep the middle clear. The Cavs were able to get inside almost at will and were able to physically control the boards. The reality is that Steph Curry is a defensive liability without someone like Bogut to clear the decks. Even Klay Thompson struggled defensively. Offensively, Bogut moved and passed perfectly in the post, and set screens as well as anyone. That helped allow Curry penetration and got Thompson and Barnes open shots. Without crisp screens, penetration and passing; you end up with players taking contested shots; which is exactly what happened. For what it is worth, it is similar to what the Rockets try to do with dribble penetration with Harden, the Rockets just did not have the proper pieces and the "team" effort was lacking. When it isn't a well oiled machine, it turns into turnovers and poor contested shots.... which is what the Warriors had in games 5-7. You could see how the Cavaliers became more confident going into the teeth of the Warriors defense, and likewise playing man defense against the Warriors because the post passing and screens were not there. Ezeli isn't the passer or post defender that the Bogut is. As far as Bogut "always being hurt", he is hurt a lot but has played 67,67 and 70 games the last three years; and it isn't a coincidence that the Warriors have done very well during that period of time.
Best way to beat them is on the boards and punish them inside. Playing their style will be devastating.
