Buddy Hield: A Key Offense Component for the Golden State Warriors

The opening of the training camp season brings a mix of known quantities and new faces for NBA teams. The Golden State Warriors maintain a core group of seasoned players, such as Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, who have been central to the team for almost a decade. Additionally, popular players like Gary Payton II, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody continue to contribute to the team’s dynamics.

Among the notable additions to the Warriors this season is Buddy Hield, a formidable three-point shooter who was second only to Klay Thompson in three-point attempts two seasons ago. Hield’s career average stands at 7.6 three-point attempts per game over his eight-year career, with a projected 9.5 attempts per 75 possessions.

Statistically, Hield has attempted 2,682 three-pointers over the last five seasons, a figure surpassed only by Stephen Curry. Although not reaching the defensive prowess of Thompson, Hield mirrors his three-point shooting volume, making him a strategic replacement for the “movement shooter” role in the Warriors’ game plan.

According to a game analysis, during a playoff series involving the Philadelphia 76ers, Hield was tasked with a prominent role in their half-court sets, despite having notable teammates like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. His role capitalized on his ability to make strategic three-point shots with minimal setup.

This particular strategy, popularized as the “Finland” action, involves complex plays designed to create confusion among defense lines. The “Finland” set—coined by JJ Redick—relies heavily on a successful mix of double drag and double ball-screens which can allow Hield, with his adept movement shooting abilities, to take advantage of opponents’ defensive lapses.

With an extensive history of using similar offensive strategies during his tenure with teams like the Sacramento Kings, Buddy Hield brings versatile skill to potentially enhance the Warriors’ offensive strength. Coach Nick Nurse of the 76ers notably employed variations of these plays, showing the broad applicability and success of these tactics across different teams.

This directional shift aligns well with the Warriors’ existing protocols, such as their “Quick 55” play, allowing them to integrate Buddy Hield’s shooting prowess effectively. His ability to operate both as a movement shooter off screens and a standstill shooter poses a dual advantage, aiding in creating valuable offensive opportunities for the team.

The presence of Buddy Hield could significantly contribute to the Warriors’ efforts to optimize their strategies and dominate play, leveraging his shooting skills to open up the floor and potentially reignite the team’s offensive strategies this season.