Coast and Close: Three Perfect Minutes Are All The Warriors Need

We’ve read this script before. 

Curry drops in three after three, Draymond gets a huge block and locks down a perimeter threat in a key moment of the game, everyone clamps down on defense, the Splash Brothers and Durant hit a couple automatic free throws and the Warriors pull out a win. 

They did it again in a 119-114 win at Dallas. 

It’s so expected now, it’s more surprising when they can’t close out a game. 

For those of us that have been fans long enough, we remember when wins like these were debilitating losses nine times out of ten for years on end. 

But this team, especially since it added Kevin Durant, is always three perfect minutes away from stealing a win, no matter the opponent and no matter the deficit.

And it happens so. Damn. Often. 

It’s one of the most impressive switch flips in modern NBA history – and when I say three minutes, thats not an exaggeration. Thats all it takes. 

Normally, it comes at the last possible moment. It’s a maneuver I like to call the coast and close. 

For all the firepower on the team, what it really boils down to is their defense. In clutch time – less than five minutes and within five points – the Warriors have the second-best defensive rating in the NBA this season at 92.1 (92.1 points per 100 possessions), compared to a 16th-best 109.1 overall. Their net rating in clutch time is 12.9, versus 5.6 overall. 

Even Steph after the game said as much. 

“KD’s defense on HB, Andre got a steal in the corner, Klay making it tough on Luka all over the floor. That's what wins championships and we understand that. We turned it up that last two minutes… when it’s winning time we showed up.”

They’ve been doing it for years.

Two games in the past few years come to mind. Game 6 of the 2016 WCF in OKC, for instance, is ingrained in our memories.

Down three with just under 3 minutes to go, Steph and Klay both hit transition threes, sandwiching an Igoudala bucket, before Steph closed the door with a floater that kissed so softly off the glass with around 14 seconds left. 

But we also saw the defense rise to the moment; Andre had two (credited) steals to set up the final two made shots – although the second was Draymond’s doing – and Steph intercepted the final inbound pass before hitting two free throws. 

That game will be remembered for Klay’s unconscious shooting, but it was the focus that the team displayed in the last three minutes that has always stood out to me. They always look like they can jump to another level when need be. 

The other is Game 3 of the Finals in 2017. Down 108-113 with three minutes to go, the Dubs went on an 11-0 run, held the Cavs to 0-8 shooting (mostly tough threes), and forced big turnovers on LeBron and Kyrie in the waning moments of the game. Not to mention Durant’s all-time 26-footer from the left elbow over 23. 

Compared to the stakes of an elimination game on the road or a Finals game against LeBron, a regular season game in January is a (cup)cake walk; which makes their ability to turn it on like they do all the more interesting. 

This year alone, we’ve seen several games where they have closed the door in the blink of an eye. 

Take the Dallas win, for instance. After a flagrant foul by Draymond (admit it, most Warriors fans would swing down that hard on Harrison Barnes if they had the chance), Golden State was down 113-108. Durant and Klay hit back-to-back shots, the first coming on a reload after Durant had an attempt blocked by Jalen Brunson. Steph carried the offensive load the rest of the way, dropping in a floater and an off-the-dribble three over a big man before hitting a couple free throws to ice the contest. 

In between, we saw the Mavs forced into several questionable shots – a Brunson stepback and a Barnes three – and a block by Draymond. They were able to take Doncic out of the game late by putting Green on him and by forcing Barnes, Brunson and Devin Harris to handle the ball and carry the load. 

A few weeks ago, we saw an even more impressive comeback against the very competitive Kings. Down 113-123 with 3:03 left, Durant drew a foul and hit one of two free throws. He scored another five points over the next minute as the Warriors forced the Kings into threes by Bogdan Bogdonavic and Yogi Ferrell. Curry swiped the ball from Fox and hit a layup before KD tied it up at 123 with two free throws. After a Fox bucket, their last of the game, Klay quickly responded with a three to take a 126-125 lead, which they iced with four Curry free throws. The Warriors outscored the Kings 17-2 over the last 3:03 and held Sacramento to 1-5 from the field. 

They've done it against the Kings (twice), Magic, Jazz – and it doesn't even have to be in the last three minutes. Against the Blazers on Dec. 29, the Warriors went on a 10-2 run to extend their lead to 16 with 5:04 left. Historically, last year in game 7 of the WCF they did the same, going on a 17-2 run from 5:21 to 2:11 in the 3rd quarter, holding the Rockets to only two free throws and to 0-6 from the field. They turned a six-point deficit into a nine-point lead which they never relinquished. 

This may all be redundant. The Warriors are really good – I know that, you know that. But I desire explanations, and what is really interesting to me is why there would be such a big jump. 

Is it that they are preserving energy? Or do they make a game out of it – how long can we wait to play well before we are really out of it? Or do they really just have the killer instinct that we want out of our star athletes? We know they get everyone’s best shot, does it take that long for them to find a weakness and exploit it?

Whatever it is, when its “winning time,” the Warriors always seem to find a way.