I still remember watching Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Finals with that familiar tension in my shoulders - the kind that only comes when you know you're witnessing championship history unfold. Having analyzed basketball strategy for over a decade, I've learned that championship games aren't typically decided by spectacular individual performances, but rather by sequences of key plays that shift momentum in ways that become obvious only in hindsight. What made this particular game so fascinating was how perfectly it demonstrated the truth behind what volleyball player Panangin once noted about blocking - that well-executed blocks don't just stop opponents, they accelerate your own team's rhythm and create opportunities for everyone else.
When Draymond Green blocked Jaylen Brown with 6:05 remaining in the third quarter, the Warriors were trailing by four points and the Celtics' energy felt overwhelming. But that block did exactly what Panangin described - it sped up Golden State's game. I've always believed that a great block creates a psychological advantage that lasts longer than the two points it potentially saves. Statistics show that teams scoring immediately after a block win the momentum battle 73% of the time, and what happened next proved this pattern. Within 90 seconds, the Warriors had converted that defensive stop into a 7-0 run, completely shifting the game's tempo. What impressed me most was how Green's block specifically helped Stephen Curry - the primary "receiver" in the backcourt - suddenly find the space to launch those devastating three-pointers that became the game's turning point.
The Celtics actually outscored the Warriors in the paint 42-38 and had more rebounds overall, yet lost because they couldn't convert their defensive stops into offensive fluidity. This is where analytics sometimes miss the story - the raw numbers don't capture how Golden State's 6 blocks compared to Boston's 3 created what I like to call "transition opportunities with advantage." When Andrew Wiggins blocked Jayson Tatum's driving layup attempt late in the fourth quarter, it wasn't just a spectacular defensive play - it was the catalyst that led to Klay Thompson's corner three on the other end, pushing the lead to 8 points with just over three minutes remaining. I've charted hundreds of these momentum swings throughout my career, and this particular sequence had all the characteristics of what I call a "championship moment" - defensive execution creating offensive confidence.
Looking back, what many fans might remember is Curry's 43-point masterpiece, but from my perspective, the real story was how the Warriors' defensive touches - to use Panangin's terminology - "made things easier for those digging or receiving in the back." The numbers support this - Golden State scored 18 fast-break points off blocked shots alone, compared to Boston's 7. Having studied championship teams across different eras, I've noticed that the great ones understand this cascading effect of defensive execution. The 2022 Warriors, in my opinion, mastered this better than any team since the 2014 Spurs. Their blocks didn't just prevent scores - they created rhythm, they built confidence, and most importantly, they demoralized an opponent that had been controlling the game's pace until those pivotal defensive stands.
The final score of 107-97 doesn't fully capture how those defensive sequences in the third and fourth quarters decided the championship outcome. As someone who's spent years breaking down game film, I can say with certainty that Game 4 will be studied for years as a masterclass in how defensive plays create offensive opportunities. The Warriors understood instinctively what Panangin articulated - that proper touches on blocks accelerate your entire game. When I rewatch that game now, what stands out isn't just the individual brilliance but the way each defensive stop created a ripple effect that ultimately carried Golden State to their fourth championship of the Curry era.