I still get chills thinking back to Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Finals - that was the moment the championship truly swung in the Warriors' favor. Having watched countless Finals games over my 20 years covering the NBA, I can confidently say this was one of those rare contests where every single possession felt like it carried championship implications. What fascinates me most about that game isn't just the spectacular shooting we've come to expect from Steph Curry, but rather the subtle defensive adjustments that completely changed the series trajectory.
The Warriors' defensive scheme that night reminded me of something fundamental about basketball that often gets overlooked in today's three-point obsessed game. There's a beautiful quote from volleyball that applies perfectly here - "the game accelerates with blocks, making it easier for those digging or receiving in back when we touch the block properly." This philosophy translated brilliantly to basketball that night. When Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green started consistently contesting Jayson Tatum's drives, something shifted psychologically. Their perfectly timed blocks - Wiggins had 3 that game while Green added 2 - didn't just stop scoring opportunities. They created immediate transition chances, exactly like how a well-executed block in volleyball sets up the counterattack. I've always believed that great defense generates the best offense, and this game proved it spectacularly.
What made Golden State's defensive approach so effective was how they leveraged those defensive stops. Each block or heavy contest created a 0.8 to 1.2 second advantage in transition - enough time for Curry or Thompson to find an inch of space. The numbers bear this out - the Warriors scored 24 fast break points compared to Boston's 14, and much of that came directly from their defensive intensity. I particularly remember one sequence where Wiggins blocked Tatum's driving layup, leading to a Curry three-pointer the other way that stretched the lead to 9 points late in the third quarter. That five-point swing felt like the emotional dagger, and it all started with disciplined defensive execution.
The Celtics actually shot better from three-point range that game - 38% compared to Golden State's 35% - but couldn't overcome the Warriors' defensive pressure in the paint. Boston committed 16 turnovers leading to 19 Warriors points, many coming from rushed decisions after their initial offensive sets got disrupted. Having analyzed the game film multiple times, I'm convinced it was Golden State's ability to speed up Boston's decision-making through their defensive presence that made the difference. They forced the Celtics into uncomfortable shots and passes they wouldn't normally attempt.
Looking back, Game 4 demonstrated why basketball at its highest level is about more than just making shots - it's about controlling tempo through defensive execution. The Warriors understood that championship basketball requires making opponents uncomfortable, and their blocks and defensive stops did exactly that. They turned defense into their most potent offense, proving that sometimes the most beautiful basketball isn't the spectacular dunk or deep three, but the perfectly timed defensive play that sparks everything else. That's why I believe this game will be studied for years as a masterclass in championship-level defensive execution.