Warriors' last-minute defensive plan backfires

The Celtics responded to this defensive plan by scoring 44 points in the first quarter on their way to a 140-88 win. It was their third win of 50 or more points this season, an NBA record.

The game was even at 21-21 six minutes into the game. Then the Warriors' "plan" took shape, which involved Draymond Green sagging off Jaylen Brown and daring him to shoot. That backfired when Brown sank three straight triples to spark a 14-0 Boston run. After Klay Thompson hit a technical free throw, Boston ran off another nine straight points for a 23-1 run.

Green said he thought the defensive approach on Brown was "fun to try," but it didn't look like Golden State was having fun as Boston rocketed to an 82-38 halftime lead. In the second quarter, the Warriors played Brown more conventionally - and Jayson Tatum lit them up for 20 points. That may be why Steve Kerr told reporters the team had to "pick their matchups" and called Boston "a hell of a team."

Still, the radical defensive approach certainly gave Brown motivation to go off.

The loss snapped an eight-game road win streak for the Warriors and continued an 11-game win streak for Boston. It's unlikely that these two teams will have a rematch of their 2022 NBA Finals battle with Golden State sitting in a play-in spot, but if they do, we have some advice for Kerr and the Warriors: Decide on the defense at least an hour early.