The San Antonio Spurs' offensive display in Miami is doing more than befuddling the Heat. It's providing an emphatic example of how the Warriors should be playing.

The Spurs are running circles around the two-time defending NBA champions. They are making a pretty good defense look like a pickup team in a church league trying to wing a 2-3 zone.

And San Antonio is doing this with three stars over 30, an overweight power forward and a few specialists.

How? Ball movement, body movement, passing and shooting. All of which can be staples of the Warriors' offense.

The Warriors should be biting. Doubtful they can be this good. Certainly, the Spurs have had years to indoctrinate the system of mastermind Gregg Popovich. But this direction could pay immediate dividends for the Warriors.


New coach Steve Kerr was chosen because the Warriors agree this is the route the franchise should take. And the Spurs are showing exactly why that is the best route for the roster.

The Warriors have few one-on-one players and are wanting in the athleticism department. And no one on Golden State's front line comes close to future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan. Still, the Warriors boast the kind of players you'd think Popovich would love to get his hands on.

Imagine if Stephen Curry, who isn't a natural penetrator, wouldn't have to work so hard to score because he were operating in space and had a progressive set of options created by moving targets.

Imagine if Harrison Barnes were set free in open space, strategically feeding off slashes and cuts -- negating his sketchy ballhandling.


Imagine if Andrew Bogut were used as more than just a screener and lob recipient but as an offensive hub who can facilitate the Warriors' host of scorers.

Curry, Bogut, Andre Iguodala, David Lee and Draymond Green are all capable passers. Curry, Barnes and Klay Thompson are reliable 3-point shooters -- and Green can knock down some, too.

The isolation-heavy, post-up offense the Warriors ran the last few seasons highlighted their collective weaknesses more than amplified their unique strengths. It's why the Warriors were a middle-of-the-pack team in offensive efficiency.

No question, the Warriors still need another star. They at least need to add a penetrator and another shooter or two.

But based on the core of this team, on the pieces it is locked into, the Warriors should be mimicking the Spurs.

San Antonio is making shots at a ridiculous rate (and we all know it's a make-or-miss league). But it's not just hot shooting. The Spurs are getting good looks, acquired through execution of a complex system. Danny Green seems to never miss. But part of that is because Miami never seems to be able to find him.

Too much movement. Too much spacing.

As the Heat's LeBron James explained, every player on the Spurs is a threat. If he is not scoring, he is making the pass that sets up the score. If he is not passing, he is screening or cutting -- a chess move that usually reveals its impact 10 seconds later.

This is what offense would look like if John Nash dedicated his beautiful mind to basketball strategy. And the star-laden Heat seems to have no answer.

Based on the behind-the-scenes scuttle, Kerr is trying to cull a staff of assistants with the offensive acumen to milk the Warriors' strengths.

If they land David Blatt, who just announced that he was leaving Israel to pursuing a coaching gig in the NBA, the Warriors will have a respected offensive mind on their bench. If they lure Alvin Gentry from the Los Angeles Clippers, they will be getting a guy who has proved to be a creative and productive offensive coach.

The goal should be to take full advantage of the skill set of Curry, the versatility of Iguodala, the shooting of Thompson, the passing of the big men.

And the Spurs are showing them how.
