The Golden State Warriors celebrated their fourth NBA championship within the last eight seasons last night with another impressive win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Warriors have been a dominant force since Steve Kerr took over as head coach in 2014, with the 57-year-old reinventing their style of play to a fast-paced, quick passing to find open three-point shots - a style which has been replicated throughout the NBA.
Whilst having elite three-point shooters in Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors have been able to find them and the open man because of their ball movement.
And after their win over the Lakers on Tuesday evening, Thompson was asked about their ball movement, and mentioned that their coach models their passing after a football team.
On the Warriors ball movement, Thompson said: "Yeah, I give credit to Steve Kerr, man. He came in and, he had a vision just to keep that thing hot. He gave us the perfect example: in FC Barcelona they call it 'tiki taka', it's just kick to the open man.
"And with us, just hit the open man, keep moving and it just plays to me and Steph's strengths so much as well as Draymond. Because Draymond can facilitate, same with Andrew Wiggins] and Jordan Poole."
The tiki-taka style of play relies on short passing and movements to find mismatches and shot creation whilst maintaining possession of the ball - something the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquests and Cesc Fabregas mastered at Barcelona under Pep Guardiola.
Kerr is a big football fan, and recently spent time with Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, whilst admitting he has taken inspiration from the German into his stylistic approach in the NBA.
The Warriors are among the favourites to win the NBA title once again this season, with the majority of their roster returning after defeating the Boston Celtics in the finals this past summer.
