A single basket in Golden State's play-in win over the Los Angeles Clippers - involving two players whose combined age is 77 - is a near-perfect demonstration of offensive concepts that matter far more than any specific set play.

The action that sets everything in motion is simple: Santos passes to Horford, Horford swings the ball to Draymond Green, and then comes the simple but consequential moment - Horford sets a screen for Curry. That's when a chain reaction begins, ending in a three-pointer. Inside that reaction live three foundational concepts:

1. Gravity

When we say a player has gravity, we mean he draws more than one defender toward him. It can happen because of his shooting ability, his drive (the most common case), or his ability to score from the low block. Curry's gravity is the foundation of the Warriors' dynasty - and at 38, it still holds. The moment Curry receives the ball from Green, he pulls two defenders: his own man, Kris Dunn, and the man guarding the screener, Brook Lopez. Curry is fast enough and smart enough to recognize - while the ball is still in the air - that his screener, 39-year-old Al Horford, will be open. He delivers immediately, on the floor, a pass a big man can handle. Which leads directly to the next concept.

2. Numerical Advantage - 2-on-1

Numerical advantage is the goal of every modern offense. Defensive switching is so popular today precisely because it's the best tool to prevent it. The moment Horford catches the ball, a 2-on-1 opens up on one side of the floor: Horford and Santos against Darius Garland. Horford moves fast - no time for the defense to recover - passes to Santos, then immediately creates spacing by moving to the corner. Garland recovers and closes on Santos, so Santos attacks the paint, drawing Horford's defender, Lopez, once more. Once again, a Warriors player forces two defenders onto one - and passes immediately to Horford, who finishes with a corner three.

3. 0.5-Second Decision-Making

This concept went mainstream on the back of San Antonio's success under Gregg Popovich. It's not enough to play fast in transition. Every player must make their decision within half a second. Everyone involved in this possession executed that rule: Curry, who passed the instant he caught it; Horford, who delivered immediately to Santos; Santos, who attacked right away and passed; and Horford again, who released immediately for the shot. NBA defenses are so good today that any hesitation would have resulted in a stop.

Watch the diagrammed play: