DEFENSE WINS
Warriors have found their identity, and it’s even better than expected
The Warriors have found their identity. It’s what they thought it would be all along.
Since Feb. 1, the Warriors’ record is indicative of their season — 7-6 — but they have the fourthbest net rating in the NBA. Only the red-hot Jazz and Suns, and the notso-red-hot-but-still-good Bucks, can boast a better points-per100-possession differential.
But don’t credit Golden State’s offense for the stronger play. No, it’s the defense that’s gone to a new level in recent weeks.
I made jokes about Steve Kerr’s preseason goal of having a top-10 defense, but the Warriors have just that. In fact, they’re much better than that — they’re ranked fourth in the league, overall.
Kerr wanted defense to be this team’s calling card. Old school? Perhaps. But it’s effective, and it’s coming to fruition. And while I was once skeptical of the team’s defensive bona fides, there’s no reason to think this level of play is a fluke.
The Warriors have become an elite defensive team in recent weeks thanks to Draymond Green’s supporting cast.
“Coming into this year, I knew this team had the potential to be a great defensive team,” Green, who has this nasty habit of always being correct with his basketball commentary, said after Wednesday’s win over the Indiana Pacers. “You always give yourself a chance if you are.”
Indeed, the Warriors are, and that’s giving them a chance even on a night like Wednesday, when Steph Curry made only one 3-pointer in the contest. (Can you believe it?)
So what’s behind the Warriors’ defensive resurgence? Well, having Green healthy and at the epicenter of a defense is obviously important.
“I’d like to think I’m a pretty good defender,” Green said.
I’d say. But, no disrespect to Draymond, I think the credit for the Warriors’ success needs to be spread around a bit more.
Given Green’s followup comments, I think he agrees.
Curry deserves credit for improving his game on the defensive end. Kerr called Curry’s defense “fantastic” Wednesday.
“He will fall asleep a lot off the ball, but he’s not falling asleep anymore,” Green said. “He (used to) fall asleep and give up a back-door layup once a game, sometimes twice a game . ... Now, he’s not giving up that stuff off the ball. He’s locked in, he’s engaged, he’s chipping in on the big, he’s getting to the elbows on rebounds, he’s getting big-boy rebounds.”
And the Warriors’ second unit might be tough to watch at times on the offensive end, but since the month started, it has an outstanding defensive rating of 94. Credit Damion Lee upping his game on the defensive side of the floor, Eric Paschall’s energy, and the veteran guile of Kent Bazemore and
Brad Wanamaker.
Juan Toscano-Anderson is an awesome defender, too, when he plays. The advanced stats can’t get enough of the guy.
But above all else, credit for the Warriors’ defensive awakening needs to go to the Warriors’ starting wings.
Andrew Wiggins has become a truly ace wing defender, capable of guarding — and locking up — some of the best scorers in the NBA. The value of a player like that is immeasurable if the Warriors make the postseason.
“In the 10 games Andrew played last year — or however many it was...” (It was 12) “you immediately saw his potential on the defensive end and how good he could be on that end,” Green said.
The Warriors’ coaches and his teammates put their trust in that potential this season. He’s now validating that trust, becoming a steadying influence on this team and a force on the defensive end. That understated but strong play has been critical to the Warriors’ defensive excellence this year.
And Kelly Oubre deserves just as much love. For all of the things he does that still drive me (and others) crazy, he has been eons better in recent weeks. Not just on offense, either. On that side of the court, he’s now getting out more in transition, moving without the ball in half-court sets, and knocking down open corner 3-pointer looks — all big improvements. But his defense has come miles.
“We’ve played against Oubre, so I understood the type of defender that he is and the kind of intensity that he brings on that side of the floor,” Green said. “Most importantly, I think I have pretty long arms, I think Kelly has me by 2 inches.”
That length, paired with Oubre’s unrivaled confidence, makes him an intimidating and wily defender. The way he finished the game against the Knicks Tuesday — an Andre Iguodala-style chop in the lane to steal the ball — epitomized his improved play.
“Put me next to those two,” Green said.
Yeah. Pretty good.
But it should be noted that the Warriors’ best heavily-used three-man lineup this month doesn’t have Green in it. It’s actually Curry, Wiggins and Oubre, who have a net rating of 7.9 when they’re on the floor together (offensive rating 116.4, defensive rating 109.1).
That’s the evolution. Green is still a defensive genius. He might not be at full-speed just yet, but that shift to sixth gear looks like it’s imminent.
But when he doesn’t have to carry the full load — when he isn’t having to clean up two, three messes at a time, as he was earlier in the season — it’s almost impossible to not have a strong defense.
“(Kevon) Looney is a great defender. (James) Wise(man) has great length and will be a great defender. He’s not quite a great defender yet because he just doesn’t understand enough, but he will be a great defender. And then you add in a much stronger, much better defending Stephen Curry,” Green said. “If you look at the makeup of this team, if we put it all together, which I think we’re starting to do, that should be a good defensive team.”
Did you catch that? Draymond was wrong about something.
The Warriors are already a good defensive team. They have the potential to be outstanding.
And while offense might grab all the headlines, come playoff time, that’s the kind of team you want to back.