IN SAN FRANCISCO It is an entirely unglamorous duty that is hard on the body and possibly much worse on the mind, yet it is necessary for any team to be taken seriously, much less win the NBA.
Protection
Warriors are out there looking for theirs. They had to return home in the middle of May of the previous season due in large part to such failures. Furthermore, the defense hasn’t improved through the first three preseason games, despite the training camp emphasis on doing so.
We’ll allow head coach Steve Kerr to share his observations thus far:
He called Tuesday’s practice “bad defense.” “We haven’t arrived yet.
“Through three games, we’re fouling jump shooters more than we did a year ago. That is one of the main points we are attempting to make.
There was a noticeable improvement on defense on Sunday against the Kings in Sacramento, following abysmal performances in the first two preseason games, both against the Lakers. The Warriors outscored the Kings 42–17 from the line while committing just 22 fouls. Golden State’s two games against Los Angeles had a 57-51 shooting disadvantage from the line.Kerr said, “That last game (at Sacramento) was better in that regard.” “We committed less fouls. In the opening two games, we fouled a much.
These kinds of games will continue. These Warriors will face difficulties on defense for a number of reasons. They are comparatively small in stature compared to other NBA teams. They have comparatively few elite athletes compared to other NBA clubs. Additionally, they lack an approved rim protector.
Overcoming those primarily physical differences usually leads to a greater frequency of desperation fouls.
Then there’s the uncertainty brought about by roster upheaval and Draymond Green’s temporary absence. Along with newcomers Trayce Jackson-Davis and Brandin Podziemski, the team also includes veterans Chris Paul and Dario Sarić.
Stephen Curry stated of Green, who will miss the preseason due to a sprained left ankle, “It’s definitely a factor.” However, it also involves ironing out the flaws in this specific group, recognizing our advantages and disadvantages, and paying close attention to the specifics of our defense strategy. Technique and guarding style are crucial, and they must be coordinated in terms of on-ball, off-ball, and communication regarding calls made. When they’re not, you’re fouling and giving away offensive rebounds because you’re out of position and occasionally your lack of size shows.
Up to a point, Kerr acknowledged the Green’s absence as a legitimate justification.
“I believe that Raymond is the league’s best defensive player,” he remarked. We won’t perform as well if he is out.
Yet we still have to be reliable. To see that little improvement in a number of areas, we must focus on our main concerns. That is what we need to do in order to improve significantly.
The Warriors’ defensive rating from the previous season was 113.4, which dropped to 111.1 during the postseason. Denver, which is not renowned for its defense, came out on top in the NBA Finals, finishing fourth out of 16 teams with a rating of 110.2.
The Warriors’ defensive rating of 106.0 puts them in 14th place after three preseason games. Because of the small sample size (six out of the thirty NBA teams are rated below 100), habits should be scrutinized more than just mere statistics.
Last season, the Warriors’ 118.3 defensive rating on the road, which ranked 28th in the NBA, was a frequent occurrence of bad habits.
We need to recover more effectively, Kerr stated. “We need to defend without fouling, handle the ball better, and apply more pressure to it.
However, preseason is meant for just that. We are able to identify those errors and see them. It will then be up to the boys to improve and go the extra mile.
Curry claims that after each game, extensive video analysis has taken place. clips with both the highlights and the lowlights. Before the season starts, the Warriors have one more week to take care of the top priority.
Together, the team’s core three have 12 title rings. They are aware of the value of defense. Although the process is taking its time, they have enough experience to realize that no season can conclude well without turning into a strength.