Warriors turn up defensive volume after Draymond’s latest nudge

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Warriors turn up defensive volume after Draymond’s latest nudge originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The words with which Draymond Green concluded his tirade a few days ago might be the best thing to happen to the Warriors this month. They haven’t lost a game since.

We’re referring not to Green’s latest outburst directed at officials – which resulted in an ejection that was not beneficial at all – but to his blunt assessment of the Warriors on Sunday after a loss to the Timberwolves.

After pleading for better habits, groaning about losing winnable games and citing a high degree of breakdowns, Green subtly settled on something tangible.

“We’re a very quiet team,” Green said Sunday. “So, you have issues on defense when you have bad communication.”

The Warriors were vocal Tuesday and Wednesday, winning games at Miami and Orlando, and they stayed on script Friday in Charlotte, where their defense carried them to a 115-97 victory over the Hornets.

“We’re talking a little bit more,” Chris Paul told reporters at Spectrum Center. “Starting to get in the right spots. I think we’re showing what we’re capable of if we defend.”

Defense is not a sexy topic. It generally gets the short end of video highlights. But it is, and always has been, crucial to the Warriors’ success. Never more than this season.

Even though this victory was needed to get the Warriors back to a season-high-tying five games over .500 (39-34), they have been a very good team – but only when they defend at peak level.

The Warriors’ most encouraging month this season was February, during which they went 11-3 with a 108.9 defensive rating that ranked fifth in the league and second in the Western Conference. That was enough to inspire faith in rising to sixth in the West, escaping the conference play-in tournament relegated to teams finishing between seventh and 10th.

Though that goal remains mathematically in play, the Warriors seem destined to finish closer to 10th than sixth – all because their defense fell into the habit of missed assignments, slow closeouts and breakdowns that resulted in seven losses through their…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/warriors-turn-defensive-volume-draymonds-054311484.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-03-30 05:43:11

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