Golden State Warriors: 5 Takeaways From Opening Week
1. Dubs Need To Get Back To Defense
People forget this but under Mark Jackson, and even in the first season under Steve Kerr, the Golden State Warriors were a defensively oriented team. In their last season under Jackson, they ranked third in defensive rating, surrendering only 99.9 points per 100 possessions.
In their first season under Kerr — the championship season — they led the league in defensive rating (98.2) despite also ranking second in offensive rating (109.7). In 2015-16 — the infamous 73-win, 3-1 Finals loss season — their offense took center stage, with a defensive rating of 100.9 (fifth) compared to an offensive rating of 112.5 (first).
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In the playoffs, the Dubs’ offensive rating dipped to 108.4, but their defensive rating also dropped to 102.4. In the conference finals it dropped even further to 104.5, and in the Finals, it plummeted to 105.3. The Warriors had gotten away from what made them a powerhouse in the first place, relying on excessively tough shot-making from the Splash Brothers.
Heading into the 2016-17 redemption campaign, defense was a main concern. Golden State’s Lineup of Death, which would now plug Kevin Durant’s all-encompassing wing span, rebounding and rim protection into the mix in Harrison Barnes’ place, was always going to be terrifying.
But could the Warriors defend the rim with Zaza Pachulia taking Andrew Bogut’s place? Would they get enough rebounds after struggling with second chance opportunities during their playoff run? Would they be able to re-establish their roots on the defensive end despite adding even more offensive firepower?
Through their first four games, the Warriors have struggled to find themselves defensively. They gave up 129 points to the Spurs on opening night, another 114 to Anthony Davis and the Pellies, and then another 100 to a very young Suns team. Even in their dominant win in Portland, they gave up 104 points.
So far, the Dubs rank 19th in the NBA in defensive rating at 105.2 points per 100 possessions. The Spurs blowout, the Brow’s explosion and Jake Layman in garbage time have probably skewed those numbers, which would’ve been skewed anyway from such a small sample size.
Next: 2016-17 NBA Power Rankings: Week 2
The point remains, however, that Golden State must rediscover itself on the end of the floor where they first established themselves as legitimate title contenders. If they want to make this super-team work, that’s where they’ll need to get started.