Housewarming party spoiled as Golden State Warriors rocked by LA Clippers
1. A putrid defensive showing for the Dubs
For a team with its eyes set on June, defense always seemed optional for the Golden State Warriors over the slog of the 82-game regular season. Without that same personnel, the luxury was no longer there, but nobody told that to the Warriors before tip-off against LA.
The Clippers didn’t just score 141 points. Their 46-point third quarter was the second-most they’ve ever put up in a single frame since moving to Los Angeles. They shot 62.5 percent from the field and canned 18 of their 32 3-point attempts.
The Clippers beat the Warriors 141-122 to spoil Golden State's debut at the Chase Center.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 25, 2019
It's the most points the Warriors have allowed under Steve Kerr (regular season & playoffs) and the most points any team has ever allowed in its 1st game at a new arena (h/t @EliasSports).
Of course, some of those numbers should be attributed to the elite talents like Kawhi Leonard and Lou Williams, who finished with 21 and 22 points, respectively.
Plenty, however, can be credited to Golden State’s defensive deficiencies across the board, where neither Stephen Curry nor D’Angelo Russell is much of a perimeter stopper and not a single frontcourt player — or anyone else — registered a blocked shot.
Next. Each team's best NBA Jam duo of all-time. dark
Putting together an elite defensive performance is easier said and done for these Warriors, but as was the case against LA, the offense isn’t always going to be there. A top-10 defense seems unrealistic, but something better than what they showed versus the Clippers is unquestionably a must to make sure they remain in the playoff picture.