The past week speaks volumes about the Warriors’ season. On Monday, they lost to a diminished Pacers, unable to stop rookie Andrew Nembhard. Wednesday, they collapsed in Utah by committing three big errors in the last twenty seconds, including two defensive. May Saturday, they suffocated the Celtics, who have the best offense in NBA history after 25 games, by delivering their best collective defensive performance of the season.
“Our biggest flaw at the moment is our defence,” said Steve Kerr before the game against the Celtics. “We’ve always had a good defense but this season that’s not the case. »
If Golden State’s offensive festival, led by the wrist and the incessant movements of Stephen Curry, always makes headlines, the bedrock of the Warriors’ identity is above all a solid defense. It is she who allows them to run and punish their opponents in transition.
“When you are involved in defense, you pay attention to all the details that have an impact on the game, your opponent and the different challenges you have to meet, etc.” explained Stephen Curry after the meeting. “And usually you’re rewarded on the other side with good pace in attack and you just have to put in it. And we know we can do it. »
Klay Thompson leads by example
No team can hope to win the title without a Top 10 defense in the league, Steve Kerr’s men know that. For this, they need rigor, concentration, intensity, and effort. That’s how they beat the Celtics last June, but this season those four elements rarely appear at the same time. Tonight, the difference was stark.
“We obviously know them well but we were all ultra concentrated from the in-between and for 48 minutes,” noted Jordan Poole, speaking of the defensive effort against the Celtics. “It confirms that we can chain efforts and be rigorous, especially after the last two games, and the result is very different. »
As a symbol, it was Klay Thompson, criticized for his slowdown on this side of the field this season, who set the tone by stealing the ball from the hands of Jayson Tatum from the first minutes, before countering him on the plan on the next action. The Splash Brother was active and aggressive throughout the game, and all of his teammates pitched in. Whether it was Draymond Green and Kevon Looney in the second curtain, or Donte Di Vincenzo and Jonathan Kuminga off the bench, the Warriors defended with a strength and consistency he had yet to show this season.
A very complicated schedule
The question now is whether they can not only chain, but chain away from the Chase Center. This season, according to NBA.comthey have a defensive rating of 106.1 points per 100 possessions at home, 1 point better than the NBA’s current best defense, and 119.2 points away, one point better than the worst defense of the league!
“We needed a game like that,” confessed a Steve Kerr relieved by the performance of his team. “We have been progressing for a few weeks but the results have not necessarily followed, and beating Boston, which has been so dominant this season, is important. It is a step in the right direction. »
Their lack of defensive consistency is about to pass the most telling test of their season. The Warriors are indeed embarking on a nine-day road trip where they will play six games, including four against Top 6 teams in the East, with two back-to-back!
If their defense holds up, the Warriors will finally be able to continue. If it continues to seesaw, they will return to the Bay with several games under 50% victories.
Interview in San Francisco.
