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Kendra AndrewsGAME
LOS ANGELES — Ask almost any member of golden empire warriorsand they’ll tell you it’s fitting that they go into the All-Star break at 0.500 with a 29-29 record.
Their 29th loss of the season came last Tuesday night Laser cutting, 134-124. Again, their main problem is the defence. The Clippers overcame the Warriors 44-28 in the third inning, and Golden State never recovered.
The Warriors’ defense, which ranks 19th in the NBA after finishing second in 2021-22, is what they see as their biggest problem throughout the season.
“It must come from within,” forward Blue Draymond speak. “Defense is all about will, wanting to defend. Defensive is not fun. You just have to do it if you want to win, we don’t.”
More than individual defense, Green said the Warriors lacked “a collective effort to defend.”
Why they didn’t find 58 games during the season, Green didn’t know.
“It’s the will to protect – stop and protect your people, sink, drop the box and spin,” says Green. “Defense just needs an extra step or two… it’s all about will, and we don’t have that as a team.”
The Golden State’s tight defense continues to be a problem. Tracking by Second Spectrum, the Warriors are allowing 1.02 points per chance from screen on the ball, the worst performer in the league this season. Last season, they spent only 0.91 points per chance against the ball, the best efficiency allowed.
On Tuesday, the Clippers averaged 1.28 points per chance when using the ball screen against the Warriors, the third-highest efficiency allowed in a Golden State game this season. The Clippers also used the movement of the ball to attack the Warriors, hitting a season-high with 33 assists.
“Each guy has to decide to take that challenge on his own. It’s not just about defending the ball. The challenge is that I’ve got to be there to help and that guy has to be able to trust that I’m going to take part in it. .” to get there,” Green said. “If he didn’t believe I was going to get there, what would you do? You are so bad. We all know it’s a problem for us.”
Green has long been a defensive anchor in the Golden State, and a leader in blaming his teammates. But all season — ever since he got into an argument with his teammates Jordan Poole during a practice session in October — it feels like his voice, at least in part, has deepened.
“Defense is all about will, wanting to defend. Defensive is not fun. You just have to do it if you want to win, we don’t.”
Warrior striker Draymond Green
In an episode of his January podcast, Green said he had to stay on track “not being Draymond Green” when it came to his more conventional, more abrasive motivational style. Because his lack of leadership has led to a lot of Warriors struggles, he said.
He shared a similar sentiment on Tuesday.
“I mean, I’ll always try to be on that side, but I can do better. I’m just as guilty as anyone else,” Green said. “I’m not pointing fingers or blaming anyone. If you’re the leader at something and you’re failing at it, it’s your fault.”
Green believes the team at the Golden State has the ability to find that collective will to defend, but it won’t magically emerge. Unlike previous seasons, when it was believed that everything would work out when the roster was healthy, Green said the Warriors would have to dig deep to run together.
“Now or never,” Green said. “We were 0.500 at halftime. Average team with those average stats. You have to come out at halftime and win and do it at a high level, or you go home at the beginning of the month. 4. I won’t be satisfied with that. But that will be the result if we don’t get there.”
