The Warriors have the NBA’s top defense over the past two weeks and rank third in the league for the season, writes Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle (subscription required). Golden State has held its last three opponents under 100 points and has shown significant improvement in that area since Draymond Green blasted the defensive effort following a November 26 loss to Houston.
The team doesn’t have much size on defense, but Gordon notes that it’s able to compensate by wearing down opponents with ball pressure and frequently switching between man-to-man and zone. The addition of De’Anthony Melton, who made his season debut last week after recovering from an ACL tear, has given the Warriors another capable on-ball-defender.
“We’re taking away some of the easy stuff. Some of that is taking better care of the ball,” coach Steve Kerr said. “When you’re in control of the game, you just feel like your defense is set up. Overall, we’re doing a better job containing dribble penetration and just helping each other and playing with a lot of energy.”
The offense ranks just 22nd, which Kerr attributes to a lingering turnover problem, but scoring from unexpected sources has helped the Warriors survive some early-season injuries. Gordon notes that backup point guard Pat Spencer is averaging 16 points and 5.8 assists while shooting 59.1% from the field over the past four games while Stephen Curry is sidelined with a quad contusion and muscle strain.
“He’s a really good downhill pick-and-roll player, which is a powerful force,” Kerr said of Spencer. “You need that type of action, especially in the modern game with the floor spacing. And he’s a good passer.”
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Curry was able to participate in a full scrimmage on Wednesday, according to Anthony Slater of ESPN (Twitter link). No decision has been made on his status for Friday’s game against Minnesota, but Kerr said it looks promising that the two-time MVP will be able to play.
- The team will continue to be cautious with Melton, who has logged 21 and 17 minutes in his two games since returning, Slater adds (Twitter link). Kerr plans to keep Melton in that range until his conditioning returns and probably won’t use him on both ends of back-to-backs.
- Kerr addressed the status of Jonathan Kuminga, who will be become eligible to be traded on January 15 (Twitter video link from Slater). Speculation that Kuminga will be shipped out increased after he received a DNP in Sunday’s game at Chicago. “I can imagine it’s not easy for him,” Kerr said. “We talked about the situation. My desire is for JK to be the best player he can be, regardless of where he ends up, whether it’s here or elsewhere.”
- Spencer, who was considered one of best lacrosse players in NCAA history, talked about why he chose to pursue a career in basketball in a video posted at NBC Sports Bay Area.
Kuminga, Hield, #1 pick >>>>>>> to Suns
Jalen Green >>>>>>> to Warriors
DOA.
Kerr let it slip lol. He will be traded. What I don’t understand is. Is how he can’t backup Jimmy. That is where he should be, not starting. Jimmy plays 32 mins. Means JK has 16 mins right there. You can find 4-8 more mins depending on game. Imo Kerr just can’t wait on him anymore.
link to yardbarker.com
Funny. From the article you posted a link to:
“Kuminga has the physical tools to be one of the best two-way players in the game, but he’s rarely shown the consistency or the motor to get to the next level.”
Also
“He’s also demanded a bigger role without necessarily earning it, and he has failed to make the most of the opportunities he got to be a starter.”
So, explain to me how Warrior’s fans are wrong for having a dim view of Kuminga? Maybe that is why the rest of the league is not that excited about him.
The Warriors need to hang onto their draft picks for the rebuild.
What do you think Green is. He is much further along than JK. Fits with Jimmy and Steph great imo.
The #1 highest-valued franchise is never rebuilding no matter how hard you wishcast that. It’s not happening. Period. Giannis is coming.
Weird – the Warriors wouldn’t give up a FRP for Green. They might make the trade with a 2nd rd pick though, despite needing height.
Not a chance. Hard pass
warriors get the FRP not suns
Davey J gonna see this and punch the air so hard because it makes Kerr look good
Kerr just needs to keep playing Post whose defense in the middle caused the better defense with him bulking up and moving his feet. The big test will be t-wolves with Edwards coming in and 2 bigs in the middle.
Post’s improvement has been one of my favorite things to watch so far this year (other than Spencer of course).
Yeah – Post went into THE POST!
@Hoopsrumors – add @TunaNoCrust to the list of people who visit your page because of ME. I am the one who drives traffic! Bow to me, or at least pay me!!
Lmao I come here for Celtics info brother but you definitely make the comment section fun for me! Unlike some of the haters out there I enjoy your takes whether they are grounded or psychotic HAHA
Here’s the thing: It’s not even a disrespect! You SHOULD want to come here to read my next level takes that are almost always proven correct! I bat at about a 90% correct rate on here, and when I don’t I’m obviously memeing or just trying to be funny. You get it, I like you, I’m just making a point to my haters who always drop my name in threads before I even get there. Like, at least do the “reply guy” thing right, you idiots!!! (not you)
Lmfao!
If the warriors trade for Giannis I’ll give you you’re flowers.
This “best defense in the league” partial season stat is a bit laughable. “Over the past 2 weeks” is just 6 games, and they went 3-3, losing to the Rockets, OKC, and Philly (with 2 mistakes at the end handing the 76ers the game), with wins over the Cavs who were on the B2B/5 games in 7, the 3-win Pelicans, and the Bulls who were on a 6-gm losing streak.
The question now is what will Kerr do when Steph and Dray are available? Will he revert to his usual “get the ball to Steph or get benched” thing that turns the other players into less involved role players , or is he actually going to limit the old guys’ minutes and keep the guys that have played well motivated by continuing to give them consistent minutes?
Here’s the article without the paywall:
link to msn.com
Bulls were also on a back to back as well as being on the losing streak you mentioned
With Curry back the defense will go down a little.
Why? 2-time steals leader Steph Curry plays very good defense?
Watch the games closely and other teams will target Curry on the floor by doing switches so much bigger offensive players can shoot over Curry.
That doesn’t happen anymore in Kerr’s 4 SG lineups. During Hamptons 5 era, sure, but that era is also when Curry led the league in steals.
Curry locked Bron when switched 1-1 in late and close in a couple of those Finals too, when that switch you are talking about was made.
NBAOK, “”This “best defense in the league” partial season stat is a bit laughable.””
Seriously, laughable?
What’s wrong with giving the stats of how things are going so far?
What’s wrong with giving a scorecard of the season up to this point?
It’s better than how they were playing. Those turnovers were killing them.
In the 6 “best defense in the league” games, they averaged 14.3 TOs/gm. The league average is 14.9, Warriors for the season is 16.0
I admit. I smirked at the best defense in the league. Its not funny perse.
As an outsider, it is hard to believe there must be a daily update over the planet on every action gsw and nyk do.
I understand why.
The hawks at some point in their history, had the best offense in the nba. Over the span of 4 games. Maybe.
Warrior and knicks have huge followings like Lakers so of course the media wants to comment on them more than the hawks or smaller market teams get.
Well, “the past 2 weeks” is a random slice of 6 out of 25 games, and going 3-3 doesn’t reflect a change from their being around .500 for most of the season.
It’s more on their opponents in these 6 games that made the defense look good.
I guess you must live on the East coast. There have been a lot of local articles the talked about how team was sloppy in their execution after going 4-1. This is just latest time that Draymond has gotten on the rest about it.
The Warriors offense doesn’t revolve around getting the ball to Curry. Curry is setting screens for Butler. I guess both should be benched.
Coastal elitism, local Warriors media not being biased, Draymond’s “leadership”, offense doesn’t revolve around Curry and an immature suggestion of benching both Curry and Butler.
This truly has the entire Warrior fandom/commenting experience in one paragraph. Bravo
How do you get coastal elitism and media bias out of what I said? That is a real stretch there Skippy.
The Warriors have been making mental errors on defense and offense for at least a month. It has cost them a few games. Just look at the NBA’s stats. The local media has been pointing it out. I don’t understand how that is elitist? After Draymond’s latest tearing into the team, the others starting to take it to heart. And it is starting to show results. How is that elitist?
It is silly to say that Kerr wants the whole offense to go through Curry, or you’ll get benched. Why do you think they traded for Butler. Teams were keying on Curry and the offense was stagnant. Curry setting screens for Butler is evidence of an evolving offense. Butler didn’t get benched.
@Giants74
If “the Warriors offense doesn’t revolve around getting the ball to Curry”, why did Kerr get “incensed” and immediately bench Kuminga for “looking Steph off” in a blowout over the Blazers down the stretch last season, which lasted through the next game vs the Clippers the Warriors lost in OT?
That’s proof of the opposite of your assertion being true.
If they need some scoring, wouldn’t Colin Sexton make a difference? Instant scorer off the bench, and he has an expiring contract out as well. Maybe a 2nd round pick and Moses Moody ($11.5M) Buddy Hield ($9.2M) for him?
If you thought Podz publicly wanting to be a better shooter than Steph Curry was a laughable problem, the Colin Sexton on court experience will quickly bring that situation into its proper (insignificant) perspective.
Sexton is no better than Moody. Moody is better defensively than Sexton.
Sexton is better than Moody and guys who average 15ppg for 8 seasons in the NBA aren’t common. Moody isn’t that. This is just silly.
You need to do more than score to win a ring, ask Carmelo Anthony
@Druuu
Sexton’s career ppg avg is actually 18.7 ppg. That’s quite a bit higher than Moody’s 7.4, and Moody’s career best 11.7 this season.
You have the 3rd ranked defense in the league, I think you’d be fine with Sexton on the floor. It’s about generating easy buckets.
Here is the problem Sexton takes whose minutes? He doesn’t rebound too. So with Spencer who fits the warriors offense you don’t want to cut his minutes. Melton is back and he is better than both Moody and Sexton so he needs minutes too. The need for a big rebounder next to Post is their biggest need. Moody could be used in a trade for a big rebounder in the middle.
Arc I love your comments, demeanor, levelheadedness, and often times support.
But You’re off base here. Moses Moody sucks and in a huge way.
Colin Sexton is a talented NBA basketball player.
I never been a Sexton fan. Moody is average but so is Sexton. I rather use moody on a trade for a big man to back up Post.
I’m not a Colin Sexton fan either. But he’s twice a player Moses Moody is.
I suppose the subject at hand was trading for him and I agree with you. I wouldn’t do it either.
Warriors need a player to go along with Post at center so when he is off the floor there is rebounding. Save Moddy for a trade to get a back up cneter. Also there is no minutes for Sexton. Melton and Spencer will get the minutes that Moody once had. Now that Curry is back there is less minutes on the plate for the back ups who been doing good.
Moses Moody is 100x the player Collin Sexton is. Gary doesn’t know ball. GDKB.
@Arc
Warriors fans tend to overrate Moody’s defense. Considering Moody’s inconsistency on offense, I’d say Sexton is better overall.
16 points and 5 assists is nothing to laugh about. Spencer is not only playing with confidence and nothing to lose attitude, but playing with great energy and enthusiasm. He has good feel for the game and somehow makes scoring easy. His teammates seem to trust him and now his coaches. He has looked solid almost every time he has played going back to preseason, so let’s ride the momentum and let him play until otherwise! His teammates seem to feed off his emergy. so it’s a no brainer. Spencer earned it.
As for Kuminga, it’s over. He should not be playing anymore on Warriors uniform. It just doesnt seem right. Butler was unbearable to watch at the end in Miami when they tried to force him to play. Kuminga is healthy. There’s really nothing to gain by playing Kuminga. No more faking it. It’s not fair to the players, fans, Kuminga, and even the coaching staff. Both the Warriors and Kuminga want him to stay healthy before Jan 15th…. Let’s shut it down and focus on other stuffs like winning, lol.
But he’s a future franchise backbone and tradable for Giannis!!!
Giannis is very unlikely coing to the warriors. He has picked 2 teams knicks and Heat he wants to play for. Heat has the players and draft picks available for Giannis if they decide to trade him.
@Hoops. Davey is a joke. Thin skin muted me for calling him out on another thread when he didn’t tespond to a clear basketball analysis by @Buying buckets. Weak.
You speak no lies!!!
@HoopsRumors add @Druuu to the list of humans who come here because of ME. Please pay me!!! My takes = the straw that stirs the drink around here, not Gary “Moody sucks, I am a Boston sports fan — dont connect those dots too hard!!!”
I don’t think any of you understand the Warriors offense. It’s built for playmakers and shooters. Unfortunately when Steph is out. You don’t have enough scoring or playmakers to make it work.
No one else has stepped up consistently to be that third and fourth guy. Podz is just now starting to play better. And Spencer was able to step in cause no one was doing it passing, play-making , handling the ball.
The defense is playing well top 10, I believe. Their rebounding is bottom 10. Rebounding is part of defense. Their two biggest issues have been. No consistent playmakers/ballhandlers. Or consistent scoring besides Steph and Jimmy. And of course a rim protector. Warriors are .500. So it’s not like they can’t get better. Spencer and Richards were good finds. Getting Melton back will also help. Best thing to upgrade is a Kuminga trade. The schedule gets more friendly now for a month. So this is the time to start playing consistently …….
You do know Curry is back on Friday. The warriors are not beating teams on offense but on defense. Even in their dynasty run they had great defense. If you were a warriors fan you would know that. The warriors biggest need is a big man so when Post is not on the floor they have rim protection. Also with Curry back there is less minutes for the back ups. melton is a ball handler which they lacked. With warriors tough rotations you need high IQ players is why Kuminga can’t keep up in the defense. You might wnat to stick with what is wrong with knicks not warriors.
Seriously dude. We are so far apart it’s not worth it to me. you are years behind. If you don’t know it was offense that won the titles. Then you don’t know your own team. They were a to D team. But it was their shooting that changed the game. They are the first team since the Dynasty Celtics. To use the outside shot as a weapon. They used multiple players. And they had the three point shot. Your ambivalence and disregard for the truth. Really blinds you to what I say. Basketball is so easy for me. I try to make it easier here.
You can’t win without great defense but that went over your head again. You can go back to Run TMC that had great shooters but played no defense so they never did good in playoffs. You never seem to be right on anything lately.
Your lost lol. You really don’t get it …….
I am the only one on HR who talks defense. I coined the term 1way and 2way players.
Who is the OneWay wonder. Please go away ..
@KnickAl
2015, Warriors were #1 in Def Rtg and 2nd in Off Rtg
2017, 2nd in Def Rtg, 1st in Off Rtg
2018, 3rd in Off Rtg, 11th in Def Rtg
2022, 1st in Def Rtg, 17th in Off Rtg
Looks like you’re wrong.
Where have you been? Turnovers have been a problem for the past 3 seasons. This is nothing new.
1 of their many flaws. Its not just TO it also been lack of defense.
Kerr is the best coach in the league for turning those grandpa’s into a winning team.
WILD how the Warriors defense got better the second Draymond started playing less and less.
Kuminga, Green, Hield and 4 FRP for Giannis and Thansis…its the best for all parties…
The defense has been good without Green mainly because Green been playing injured for a while and Kerr playing him out of position to guard centers much bigger than Green.
Green is going nowhere while Curry is still playing.
@RenoChris you said the same thing about Klay.
Klay was a UFA who chose the Mavs. Dray is on his 3rd year of a 4 year deal making almost $26 mil with a player option next season.
Unless Curry leaves, Dray will stay with GSW.
You are wishcasting and that’s fine. Draymond likely will not be on the Warriors much longer, Jimmy has replaced him in every imaginable way and is the superior teammate.
No, I’m reality-casting.
Draymond’s defense might have been the difference in last nights loss. He’s central to Kerrball/Stephball and that won’t change anytime soon.
Kuminga’s (and Moody’s) defense also would have caused GSW to win last night. TJD had 8 points and 7 REB in 15 mins….so why not play him more? Kerr benched him to go small again….vs a team you cannot go small against.
Moody with 22 mins +3 11 points, Podz 23 mins -9 2 points…there’s no question here, Moses Moody is 100x the player Brandin Podziemski is, and Kerr should be playing Moody 30 mins and Podz and Buddy less than 10.
Podz and Buddy are a straight up cancer on this team.
Please learn what tge facts mean …..
So called Warriors fans — yet you don’t know the team you lie for. Only Davey J the FankenStein Warrior fan knows the truth. I’ll give him that.
I have been trying to tell you about Kerr offense for yrs now. And how winning that Title in 2022. Has made him go all out for small ball. He is trying to duplicate that team. Obviously he thinks it’s best for Steph and their chances to win …… these are the Title teams, have you watched these games ????
2015 — Warrior team had 5 bigs 4 true Centers.
D Lee, A Bogut, Ezeli, Kusmic, Speights ….
2017 — Warrior team had 6 bigs (KD), 4 true centers
KD, D Jones, J McGee, A Varejo, D West, Z Pachilia
2018 — Warrior team had 6 bigs (KD), 4 true centers
KD, J Bell, Z Pachulia, J McGee, D West, D Jones
2022 — Warriors had ZERO true centers. Bjelica (PF) who hardly played. And 6’ 8” Looney
OK do you hear the words coming out of my mouth.…. Post who is just starting to play this year. And got Horford this year. Personally I don’t care who Kerr plays. I am a basketball fan. So I can see and read it all. You still should add a rim protector.
how about tell us why the Knicks can never win instead of pretending to be some super fans that know it all. So go ahead why didn’t teh knocks win last year or this year??
To understand this game. You must first learn it. So you can tell the difference between an opinion and real facts. I have been explaining the knicks since day one. Why would I explain it to you.
so you have no answer. You should have been a politician and pretend you are a expert.
… he will also “accidentally” respond on a different thread… or he’s a boomer that is still getting his feet wet with the internet. These guys are exhausting to listen to.
You need a little history lesson here Sparky. To KD, they had to trade Bogut and renounce the rights to Ezeli. Then it came time to resign Curry, he definitely wasn’t going to take the DEEP discount on his previous contract. All the “true centers” signed after KD were for minimums. Finding a skilled big man that they can afford is harder than you think.
GET A CENTER!!!!
They have 4 centers.
Post
Horford
Greymond
TJD
Draymond is to short to play center in today’s league, and none of the 4 are averaging double digit ppg (Post 7.4, Al 5.6, Dray 8.0, TJD 4.3
Awful.
Horford been injured though and Post and TJD’s numbers are going up up up…
There are opinions about bigs. Then there are real facts. Like only seven footers can be real rim protectors. Learn that first.