Warriors forgot to play defense

[bdonovan]

Watching the highlights of the Warriors-Magic game (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrNWKuYMSOc), one thing is clear: The defensive IQ on this team has dropped sharply. Examples: Wiggins is not guarding the perimeter well, at all. And Klay is over-helping leaving his man open and breaking the defense.

I don't bother watching the offense highlights; the Warriors can score. Defense is a mental thing; when it's emphasized and the team demands excellence on that front, it matters. Look at the Celtics last year; half the year, average on D. Commit to defense at the halfway point and they become one of the best at it.

Klay has clearly lost a step on defense. Constantly beat off the dribble and outpaced by speed and strength of his younger opponents. Overall the Warriors cannot seem to handle the opponent's ball movement. When the Magic were passing and cutting, the Warriors were out of position. Usually by drifting off their man, occasionally over-helping, but often being in no-man's land.

What's the cause? One aspect is Kerr is testing different lineups and that reduces defensive cohesion. The other aspect is speculation but Draymond is the anchor on defense. He is basically their defensive coach; since the incident with Poole, he seems less vocal, perhaps to avoid another conflict. Either way, the Warriors are doing a lot of things wrong fundamentally on defense.

[Mask the Embiid]

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?507345-Smh-Draymond-has-been-neutered

https://i.postimg.cc/0yyzR96f/386-C604-D-7-DD2-4652-A424-87-BE35-BEA2-C5.jpg


I could also go through the magic game highlights with a fine tooth comb and give more examples but u get it….the punch that ended a dynasty smh. Without Draymond breathing down these dudes necks, they will slack off on defense. They aren’t the same team with Draymond being unable to intimidate his teammates into playing hard on defense. They subconsciously feared him before. They knew if they fkd up too many times in a game, that he would emasculate them in-front of everyone with a verbal beating. He can’t do that anymore because of “the implication”…. You know….that he will go over the edge again if pushed.


So he is neutered by public perception that he is a toxic man with no self control . He could ruin his post nba career if he does anything else in this cancel culture era we live in.


But 4 champions and 6 finals in 10 years is one hell of a run.


Edit curry is the offensive (alpha) anchor and that’s why the team falls in line on offense and hasn’t taken a hit there yet (well everyone but wiseman, but that’s a post for another time to explain that).Whenever he says a word or makes a gesture…. They fall in fking line! Without their defensive alpha in Draymond, this defense will never be the same again. No one will be held accountable anymore so if they miss a rotation o well…no one is gonna speak up anymore. Curry may snap one day and go off but deep down they’ll never take defensive tips from him serious. It’s like when harden use to yell at his team on defense on the rockets…. Patrick beverly use to look at him like “what, am I suppose to take defensive tips from you? Hahhaha”. He would never say that outloud…..but subconsciously……subconsciously….. I’m right …..

[hold this L]

Starting 5 until tonight had the best net rating in the league. So there is some life there and a positive. but.. A massive issue is the bench is legitimately horrible.

Wiseman needs to be traded asap, and then the rest need to mesh better with the starters. Guys like GPII, Otto and Bjelica would do some good defensively right now. I would recalled Bjelica if it's possible and trade Wiseman for a big that can work with the starters. Then figure out JM Green, DD coming back and figure out a rotation where the B team isn't tanking the team any time they're out. Cut Klay's minutes until he starts playing defense, cut them even more if he continues jacking up shot. The team needs 1 more veteran that's a plus on the court. Then clean up rotation and see how it goes.

[hold this L]

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?507345-Smh-Draymond-has-been-neutered

https://i.postimg.cc/0yyzR96f/386-C604-D-7-DD2-4652-A424-87-BE35-BEA2-C5.jpg


I could also go through the magic game highlights with a fine tooth comb and give more examples but u get it….the punch that ended a dynasty smh. Without Draymond breathing down these dudes necks that will slack on defense.


But 4 champions and 6 finals in 10 years is one hell of a run.

That's a good point. Draymond neutered isn't too good, he needs to start barking asap.

[warriorfan]

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?507345-Smh-Draymond-has-been-neutered

https://i.postimg.cc/0yyzR96f/386-C604-D-7-DD2-4652-A424-87-BE35-BEA2-C5.jpg


I could also go through the magic game highlights with a fine tooth comb and give more examples but u get it….the punch that ended a dynasty smh. Without Draymond breathing down these dudes necks, they will slack off on defense. They aren’t the same team with Draymond being unable to intimidate his teammates into playing hard on defense. They subconsciously feared him before. They knew if they fkd up too many times in a game, that he would emasculate them in-front of everyone with a verbal beating. He can’t do that anymore because of “the implication”…. You know….that he will go over the edge again if pushed.


So he is neutered by public perception that he is a toxic man with no self control . He could ruin his post nba career if he does anything else in this cancel culture era we live in.


But 4 champions and 6 finals in 10 years is one hell of a run.


Edit curry is the offensive (alpha) anchor and that’s why the team falls in line on offense and hasn’t taken a hit there yet (well everyone but wiseman, but that’s a post for another time to explain that).Whenever he says a word or makes a gesture…. They fall in fking line! Without their defensive alpha in Draymond, this defense will never be the same again. No one will be held accountable anymore so if they miss a rotation o well…no one is gonna speak up anymore. Curry may snap one day and go off but deep down they’ll never take defensive tips from him serious. It’s like when harden use to yell at his team on defense on the rockets…. Patrick beverly use to look at him like “what, am I suppose to take defensive tips from you? Hahhaha”. He would never say that outloud…..but subconsciously……subconsciously….. I’m right …..

he’s also older and his best asset besides his ball iq has always been his 110% motor. he’s lost that. he’s a shell of his former self. he always had the bark but you lead by example, if not you are blowing hot air and no one will give a **** no matter how loud you say it. dray was done before the punch. this did add to it but he was already done before.

[hold this L]

he’s also older and his best asset besides his ball iq has always been his 110% motor. he’s lost that. he’s a shell of his former self. he always had the bark but you lead by example, if not you are blowing hot air and no one will give a **** no matter how loud you say it. dray was done before the punch. this did add to it but he was already done before.
But Dray isn't the main issue though. He's not as good as before, but he's been much better than some others. He's one of the more positive players this season.

[Mask the Embiid]

https://youtu.be/b-FoqMjd-ds
When a Marcus Morris or a Charles Oakley actually has the game to back it up it’s different…. When the alpha on the team is actually one of the best players like a MJ. It can intimidate an entire team to “act right” during games and turn a good team into a dynasty.Draymond means more to this team than you can ever imagine he’s like a drill Sargent. They respect him more than kerr between the lines. Greg pop also has this effect on players. His presence just intimidates ppl around him.

I know I know you’re thinking “but mask but mask these are grown men? Surely they are not scared of this man?” Look even a cat will fight back eventually if you keep cornering it….but trust me he intimidates all of them….but steph….he knows he can’t pull shit with steph….cause steph will get you gone… with just one call…and we all know he would be a 3rd of the player he is without the dingo

[warriorfan]

But Dray isn't the main issue though. He's not as good as before, but he's been much better than some others. He's one of the more positive players this season.

for sure, the rotation is much different, we lost some great defensive players while trying to integrate a lot of new guys. drays not the sole issue for sure, but it is a big issue. dray has been on the decline for awhile and he’s starting to fall off a cliff, and that is a reason why he’s losing his voice on court and in the locker room. not just because of the fight

[bdonovan]

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?507345-Smh-Draymond-has-been-neutered


I could also go through the magic game highlights with a fine tooth comb and give more examples but u get it….the punch that ended a dynasty smh. Without Draymond breathing down these dudes necks, they will slack off on defense.

Ah, good to see. I see the points been made before, good to get corroboration.

[Sulico]

https://i120.fastpic.org/big/2022/1104/68/79f851cc0b4acc504d43fec385f34d68.png

Here is their best DBPM players from last year. 5 out of top 6 are not there anymore or not playing. What did you expect? What did they expect?

[bdonovan]

https://i120.fastpic.org/big/2022/1104/68/79f851cc0b4acc504d43fec385f34d68.png

Here is their best DBPM players from last year. 5 out of top 6 are not there anymore or not playing. What did you expect? What did they expect?

What's the calculation for DBPM? I've heard mixed things about its usefulness. Just curious how it compares with Defensive Rating and Defensive Win Shares. The reason I ask is because Otto Porter was garbage on Team D; highly doubtful he's a better defender than Andrew Wiggins.

[warriorfan]

What's the calculation for DBPM? I've heard mixed things about its usefulness. Just curious how it compares with Defensive Rating and Defensive Win Shares. The reason I ask is because Otto Porter was garbage on Team D; highly doubtful he's a better defender than Andrew Wiggins.

DPBM is a shit stat. Even the creator of BPM admits it.


Box Plus/Minus is a very good offensive metric, but it struggles some with defense. As mentioned before, when all you have is a box score, you cannot estimate defense very well. Not including minutes per game in the regression also hampers the accuracy of the defensive estimates. In other words--take DBPM with a spoonful of salt.

source: https://www.basketball-reference.com/about/bpm2.html

[Axe]

Seriously, are the warriors tanking on purpose early in the season so they can get an important draft pick next summer?

[hold this L]

Seriously, are the warriors tanking on purpose early in the season so they can get an important draft pick next summer?

With the way they drafted Wiseman, I hope not!

[post]

DPBM is a shit stat. Even the creator of BPM admits it.



source: https://www.basketball-reference.com/about/bpm2.html

struggles some is not the same as shit

i'd say it's a stat

among others

probably none of which will please everyone

[ImKobe]

Championship hangover. They'll be fine if they can just stay healthy. It will take a while before Klay gets back in shape and they're trying to see if any of the younger guys have it to replace Draymond.