"Perhaps Steve Kerr is trying to manifest a reality that doesn't exist. Because if the Warriors coach has said it once this season, he's said it a dozen times: He believes this group can be a top-tier defensive unit. He says it with conviction. He says it like it's a foregone conclusion, just waiting for the rest of us to catch up. I'm not buying what he's selling. And honestly, neither should you."
"Sure, if you worship at the altar of the spreadsheet, you might have a case. The raw data backs Kerr up technically. The Warriors sit seventh in the league in defensive rating, allowing 112 points per 100 possessions. Someday, historians will look back at an era where giving up 112 points is considered stingy and weep for the art of basketball, but that's a conversation for another day. The problem is, the numbers are lying."
Warriors statistical ranking masks poor actual defensive performance. The team ranks seventh in defensive rating, allowing 112 points per 100 possessions, yet visible effort and execution are lacking. Players criticize the defense for poor effort, missed scouting, and failure to box out. Opponents regularly get open shots, penetrate into the paint, and draw free throws without consistent deterrent. The team lacks point-of-attack toughness, effective perimeter containment, rim protection, and mid-range coverage. Recent games show elite scorers exploiting those gaps late in close contests, exposing systemic defensive shortcomings.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]