Key to Warriors’ defensive success: Stopping the Pick-and-Roll

Mark Jackson laid the foundation that Steve Kerr is building on.

When Jackson took over the Warriors, they were a mediocre to poor defensive team. When he departed, they were one of the best defensive teams in the entire league.

This season, Kerr has continued to demand the Warriors play at a high level on both offense and defense.

Though the 2014-15 NBA season is still merely a baby with many teams only four or five games into their schedule the Warriors are still one of the top defensive teams in the league. In most statistical categories, the Warriors are the best defensive team in the league. Their starting five leads any starting five in defensive rating. The team as a whole is number one in defensive efficiency.

But why has the Warriors defense been so good starts and ends with their pick-and-roll play. The Warriors pick-and-roll play has been near the top of the league.

They have decided to play a decidedly Thibodeau-ean style of defense. They have resorted to sagging on most screens, allowing teams to settle for midrange jumpers instead of letting guards get to the rim.

Watch this clip below:

When Jordan Hill sets the screen for Ronnie Price, the Lakers point guard, Festus Ezeli sags below the free throw line, allowing Hill to shoot a long two point jump shot if he wants. When it is clear that Hill is not rolling hard to the rim, Ezeli steps up a bit and pressures the basketball.

In the video above, Damian Lillard is going baseline off of a Thomas Robinson screen. Shaun Livingston and Marresse Speights follow Lillard baseline, cutting off his driving lane and leaving Robinson open. Robinson could have taken the jumper, but that would have been exactly what the Warriros would have wanted. Instead Robinson attacks the rim. When he gets close to the bucket, Festus Ezeli helps off of Robin Lopez and swats away Robinson’s attempt, starting a fast break.

Besides playing aggressive help-defense, the Warriors pick-and-roll play has been crucial. In the 10-14 foot range, the Warriors are allowing opposing big men to shoot. Through four games, opposing players have taken on average 11.0 shots per game from that range which is second only to the Chicago Bulls. In that range, opposing players are shooting only 29.5 percent which is a testament to the Warriors players’ length and defensive scheme in general.

Another reason why the Warriors defense has been so good is their flexibility and athleticism. When teams know they are going to sag on screens and try to play to that, they have the ability to switch and not have to deal with problematic mismatches. Draymond Green can guard anyone one floor. Harrison Barnes can guard anyone but the center. Klay Thompson is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league and can guard the one, two, or three. Andre Iguodala was brought in last offseason to be the Warriors best defender and even though he is no longer starting, is still a force on and off the ball. Stephen Curry, someone who was once widely regarded as a merely a turnstyle on defense, has actually gotten off to a good start defensively this season.

Again, credit Jackson for a lot of their success, but Kerr isn’t doing a bad job either. To many, the Warriors offense seems to be their calling card, but it is their defense that has made and will continue to make them a true threat in the Western Conference.