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Warriors Fans Should Get Excited For 2017

By Michael Shultz

Nov 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors bench during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors bench during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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November 28, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors center Zaza Pachulia (27, left) and Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Hawks 105-100. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 28, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors center Zaza Pachulia (27, left) and Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Hawks 105-100. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

An Improving Defense

The biggest question facing the Warriors this season is whether or not their defense would suffer. Through the first 11 games, they were struggling, giving an average of 110 points per game. Opponents were driving to the hoop at will because the Warriors’ starting center, Zaza Pachulia, was not a rim protector. The Warriors were playing the same type of defense as last season but Pachulia was not doing the same job that Andrew Bogut provided last season.

The Warriors needed to make a change on defense. They needed to play better man-to-man defense and not allow their opponent to drive the lane. This is impossible to accomplish in the NBA because it is blow-by league. The Warriors needed a rim protector and surprisingly, Durant took over that role.

Durant is leading this team in blocked shots and has become a defensive presence in the paint. For most of his career, Durant was looked at as a scorer and not a defensive stopper. In last season’s Western Conference Finals, Durant showed us glimpses of what he could be on defense. He completely shut down the Warriors’ wings and a big reason why the Thunder almost upset the Warriors.

Durant has shown that effort all season and is arguably the second best defender on this team behind Green. One of the biggest reasons why Durant is flourishing on defense is reuniting with Assistant Coach and defensive guru, Ron Adams. Adams has challenged Durant to stay focused and Durant has responded with his best defensive season of his career.

With everything Durant has done on defense, the leader of this defense is Green. He is their best rebounder, post and on-ball defender on this team and is the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year. Green has won countless games with his defense in the fourth quarter against bigger and stronger players . He is also a great help defender and rim protector, much like Durant.

As a whole, the Warriors defense is leading the league in steals and blocked shots per game. They lead the league in defensive field goal percentage from the field and three-point range. The Warriors are top ten in forced turnovers and rebounding. They are in the middle of the pack in points allowed but much of that has to do with careless turnovers leading to transition points.
Warriors fans should be happy with their defense and it will only get better as the team continues to gel. Remember the Warriors teams from the last two seasons were together for a few years. This team has at least four or five new players learning a new defense so expect them to be even better in 2017.

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