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Golden State Warriors: 3 reasons Nick Young should be backup shooting guard

By Michael Shultz

Golden State Warriors, Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors, Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto, ON – January 19 – In second half action, Toronto Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (10) runs into some tough defense on his way to the hoop courtesy of Los Angeles Lakers small forward Nick Young (0) and Los Angeles Lakers small forward Wesley Johnson (11).The Toronto Raptors lost to the LA Lakers 112-106 at the Air Canada Centre on Sunday afternoon. They blew a 17 point lead.January 19, 2014. (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Toronto, ON – January 19 – In second half action, Toronto Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (10) runs into some tough defense on his way to the hoop courtesy of Los Angeles Lakers small forward Nick Young (0) and Los Angeles Lakers small forward Wesley Johnson (11).The Toronto Raptors lost to the LA Lakers 112-106 at the Air Canada Centre on Sunday afternoon. They blew a 17 point lead.January 19, 2014. (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

His Length on Defense Gives Opponents Problems

Much like Thompson, Young’s length gives his opponents’ problems. While Young struggles off the ball, Young is a very solid on-the-ball defender. The Warriors love length, something they did not have last season at the shooting guard position with Ian Clark. Young provides that length that Clark could not provide.

Young is 6’7” and 210 lbs, almost identical to Thompson’s 6’7” and 215 lbs. While he is nowhere near the defender Thompson is, Young was probably the Los Angeles Lakers’ best defender last season, guarding the opponent’s’ number one option. This seems ridiculous but his length was a big reason why Walton put him on the opponents’ best wing player. With the tutelage of Ron Adams, his defense is only going to get better.

Young should know the defense very well because of Luke Walton, coach of the Lakers and former Warriors assistant coach, employed the same offensive and defensive tactics that have made the Warriors so successful.

Would the Warriors like Young to grab more rebounds and close off backdoor cuts? Of course and it will happen as Young gets more accustomed to his teammates and trusts their defensive philosophy. In time, Young will employ that length and give the Warriors yet another long defender to defend their crown.

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