3 Reasons Golden State Warriors are a top tier NBA defense

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 20: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors is held back by teammate Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 as he speaks with referee Mark Lindsay #29 following a call during the fourth quarter of their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on February 20, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 20: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors is held back by teammate Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 as he speaks with referee Mark Lindsay #29 following a call during the fourth quarter of their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on February 20, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Golden State WarriorsMandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Golden State WarriorsMandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Andrew Wiggins

If Stephen Curry is playing the best defense of his life, the same goes for Andrew Wiggins, who joined the team in hopes of reversing his career trajectory and blossoming into a positive contributor on both ends of the floor. While he has fallen into a recent shooting slump, he remains engaged defensively and is making a difference with his long arms and athleticism.

Wiggins ranks near the top of the league in shots contested and is blocking the most shots of his career. He’s exerting more energy than ever before and looks engaged for the first time. His new role with the Warriors has allowed him to focus more on this end of the floor and it’s paying off big time.

What’s more, Wiggins is accepting the challenge of defending the opposing team’s best player on most nights. He’s squared off with Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James, doing his best to harass these great scorers each time.

Having Wiggins here to compensate for the loss of not only Klay Thompson, but names like Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala has been one of the deciding factors in keeping the Warriors above water defensively.