3 Reasons Golden State Warriors are legit contenders

Golden State Warriors are playing elite defense

Through 11 games, the Golden State Warriors have been a hounding collection of junkyard dogs on the defensive end. Everyone is on the same page and the cohesion is giving opponents problems.

Draymond Green, to no surprise, is leading the charge. He is the commander of the ship, orchestrating his teammates and ensuring everyone is held accountable. Of course, he holds himself to the same high standard, acting as one of the most versatile defenders in league history.

But then there is also the performances of Andre Iguodala, Gary Payton II and Otto Porter, who are all posting some of the lowest Defensive Ratings in the league due to their ability to disrupt opposing ball handlers.

Stephen Curry himself has been a harassing force on defense. He is always in the right spot and he is surprising opponents with his strength. He is not a fantastic defender by any stretch but he is certainly playing the best defense of his career.

Oh, and did I mention Juan Toscano-Anderson? A lank, brute force athlete who can defend multiple positions. JTA, along with Andrew Wiggins, has proven to be versatile enough to go toe-to-toe with any wing in the league.

Lastly, Kevon Looney has been a sturdy force in the paint, grabbing 17 rebounds against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

While the Dubs have already been strong defensively, they might get even better with the eventual return of both Klay Thompson and James Wiseman.