Golden State Warriors must brace for a defensive battle
Regardless of who represents the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals, whether it be the Miami Heat or Boston Celtics, the Golden State Warriors can expect to take part in a defensive battle.
Aside from the Warriors themselves, there might not be any team in the league that plays better defense than Miami and Boston. The two defensive titans have clashed in the ECF and the results have been important for Golden State to monitor.
On one hand, you have the Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Smart, complementing the likes of Jaylen Brown, Grant Williams, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford. This five-man group has been impenetrable, taking down the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.
On the flip, you have a Miami team full of capable individual defenders such as Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, P.J. Tucker, Kyle Lowry and Victor Oladpio. All the while, Miami is coached by one of the best in the game, Erik Spoelstra.
Thankfully, Golden State has a group of defensive-minded stars to match Miami and Boston. There is the ever-present Draymond Green to lead the likes of Andrew Wiggins, Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney.
More importantly, Golden State has the best offensive nucleus of any remaining team to go along with their versatile defense.