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Defense key to Golden State Warriors’ renaissance in 2023-24

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 23: Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings is guarded by Kevon Looney #5 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Chase Center on April 23, 2023 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 23: Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings is guarded by Kevon Looney #5 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Chase Center on April 23, 2023 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors had a range of issues in their disappointing 2022-23 season, among them a frustrating lack of defensive consistency that limited their capacity to sustain any real momentum.

For the beauty of their long-range shooting, high ball movement offense when at it’s free-flowing best, the Warriors have equally made their name by being a stifling, versatile defense in the nine years under head coach Steve Kerr.

Possessing a raft of high-level defenders in a proven system, the Golden State Warriors should return to an elite team on that end of the floor next season.

The remnants of an elite defense remained this season, but not in a way that proved good enough to go any further than the second-round of the playoffs. The only reliable aspect was their defense being continually excellent at home (ranked third), and nothing short of awful on the road (ranked 28th).

It was therefore only appropriate that the Warriors ranked 14th in defense overall during the regular season. While that mark was still slightly above average and good enough to finish sixth in the Western Conference, it was the worst of the Steve Kerr era outside the forgettable 2019-20 season.

Draymond Green continues to be the head of the Golden State Warriors’ defense. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Draymond Green continues to be the head of the Golden State Warriors’ defense. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

If you’re looking at reasons why the Warriors can boost back to championship contention next season, it starts with the defensive end of the floor. Their work at home showed they can still be an elite defensive team, and there were some extenuating factors as to why it didn’t translate on the road.

Led by a former DPOY in Draymond Green, Golden State has the personnel in place to produce a consistent, versatile defensive unit. However, their best wing defender, Andrew Wiggins, battled injury and personal issues in missing 45 games during the regular season. Additionally, the Warriors’ best point-of-attack defender, Gary Payton II, returned to the franchise at the trade deadline amid an injury that limited him to just nine games to end the season.

Golden State will automatically receive a boost by having Wiggins and Payton back in the fold on a more consistent basis. Add more experience into the immensely talented Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors have the makings of an elite defensive unit once again.

They do need to address their big man stocks behind Green and Kevon Looney, having placed an immense load on the duo over the past few seasons. The belief they need a big shot-blocking presence is a little overstated though — they conceded just the 19th most field-goal attempts within six feet, and ranked 14th in defensive field-goal percentage from within that distance.

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Most of all it’s about the Warriors ‘locking in’ on the defensive end when away from Chase Center. There was a clear lack of cohesion for Golden State throughout the season, and it was perhaps most evident on defense as they failed to recapture their championship identity.

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