It’s an exciting new era under second-year coach Mark Jackson, who is making good on the promise that his team would be a defensive-minded one. The team currently ranks fourth in the league in rebounding – up from the 28th it ranked last season – and have limited teams to 43.3 percent shooting, which is the sixth best mark in the league. Even more impressive is the fact that all of this is happening without their defensive anchors in Andrew Bogut and Brandon Rush. Rush is all but out for the season with a torn ACL, but Bogut is expected to return at some point this season from his ankle rehab. When the big man does return, it should provide an immense boost for a team that still struggles to get stops against quality low-post players.
If you are a Warriors fan, the positive outcomes they are seeing now is certainly a long-time coming. Their defensive numbers, combined with the potent offensive weapons in Lee, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson suggest that their overall success is a sustainable one. Best of all, it’s built to last: aside from Lee who is 29, no one in the starting lineup is older than 24.
Tweet of the Night: Greg Anthony
Tweet of the Night: Frank Isola