In June 2022, the Golden State Warriors won their fourth NBA championship in eight seasons, making them a legitimate dynasty, and it was widely expected they would have a good chance at earning a fifth ring last season.
Instead, they became two distinct teams — a dominant home team and a weak road team, and this splintering led to them losing in the second round of the playoffs.
Due mainly to their struggles on the road, Golden State was just 14th in defensive rating last season, and head coach Steve Kerr said a big goal of theirs is to once again become a top-10 defensive team, per Kendra Andrews.
Kerr says that one of the Warriors’ training camp priorities is re-establishing themselves as a top-10 defensive team. He specifically names Gary Payton II as a key to that.
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) October 3, 2023
Defense has been the open secret to the success of the Warriors’ dynasty, and although they have been known as a freewheeling offensive team that changed the NBA from a smash-mouth, slow-down league into one that has embraced up-tempo ball, the Warriors established their dominance on the other end of the floor.
This year, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green remain the Warriors’ core, but they now have the task of integrating Chris Paul, the 38-year-old future Hall of Famer they traded for early in the offseason.
Paul may not be able to help them reassert their old defensive prowess, but his ability to score and command control of a half-court offense could reduce Curry’s workload.
NEXT: Reporter Reveals Warriors Starting 5 For Preseason Opener
