The Warriors started off the season struggling to play up to their talent level, and dropped a few games due to sloppy and uninspired play early on. Most of the problems were on the defensive end, where the team simply didn’t play with the intensity and discipline it had shown in the past.
The Warriors are known worldwide for their sweet shooting and electric offense. But in fact, their defense has been more reliable for a longer period of time. The Warriors have been top five in defensive rating over the last four years per Basketball Reference, led by reigning Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green.