Wow. Keith Smart implemented some new defensive schemes. The extra days off helped with that. But defensive preparation on Rose tonight was amazing. The rotations, especially by the big men, were outstanding. The Warriors played one of the best games I've ever watched. They were a team. Their team defense was special. Digging in. Rotating. Boxing out. Giving a 2nd and 3rd effort. They played defense the way the Bulls usually play defense. After tonight, playoffs=maybe. If this new defensive philosophy isn't a fluke, then anything is possible. Without even needing a trade. It's only one game, but after the game they talked a lot about new defensive coverages, and team identity. I can't wait to see if this is a new defensive attitude for the team...
Wow, it was the first time fans have been fired up about the defense all year. Yup, I agree it was the best game of the year. Ellis, Curry, DWright and Reggie bottled up Derrick Rose. Still, Rose is too fast, strong and athletic that he got ten assists, but I don't think he got his scoring average. Those turnovers that the Warriors caused finally paid off in the 4thQ as Monta and Steph took over. I liked the clutch play of Udoh and Reggie off the bench in the 4thQ, too.
I heard that Udoh was big defensively. He Had three blocks. That's good to see. I think he has done a fantastic job defensively against the impressive undersized bigs in Boozer, Milsap, and Jefferson in the last week or so. He may or may not be there on the league's biggest players like Howard and Bynum, but he is making a presence nonetheless. I could only watch the first six or so minutes but I could see that they were playing with some new energy. It was the complete opposite from the Bucks game. It looks like the team actually won based off free throws. Monta was a hot 10-10 from there, while the Bulls as a team were 6-13. Dorell Wright played the whole game and Vlad who did not put up any numbers really was +23. It looks like the bench gave that needed jolt to pull the game out.
. Was it him or the team? Anyhoo, the Warriors have been awesome on "defense" lately. I'll post this one for phil. "Warriors coach Keith Smart acknowledged his team's relative shutdown of Chicago was something to behold. He said after the Warriors snapped the Bulls' six-game win streak on Saturday that his team played about 45 minutes of perfect defense. But he stopped short of saying the Warriors have arrived on that end of the court. Well short. "We're not to where we can hang our hat on it," Smart said. "The hat's in the house. But it ain't on the wall." Golden State's defense has held three consecutive opponents below 100 points, the first time it has done that since 2007. Utah, Milwaukee and Chicago averaged 88.3 points on 42.4 percent shooting. To be sure, the Warriors were at home for all three games. And the Jazz played without its point guard and catalyst in Deron Williams. And the Bucks are one of the NBA's worst offensive teams. But the Chicago game, Smart said, was the one that validated the Warriors' claims of progress on defense. More important, he said, it helps the coaches' efforts to get the players to buy in completely on that end. "I see the picture of what we will be," Smart said. "We're working on it. Now guys are buying in. We are better. But we're trying to erase a long history." The Warriors figure to get a stiff test Monday as Phoenix comes to town. The Suns have averaged 123.0 points and shot 52.7 percent from the field in their past eight games in Oakland." Full article here http://www.insidebayarea.com/warriors/ci_17313749
The best news is that its 3 games in a row of holding opponents to fewer than 100 points. That said, Utah is pretty crappy without Deron, the Bucks suck in general and had no Bogut or Gooden, and while Chicago is a good team their real weakness is scoring. They're not that dynamic offensively. Dunno wtf took Smart so long to modify the defense but at least its coming around now.
