Golden State hopes to flex defensive muscle
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Since Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin captivated the Bay Area in the “Run TMC” days of the early 1990s, the Golden State Warriors have been known for scoring a lot of points and giving up even more.
Not anymore.
In Mark Jackson’s second season as coach, the Warriors finally have started to change their focus. Golden State (21-10) is off to its best start in more than 20 years entering Wednesday night’s home game against the NBA-best Los Angeles Clippers (25-7), a surprising turnaround that has been propelled largely by defense.
So much so that the Warriors-Clippers matchup — both long-time losers in the Pacific Division — suddenly pits two of the best teams in the Western Conference. The Clippers, who lost 92-78 to Denver on Tuesday to snap a 17-game winning streak, suffered one of its other few losses to Golden State in Los Angeles on Nov. 3.
“It’s 2013,” forward Carl Landry said with a smile after Tuesday’s practice on New Year’s Day. “It’s a different time.”
In the bold and boisterous tone of a former broadcaster and Brooklyn native, Jackson declared in downtown San Francisco on the day the Warriors hired him that defensive deficiency would no longer be tolerated. He said he was well aware of the fan fascination with the run-and-fun teams of Don Nelson and Keith Smart, though he promised his style would be different.
“Things gone be a changing,” Jackson said on June 10, 2011.
The former New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers point guard never really had a chance to implement his system in his rookie year on the sidelines, not with a roster ravaged by injuries and the season shortened to 66 games because of the labor lockout. Over the summer, new Warriors general manager Bob Myers acquired veterans such as Carl Landry and Jarrett Jack along with a trio of rookies — Harrison Barnes, Festus Ezeli and Draymond Green — who have highlighted the kind of heart and hustle Jackson has long preached.
More than a third of the way through the season, the results are starting to show.
The Warriors rank … [For more on Golden State hopes to flex defensive muscle vs. Clippers, click here.]
Loading ...
