Warriors get defensive, but lose close one to Suns
SAN FRANCISCO – Coach Steve Kerr put an emphasis on the team rediscovering its defensive identity in the wake of Stephen Curry going down with a foot injury earlier this month.
On Wednesday, the Warriors finally answered the call.
Golden State looked as good as it did when it possessed the league’s best defense earlier this season during its 107-103 loss to the Phoenix Suns at Chase Center. They reclaimed their defensive identity, getting nine steals and putting constant pressure on the Suns.
“Love the competitiveness,” Kerr said after the loss. “It was a great performance in terms of our defense and our energy and just the fight from start to finish. We just couldn’t close the game, couldn’t finish it out, but I think the main thing we can come out of that game and recognizing our team.”
After the Suns opened with a 12-2 run, Jordan Poole, the Dubs’ best player as of late, ignited the Warriors’ stagnant offense, scoring 15 points en route to helping Golden State close out the first quarter with a 15-4 run to take a three-point lead heading into the second quarter.
Poole cooled off in the second quarter before resurging in the second half. Even though he appeared to play through pain, Poole, who led the league in 3-pointers made this month, made seven of his 15 3-point attempts and finished with 38 points, tying a career high.
Poole hit four consecutive free throws in two trips to the line in the final minute to give the Warriors a one-point advantage. But it ultimately wasn’t enough.
Poole tried to draw a foul on a three-point attempt in the game’s final seconds, but was unsuccessful.
“We were in the bonus, and we were down three,” Poole explained. “If I would have dribbled the ball up anymore, they would have took a foul, we would have shot two free throws, and then we wouldn’t have had a chance to get a three… That’s why I just tried to get a look up.”
Draymond Green, who had 10 rebounds, eight points and seven assists, looked closer to his previous form, especially in the second half, than previous games since his return from a back injury. After the game, Kerr said this was the best he’s seen Green since January.
“Draymond took a step tonight,” Kerr said. “It looked to me like he was a step quicker to the ball, step quick to his rotations, look like he turned the corner physically and that was a great sight.”
The Warriors don’t celebrate moral victories. “We’ve won way too much to do moral victories,” Green said.
But Wednesday’s close loss to the league’s best team was a reminder of just how good this team can be if they put the pieces together. Now, it’s just a matter of staying consistent and bringing it every night.
“Tonight we found ourselves, we found our competitive spirit, we found our defense. And that’s something we can build on,” Green said. “We got to make sure we come out, play our brand of basketball and if we come out and do that… cut down on 21 turnovers, we give ourselves a chance to win.”
“It’s a great sign,” Kerr said of rechanneling the style of play that helped them be successful early on. “And that’s what it needs to look like from here on out but with a little better decision-making offensively and we go from there and we got a chance to be really good.”
The Warriors (48-29) are off Thursday and practice Friday before returning to Chase Center Saturday to host the Utah Jazz for a 5:30 p.m. tip.