The Warriors were looking for a sign of improvement against the Detroit Pistons.
Of course, there were several aspects of the game that they had to address, but after sleeping through their game against the Phoenix Suns two nights before, a striking priority was to be more locked up and find more energy.
If the Warriors could do that – play with more heart and rush – the other issues that plagued the team would start to fall.
In their 118-91 victory over the Pistons at Chase Center, they just did it. And according to Steve Kerr, one specific statistic shows just how much energy his team played: bounce back.
“It’s mainly (indicative) of focus,” Kerr told reporters during a post-match Zoom conference. “If we bounce back well, it’s because everyone’s locked up and hitting bodies. It really takes five guys. Tonight was one of our best games in terms of our focus and our intentions.”
The Warriors outscored the Pistons 47-39, limiting Detroit to just seven attacking boards.
It is no coincidence that the Warriors had an extra focus on Saturday. Against the Suns, they were anything but that, and Phoenix took advantage of that.
Everything had to change after the loss. And it started with how the Warriors approached the tipoff game.
“I thought from the beginning we were defending with intensity, and the biggest thing was our bounce back,” Kerr said. “When we can hold on to the glass, we can get out and run. I think we are fifth in the league in the defensive field percentage.
The statement that Kerr continued to share with his team after the game was that the Warriors were fifth in the league in defensive field percentage, meaning the Warriors are the fifth best team in the NBA to prevent their opponent from scoring. But according to Draymond Green, stopping a shot means nothing if you can not get the rebound.
“It’s one of the most important things on the defensive side,” Draymond Green said. “You must complete the possession.”
The Warriors are 17th in the league with a rebound, averaging 44.2 per game. Clearly, non-returning opponents are the key to winning for the Warriors. There were losses where they won the plates and won when they did not bounce back. It’s about being competitive in that area.
Golden State’s rebound issues were on the verge of a loss in Denver two weeks ago. In that game, the Warriors came out on top alone 14-8 in the first quarter, losing the battle on the boards by seven. Their opening court grabbed just 12 rebounds in the course of 88 minutes. Steph Curry gave the lead with 11 in 37 minutes, a sign that it is not about size, but about focus and determination.
“We sometimes have a few small setups out there and that requires everyone to make rebounds, to be physical,” Curry said. “Sometimes you have to box and not expect to get the setback yourself, but to help someone else … It’s a commitment.”
Against the Pistons, no Warrior returned in double figures. But when all 12 players who have seen action take at least one setback, five of which grab five or more, that’s right. James Wiseman led the group by nine.
With the recovery of rebounds, Warriors – and any team – can achieve success. This allows them to play in transition and get over halfway before the defense is set up.
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“It stimulates our offense and gives us momentum, especially early in the games,” Curry said. “We have skilled ball handlers who can impress the transition as soon as you get a setback, and the defense may not be able to cope. knowing that we are going to let them take their hard blows, and that they will only get one chance for it. ‘
Rebounding has been a priority for the Warriors since the off-season. This is one of the reasons why they drafted Wiseman. That’s why they went shopping with Marc Gasol during free agency. That’s why they started the season with a three-center turn from Wiseman, Kevon Looney and Marquese Chriss.
The Warriors know how important the bounce is. Being successful on the boards will not solve all their problems. But if bounce is a sign of focus and energy, improvement in the area will mean more positive changes around the corner.
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