Three takeaways from the Warriors’ 124-108 loss to the Atlanta Hawks Friday night at Chase Center. Golden State (22-24) has lost nine of its last 12, including the last four straight:
What happened to the top-10 defense?
For the Warriors, what was once a bona fide top-10 defense hasn’t looked like it in a while.
Although forward Draymond Green returned from a one-game absence due to illness, the Warriors offered little resistance at the point of attack or near the rim as the Hawks (23-22) shot 55.4% overall, including 60 points in the paint.
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In particular, Atlanta’s John Collins scored 38 points and Trae Young, whose free throws gave the Hawks a 22-point lead with 1:35 left in the second quarter, had 21 points and 15 assists. Over the last two games, the Warriors have given up 65 combined points to the opposing starting point guards (De’Aaron Fox hung 44 on them Thursday).
“I think we’re falling into a little hole of just not competing,” said rookie point guard Nico Mannion. “We can’t do that. I need to do better. We as a group need to be better at just locking in mentally.”
The Warriors were slow to rotate, late to close out and lacked communication. Collins and Clint Capela (18 points, 15 rebounds) sliced through holes in the defense and Young got to his spots.
“I think we’ve lost a little confidence defensively,” head coach Steve Kerr said.
I mean — what is this defense from the Warriors? pic.twitter.com/ji4bIWyK8r
— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) March 27, 2021
Stephen Curry’s eventual return from a tailbone injury won’t solve the defensive issues that have emerged over the last several games. After ascending to as high as fourth in defensive rating in February, the Warriors have lost nine of their last 12, and have dropped into the bottom 10 in the league in defensive rating over that stretch.
“Disappointing for a team that’s been very good defensively all year,” Kerr said. “We’re definitely in a funk at that end of the floor right now.”
If the Warriors are going to snap out of this skid, get back to over .500 and push their way into the playoffs, it’ll start by getting the defense back on track.
Warriors need more than Andrew Wiggins
Wiggins continued to play well since the All-Star break, scoring 29 points on 10-of-19 shooting (4-of-7 from 3-point range), seven rebounds and three assists. But that wasn’t enough to overcome the absence of Curry, who missed his fifth straight game with a tailbone injury.
“You can’t replace Steph, but we still have enough talent on the team to win, and at least compete,” said Wiggins, who is averaging 21.9 points on 50.8% shooting, 54.8% from 3-point range in the last eight games.
The Warriors shot 50% overall, got 15 points from Jordan Poole, 14 from Kelly Oubre Jr. and 10 from Mannion. But with the defense giving up 30-plus in each of the first three quarters, that wasn’t enough to keep up with the Hawks.
James Wiseman bounces back
With 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting in 27 minutes, Wiseman had his highest point total since Jan. 27. This was encouraging following his disappointing six-point outing in Sacramento Thursday.
“He scored and he felt more comfortable out on the floor for sure,” Kerr said. “I think this is all just part of the process.”
These ups and downs are to be expected from Wiseman, the 19-year-old recently thrust into the starting lineup. But, recently, the “ups” have been few and far between. His last SportsCenter-worthy highlight seems like ages ago. He didn’t have any noteworthy flashes Friday, but this could be a performance to build on.
