For the Warriors, what was once a bona fide top-10 defense hasn’t looked like it in a while, including in Friday night’s 124-108 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at Chase Center.
Although forward Draymond Green returned from a one-game absence due to illness, the Warriors (22-24) 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. Atlanta forward John Collins scored 38 points and point guard 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.
“Disappointing for a team that’s been very good defensively all year,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “We’re definitely in a funk at that end of the floor right now.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 26: Golden State Warriors' head coach Steve Kerr coaches from the sidelines in the second quarter of a NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 26: Atlanta Hawks' John Collins (20) dunks the ball against Golden State Warriors' Kevon Looney (5) in the fourth quarter of a NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 26: Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson (11) and Stephen Curry (30) high five Draymond Green (23) as he walks to the bench in the third quarter of a NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 26: Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green (23), Andrew Wiggins (22) and Kevon Looney (5) celebrate in the third quarter of a NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 26: Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green (23) collides with Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young (11) while defending in the second quarter of a NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, March 26, 2021. Green was charged with a foul on the play. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 26: Atlanta Hawks' Clint Capela (15) dunks the ball against Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green (23) in the second quarter of a NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 26: Golden State Warriors' Jordan Poole (3) and James Wiseman (33) defend against Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young (11) in the first quarter of a NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 26: Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green (23) defends against Atlanta Hawks' Clint Capela (15) in the first quarter of a NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 26: James Wiseman (33) grabs a loose ball dropped by Atlanta Hawks' Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) in the first quarter of a NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 26: Golden State Warriors' James Wiseman (33) and Atlanta Hawks' John Collins (20) battle for the rebound in the first quarter of a NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
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The Warriors’ flimsy defense wasn’t helped by a laboring offense missing guard Stephen Curry (tailbone) for the fifth straight game. Forward Andrew Wiggins scored 29 points and Golden State shot 49.4% overall, but the offense lacked its high-octane character and players settled for shots out of one-on-one situations.
But Curry’s eventual return won’t solve the defensive issues that have emerged over the last several games. 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. This, after the Warriors in February ascended to as high as the league’s fourth-best defensive rating.
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.
Next, the Warriors will host the Chicago Bulls Monday.