Hard to believe, but it's all about the defense for Warriors

December 28, 10:05 AMGolden State Warriors ExaminerMatt Steinmetz

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Keith Smart 

This one’s going to be all about the Warriors’ defense, which was the topic of conversation heading into tonight’s game against the Lakers in L.A.

Quick recap: The Warriors aren’t  known for being a very good defensive team. But they shut down the defending champion Celtics on Friday at Oracle Arena, holding Boston to just 17 points in the fourth quarter of what turned into a 99-89 win.

Simple question: Can the Warriors really play defense like that every night?

Stephen Jackson: “You have to think that way. The way we played (vs. Boston) was the best we competed on defense all year. It’s hard to say if we can do it consistently when we’ve only done it one time all year at that level. The biggest thing is to see if we can play close to that level against the Lakers.”

♦

According to Keith Smart, whom coach Don Nelson named the team’s “defensive coordinator” a few games back, the Warriors have defended better in recent games, not just against Boston.

It’s just that against Boston, it all came together.

“You cannot defend if there is no effort,” Smart said. “Once you put the plan together, what the players need to do, and now you have effort, you’re going to be in the right place at the right time.”

Smart and Jackson both acknowledged that the uptick of intensity was likely the result of the opponent and a packed house.

♦

What’s next for Marco Belinelli … going to him in the low block?

A month ago all Belinelli seemed to be was a shooter who couldn’t shoot.

Since then we’ve found out he has more basketball savvy than most of his teammates, can play point guard if need be, can make plays for others occasionally, and now, can even defend some.

Let’s lay it on the line: Belinelli shut down Ray Allen on Friday. Allen had seven points, four turnovers and six fouls in 29 minutes on Friday.

“A game key was that we had to slow down Ray Allen,” Smart said. “Marco took the challenge … got into him. Marco actually had six charge/flops. But you can only get a charge/flop if he is connected to a guy.

“So he was right there on his player when he got those fouls called in his favor. But his intensity is there.”

♦

After Smart was named the defensive coordinator, he indicated that he was given the power by coach Don Nelson to remove players from a game for poor defense.

So, has Smart done that yet? Not quite yet.

“Guys have been real close (to coming out),” Smart said. “We were close in Miami with Marco. Coach got him out before I could say anything. But guys have been close.

“We kind of give them a warning of where you are at _ like ‘hey, you’ve got a white card, this is your yellow card and here’s a red card.” 

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