The Golden State Warriors were satisfied with their run to the Western Conference semifinals last year. But now that defensive anchor Andrew Bogut is at full strength, they could be poised to chase down a championship.
Ironically, it won't be their ability to run and gun that gets them there. Instead, the Dubs will rely on slowing opponents down with what could be one of the NBA's very best defenses.
And Bogut will be the most important figure in that effort.
A New Identity
Golden State made major strides in stinginess last year, posting a defensive rating that jumped from No. 26 in the NBA in 2011-12 to No. 13 in 2012-13, per ESPN.
For his part, Bogut is confident that the team's defense is capable of taking another step forward—into elite territory.
In a media session after his Sept. 13 workout at Warriors headquarters, I asked him whether Golden State's defense could improve enough to rank in the league's top five—alongside teams like the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls.
Bogut responded:
I think we can. The No. 1 th ...
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Article written by Grant Hughes
Why Healthy Andrew Bogut Makes Golden State Warriors a Legit Title Contender
September 13th, 2013 by Grant Hughes Leave a reply »
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