Draymond Green: "Our Defense Sucks" — Warriors Struggling

Draymond Green didn't mince words after Friday's 129-104 loss to Denver, bluntly saying "our defense sucks," and Jimmy Butler echoed the call for "some more effort." Golden State is 5-5, sits 16th in defensive rating with a 0.0 net rating, has allowed 120+ points five times already, and has endured a tough early slate that included two games vs. the Nuggets. This matters because defense was the Warriors' identity late last season — a 23-8 stretch that carried them to elite defensive numbers — and these lapses threaten that foundation. Merlin senses a correction, not a collapse. With Stephen Curry expected back soon and the team’s recent defensive blueprint still in the locker room memory, the Warriors can tighten help defense and communication quickly. But the window is narrow: cure the effort and rotations now, or this promising club risks drifting into a long slog.