Golden State Warriors' David Lee: Offensive Numbers Worth Defensive Struggles?
In the ever changing world that is Golden State Warriors basketball, the team's brass once again shook up the landscape of the club over the offseason. This time, however, the move wasn't entirely met with questions and disagreements from the general public.
In early July, the Warriors sent uber-promising prospect Anthony Randolph, versatile but injured swingman Kelenna Azubuike and Mr. Energy Ronny Turiaf to the New York Knicks in exchange for All-Star—granted, injury replacement, Eastern Conference All-Star—David Lee. The team promptly locked up the 27-year-old to a six-year, $80 million contract.
Unlike Warriors moves of the past—including dismantling virtually all of their 2007 playoff team that upset the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks—this move wasn't met with complete loss and abandonment. Well, not entirely at least.
Lee has played as advertised in his first three games with his new club. He's good for about 15 points and 10 rebounds a night—solid production, but not what one would hope for with a $13.33 million a year investment.
And there's no reason to think Lee has a lot of room for improvement. This is his sixth season in the league, and while his numbers jumped substantially last season— coincidentally his free agent year—those 20.2 points and 11.7 rebounds came against a watered down Eastern Conference on a team where he was the go-to scorer.
But the questions, concerns or problems with Lee don't dwell on the offensive end of the floor. They stem from his lackluster play on defense, a reputation that traveled west this summer.
Through three games, Lee has done little, if anything, to dispel these notions. His first three matchups of the season—the Rockets' Luis Scola, the Clippers' Blake Griffin and the Lakers' Lamar Odom—have torched Lee and the Warriors to the tune of 66 points and 40 rebounds.
Lee, meanwhile, has posted 32 points and 30 rebounds over that stretch, including a frightening 19-minute scoreless effort in the Warriors blowout loss to the Lakers on Halloween.
Normally, an offense-first...err...offense-only player would thrive in the Warriors' run-and-gun system. But small ball aficionado Don Nelson is enjoying all that Maui has to offer, and new coach Keith Smart has emphasized a renewed commitment on the defensive end of the floor. If the Warriors are to have any success this season, they'll need more defensive contributions from Lee.
And if he's not the man for the job, their offensive firepower could withstand sacrificing Lee's offense to add the shot-blocking of Brandan Wright, or the energy of Louis Amundson and rookie Ekpe Udoh when both are healthy. Even if it means turning their offseason heist into an $80 million spot performer.
