Who's Soft Now? The Warriors Are Winning In The Paint.
For years, even as they established a dynasty and ruled the league, the Golden State Warriors carried a reputation as a soft, jump-shooting team that could be beaten on the interior. (Probably because Charles Barkley kept saying it over and over on "Inside the NBA," but that's neither here nor there.) The characterization was so pervasive that Draymond Green even referenced it during the team's second-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies.
"They're the most physical team, right? We've historically been viewed as a pretty soft jump-shooting team, right," Green said. "I didn't just make that up."
Despite that narrative -- and despite the Grizzlies' well-earned reputation as a physical team that could dominate the interior -- the Warriors stole the painted area away from Memphis in their 4-2 series win. The Grizzlies led the NBA in both points in the paint and second-chance points during the regular season, while the Warriors ranked just 25th in the former and 18th in the latter. As the two teams squared off, though, Golden State flipped the script.
The Warriors got the upper hand in the paint
Points in the paint and second-chance points per game during the 2021-22 NBA regular season vs. Round 2 of the playoffs for the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors
Points in paint
2nd-chance points
Team
Reg. season
Round 2
Reg. season
Round 2...