New Golden State Warriors assistant coach Frank Vogel recently discussed his decision to join Steve Kerr's staff after spending time with the Dallas Mavericks under Jason Kidd a season ago. Vogel, a former NBA champion (Los Angeles Lakers) as a head coach, saw potential in revamping Golden State's defense.
"Any team with Steph and Draymond can win; they've just had injuries the last couple years. That's the only reason. So, that starting point alone gives you confidence that you can win at a high level," said Vogel.
Vogel also cited former Defensive Player of the Year Award winner Draymond Green as a main factor that convinced him to take the position, saying, "You want your defense to have teeth, you know what I mean? And he (Draymond Green)
scared the s- out of me every time I played against the Warriors. I know that if he's playing, it's going to be hard to win that game, and it's going to be hard to score."
Throughout the interview, the former Indiana Pacers head coach also expressed his excitement to work with the Warriors' young core, notably Brandin Podziemski and recent No. 11 overall pick Yaxel Lendeborg. Lastly, Vogel appeared eager to work with former No. 4 overall pick Kristaps Porzingis, who can be a dominant shot-blocker when healthy, averaging 1.8 rejections per contest throughout his 10-year career. An NBA head coach for 12 seasons, Vogel has plenty of experience working with All-Star rim protectors, like Roy Hibbert in Indiana and Anthony Davis in Los Angeles.
Having finished 17th in the league in defensive rating a season ago, the acquisition of Vogel and Lendeborg should help reinvent Golden State's defensive presence.
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This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: New assistant coach Frank Vogel is eager to improve Golden State's defense
