While working for the Boston Celtics from 2007-11, Darren Erman once heard Danny Ainge wonder aloud why one end of the basketball court always takes precedence over the other during the summer months.
“If 50 percent of the game is defense, why doesn’t anyone work on individual defensive drills in workouts?” asked Boston’s president of basketball operations.
Partly with that in mind, Erman began making defense a larger part of his players’ year-round focus, including when he was hired as a Golden State assistant coach. Working closely with Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson – whom Erman calls his “guinea pig” – the coach drew up daily, 45-minute defensive sessions, following Thompson’s rookie year.