How Draymond helped Moody’s defensive growth with Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Moses Moody credits Warriors teammate Draymond Green for helping him become a better defender.
In talking to Green and retired Golden State veteran Baron Davis on “The Draymond Green Show,” Moody explained how the four-time NBA champion assists on that end of the court.
“My rookie year, I would be guarding somebody and it would feel like they were hesitant — like, they don’t want to make moves a certain way — because they see me and they don’t want to attack here,” Moody told Green and Davis. “I realized the fact that it’s like in a movie or something, where the dude in front, I’m only looking at you, but then I got this big ol’ dude (Green) behind me and they see, and they’re acting a certain way.”
Earlier in his career, Moody — at 6-foot-6 and 205 pounds — believed that his opponents were hesitant with the ball in front of him because he was that intimidating. However, while intimidation might have been a factor, the fourth-year wing figured out that Green’s presence in the background deterred ball handlers.
That sounds about right. Green ruins offenses for a living, earning 2017 NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors, eight All-Defensive selections and has made roughly $200 million over his 13 seasons for his two-way prowess.
Green’s defensive approach has rubbed off on Moody. The young wing now is one of Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s reliable two-way options and often is assigned harder perimeter assignments.
“As I’ve been able to become a better defender, now I can take more gambles and affect the ball, because [opponents] always have that hesitancy,” Moody told Green and Davis. “Because Dray, he’s not like halfway showing, he’s standing right here like we’re double-teaming you almost, and because he can react and get back to where he’s supposed to be.
“Just having that behind you at all times, it just lets you become a different player.”
Moody alone is a good, developing defender. But playing alongside Green for his entire career thus far has made Moody’s nightly responsibilities that much easier.
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