What's missing for the Warriors this season?

After making an improbable run to the NBA Championship last season, the Golden State Warriors are battling to even make the playoffs and avoid the play-in tournament this season.

What has gone wrong? And can it be fixed in time for them to make another playoff run?

Let's explore.

The Warriors had the best defense in the NBA last season according to Defensive Rating, allowing an estimated 106.9 points per 100 possessions. This season, they rank 19th with a 114.9 DRTG.

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Meanwhile, the Warriors were middle-of-the-pack in pace last season, averaging 98.4 possessions per game to rank 13th in the league in pace. This season, the Warriors play the fastest pace in the NBA with 101.8 possessions per game.

Combine a below average defense with more possessions, and the end result is a Warriors team allowing 117.9 PPG this season, the sixth-worst in the NBA.

That mark is dominated by their struggles on the road, where the Warriors are allowing opponents to average a whopping 124.0 PPG. This is likely the primary reason the Warriors are 8-29 on the road, a 21.6 win percentage that is among the worst in the NBA. Only the Spurs, Rockets and Pistons (combined record of 53-164) are worse.

So, the next question is… what's different about their defense this season, compared to last?

The Warriors' defense has always been anchored in the middle, with former Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green working next to a more traditional center as the drivers of the defense.

This season continues in that vein, with Green and Kevon Looney both among the top-10 at their respective positions in Defensive Real Plus