Matchup and Keys: Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks Face Off in Battle of the Best
By Greg Chin
Let’s have a show of hands: who foresaw that a February matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks would be a battle between the league’s two best teams coming before the season started?
I can tell you – no one. No one saw this coming.
No one could have predicted the Hawks doing so well, especially since so many analysts picked them as a dark horse to make the playoffs. The Warriors received similar treatment in the Western Conference previews – everyone expected the Los Angeles Clippers, the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs to lead the West.
But yet, here we are. Tonight’s matchup will be the biggest test the Warriors have faced so far: the Hawks are coming off a 19-0 unbeaten streak, and became the first team in NBA history to go 17-0 in a calendar month. The streak may be over, but no one is doubting the Hawks’ legitimacy as an elite team in the NBA.
The similarities between the two teams are uncanny: both head coaches come from the Gregg Popovich coaching tree, both teams employ unselfish playing styles on offense, and both teams have incredible three-point shooters on their roster.
Read here for our staff’s prediction on tonight’s game, and who would win in a seven-game series.
Key Matchups
Jeff Teague vs Stephen Curry: Coming off his 51-point game, Stephen Curry will be feeling confident in his shot. Meanwhile, Jeff Teague is having the best season of his career by far, and pulls the strings for one of the league’s best offenses. Teague is a better defender than Curry is, but Curry has the potential to hit supernova status at any given point in a game.
Kyle Korver vs Klay Thompson: By now, you would have heard ad nauseam about Kyle Korver’s record-breaking shooting splits. Currently, he’s shooting 51.7 percent from the field, 53.2 percent from behind the arc, and 92 percent from the charity stripe. If he keeps this up, he’ll be the first player in NBA history to crack (or create) the 50/50/90 club. Klay Thompson, on the other hand, is having his breakout season, and leads the league in three-point field goals per game. The battle between the two sharpshooters will be an intense one.
Al Horford vs Andrew Bogut: In the midst of a record-breaking season for the Atlanta Hawks, the spotlight on Al Horford has waned a little bit. He started off the season slow as he was still recuperating from tearing his pectoral muscle last season, but has been hitting his stride recently. He provides spacing to the team, and is one of their best passers (5.5 assists per game). Bogut will need to be ready for a busy night, with most of his movement outside the lane.
Keys to the Game
- Defense is Our Calling Card
The Atlanta Hawks boast the league’s fifth best offense, with a focus on floor spacing and creating the best shot attempt with passing and off-the-ball movement. The Warriors’ defense will need to be on point tonight – if they started like they did against the Dallas Mavericks and allow 42 points in the first quarter, the game will be over very quickly.
- Play the Lanes
The Hawks lead the league in assist percentage (percentage of assisted field goals) with 67.9 percent, while the Warriors are second with 65.1 percent. The Dubs will need to challenge the passing lanes and prevent the Hawks from passing as frequently as they want to. By disrupting their rhythm, the Warriors will make their lives a lot easier.
- Run for Easy Points
It seems like the only thing the Hawks aren’t very good at is scoring on the break. Their fast break points make up 11.4 percent of their total points, while the Warriors lead the league with 19.2 percent of their points coming from fast breaks. The Hawks aren’t a very fast unit – Horford, Korver, and Paul Millsap aren’t exactly known for their athleticism. The Warriors will need to create turnovers and score plenty of fast break points to create a buffer between the two teams – it might just be the only difference between the two very-similar teams.
Prediction: Golden State Warriors win it, but narrowly. It’s a game that could swing either way, but I believe in the power of star-power and the Splash Brothers.