Keys and Matchups: Warriors Must Remain Focused Against Celtics
By Greg Chin
The Golden State Warriors have the best record in the NBA, and by almost every conceivable metric, have been the best team in the league for most of the season. However, when it comes to playing against weaker opposition recently, that dominance hasn’t reared its head.
Before the All-Star break, the Warriors played the three worst teams in the league (Philadelphia, Minnesota, New York). They came away with three wins, but their performances left a lot to be desired – they were sloppy in their execution and seemed disinterested. Last Sunday, they lost to the Indiana Pacers (albeit without Stephen Curry), again displaying poor shooting and even blew a 12-point lead.
Tonight, the Warriors must avoid that same lax attitude when they face off against the Boston Celtics, who have won their last three straight games. Isaiah Thomas, a trade deadline day acquisition for the Celtics, has been key for them in their recent victories, as he provides them with an instant-offense option – something they’ve been lacking for a while now.
Meanwhile, the Warriors will look to build on their convincing road win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. The last time the two teams met, the Celtics lost in a narrow 3-point loss. They’ll be looking to avenge that loss at home this time round.
Key Matchups
Marcus Smart vs Stephen Curry: One of the league’s best scoring point guards goes up against one of the up-and-coming young defensive guards. Smart is known for his defensive tenacity and will have his hands full going against Curry. After a poor shooting night in Cleveland, Curry found his shooting touch against the Raptors, going 3-of-4 from long range. He’ll be looking to continue that tonight.
Avery Bradley vs Klay Thompson: Bradley was once touted as the next elite“3-and-D” player. However, he hasn’t quite lived up to the billing, and Klay Thompson has seemingly made that next step. Watching the two elite defenders go head-to-head will be a treat.
Keys to the Game
- Icing Isaiah Thomas
In his first four games as a Celtic, Thomas has averaged 22.3 points and 6 assists per game. He has come off the bench in a sixth man role, but is has been playing close to 28 minutes per game. He’s been the Celtics go-to man in the clutch, and the offense is diverted through him when he is on the floor. The Warriors will need to be at their defensive best to ice this instant-offense guy.
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- Defense Wins Games
After defeating the Toronto Raptors 113-89, the Warriors improved to 28-0 when holding their opponents below 100 points. This may seem like an arbitrary stat, but it points to the Warriors’ incredible defensive ability. If the Warriors are able to hold the Celtics to under 100 points, it seems highly likely that they’ll leave Boston with a win.
Prediction: Narrow victory for the Warriors. The Dubs haven’t fared very well on the road lately, and will find themselves fighting hard against a team who have won three straight on the trot. The Warriors cannot afford to show up against Boston with a lax, devil-may-care attitude.