Golden State Warriors Aim for Better Start Against Nets
By Eric He
Riding high on a 26-point comeback win over the Celtics on Sunday, the Golden State Warriors make the trek over to New York to take on the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.
With a win, the Warriors will go 4-2 on their six-game road trip, but standing in their way is a Nets squad that is battling for a playoff spot and coming off a satisfying win in Dallas over the Mavericks on Saturday.
The Nets will not go quietly, much like the Celtics gave the Warriors their best effort on Sunday before falling just short. Replacing Kevin Garnett with Thaddeus Young, the Nets don’t appear as dangerous as last season, but nevertheless are a veteran squad that will take advantage of mistakes.
On the back-end of a back-to-back and the final game of a long Eastern trip, the Warriors must pull it together for one more game and make it a happy flight home.
Key Matchups
Stephen Curry vs. Deron Williams/Jarrett Jack: No matter who plays the point for the Nets, it will be an intriguing matchup between Williams or Jack and Curry. Just a few years ago, Williams was considered one of the elite point guards in the game, but injuries have deteriorated him. Williams, however, did score 25 points in a win over the Mavericks on Saturday matched up against Rajon Rondo, so he is more than capable of rekindling his dominant ways against top-level competition.
And then there’s Jack, who Warriors’ fans are well familiar with as he backed up Curry during the 2012-2013 season, and played a huge role in clinching a playoff berth. Jack is more or less the same player as he was with the Warriors, and it will be interesting to see how these two old teammates fare against one another.
Andrew Bogut vs. Mason Plumlee/Brook Lopez: Another talented duo sharing the same position for the Nets, Plumlee and Lopez will be matched up against Bogut, if the Australian suits up for the Warriors. Regardless, the Warriors’ bigs will need to be up for the task, as both Plumlee and Lopez average double-digits in scoring. Plumlee is agile, long, lean, and athletic while Lopez has good range for a big man. With the acquisition of Thaddeus Young, the Nets are playing more small ball, but Plumlee and Lopez are still forces down low.
Keys to the Game
1. Push the Pace
The Nets are a team that likes to operate out of a half-court set, ranking in the bottom-five in the league in pace. The Warriors, meanwhile, lead the league in pace and need to push the tempo. They cannot allow the Nets to slow it down and force the Warriors to play their style, like the Pacers did last Sunday. The Warriors need to run whenever possible, make the Nets uncomfortable, and put the game away.
2. Start strong
It is safe to say the Warriors will not come back from a 26-point deficit every night. Against another inferior opponent in the final game of a six-game road trip, a strong start is paramount to keep the energy level high and maintain it throughout the game.