Matchups and Keys: League-Best Golden State Warriors Meet Improving 76ers
By Greg Chin
After playing against the league’s worst team, the Golden State Warriors will take on the second-worst record in the league, the Philadelphia 76ers. The 12-win 76ers are still one of the league’s worst teams, but have shown some measure of improvement this season.
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Under coach Brett Brown, the 76ers have the 12th best defense in the league – a remarkable improvement considering they were ranked 27th last season. Philadelphia has won four straight at home, and seven of 11 in 2015. However, the entire streak has come against opponents under .500.
On the opposite end of the spectrum are the Warriors. This will be their third stop on a four-game road trip, with the final three games coming against the three-worst records in the NBA. They defeated the New York Knicks on Saturday, but performed poorly despite the win. They looked disinterested at times, and were clearly on cruise control for most of the game.
Much like their last game, the only thing that can beat the Warriors is themselves. Against a young and hungry team, complacency could be their downfall.
Key Matchups
Michael Carter-Williams vs Stephen Curry: The 76ers’ point guard has missed consecutive games due to a right toe injury, and he could be out for the game against the Warriors. However, if he does play, Williams’ length and agility could make life miserable for Curry.
Nerlens Noel vs Andrew Bogut: Noel, who missed his rookie season due to an ACL tear, is impressing many in his debut season. He is averaging 1.7 blocks per game, and is the defensive lynchpin of the 76ers. Bogut will have to draw him out and away from the rim if the Warriors are to have any success attacking the rim.
Keys to the Game
- Stay Focused
As I mentioned before, complacency is the only thing that will ruin the Warriors. The gap in talent is huge, and even the Warriors’ second unit would be too much for the 76ers’ starting lineup to handle. The game against the Knicks was nearly similar, but they made things interesting when they cut the lead to just five points with four minutes left in the final quarter. The Warriors will need to stay focused throughout this game.
- Defense
Despite their improvement on the defensive end, the 76ers still struggle on offense. They average 96.8 points per 100 possessions – the worst in the league. If the Warriors keep playing their brand of intense defense, they could limit the 76ers to below 90 points, especially since their perimeter defense has been poor the past few games.
Prediction: An easy win for the Warriors. The gap in talent is far too big, and it’s not often we see an upset of such epic proportions.