Warriors Start Difficult Week Against Wizards
By Greg Chin
The Golden State Warriors have a daunting week ahead of them, with four games in six nights, and all four games in back-to-back sets. The Warriors will take on the Washington Wizards tonight, and face the Portland Trail Blazers in tomorrow night’s match up.
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The good news is that the Warriors are likely to finish the season as the first seed in the Western Conference. With that in mind, coach Steve Kerr might limit his starters’ minutes, especially if they have to play a top four seed in the West just 24 hours later.
Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards will battle hard to win tonight, as they try and secure home court advantage in the East. They are 1.5 games behind the fourth seeded Chicago Bulls, but have lost two games consecutively after going on a five game win streak.
The Warriors will want to defend home court, as they have only lost twice so far at home this season. They have also made it a target to reach 60 wins – the first time in franchise history. They are currently sitting on 56.
Key Matchups:
John Wall vs Stephen Curry: The two faced off against each other in a (poorly-planned) H.O.R.S.E. shooting contest during All-Star Weekend, but the stakes will be much higher tonight. Curry is coming off in impressive 24 points (3-of-6 from behind the arc) in his last game, while Wall is dealing with a few minor ailments. He struggled scoring the ball in his last game.
Paul Pierce vs Harrison Barnes: Since losing Klay Thompson to an injury, Barnes has really stepped up. He had two 20-plus point games before having a quiet game against the Utah Jazz. Pierce is having a mixed season with the Wizards, but it’s clear that his experience and veteran savvy is helping the team. The Barnes-Pierce matchup will be an interesting one between young and old.
Nene Hilario/Marcin Gortat vs Draymond Green/Andrew Bogut: The Wizards’ strength lies in their frontcourt, where they are protected by two seven-footers. Green and Bogut will have their hands full dealing against one of the biggest frontcourts in the league, and have shown some signs of struggle against size in the past.
Keys to the Game:
- Under 100
When the Warriors keep their opponents to under 100 points, they are unbeaten (37-0). Meanwhile, the Wizards were kept under 100 points in their last two games (which were losses), and average 98.5 points per game. It’s safe to say that if the Warriors can limit the Wizards’ offense tonight, it should end up with another game in the win column.
- A Tribe Called Bench
The Warriors’ bench has really been on fire lately. Andre Iguodala, Leandro Barbosa, and Shaun Livingston have been key contributors off the bench in recent victories. With tomorrow night’s game against the Blazers looming, coach Kerr will want to limit his starters’ minutes. The bench will play a big role in tonight’s clash, so look out for Iggy and the Brazilian Blur to put up big numbers.