Blue Man Hoop
Fansided

Complacency may be Golden State Warriors’ biggest threat against Charlotte Hornets

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 26: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets talk with each other while there's a break in the action during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on February 26, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 26: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets talk with each other while there's a break in the action during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on February 26, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

After one of their best wins of the season in a highly-anticipated, nationally televised game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Christmas Day, the Golden State Warriors return to Chase Center for a much more low profile contest against the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night.

Despite the ongoing absence of stars Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors will enter the game as heavy favourites. However, as we’ve seen many times, no win is guaranteed for Golden State this season.

Complacency may be the Golden State Warriors’ biggest threat when they face the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night at Chase Center.

The Hornets hold the NBA’s second-worst record at 9-25. Ranked 27th in defensive rating and 30th in offensive rating, the numbers would suggest Charlotte pose little threat even to the undermanned Warriors.

Yet one of those wins did come against Golden State in overtime back in Charlotte on October 29 — a game the Warriors could come to rue given they held a four-point lead in the final minute of regulation.

The Hornets have actually won the last two against the Warriors and five of the last seven, though the last two were in Charlotte. They’ve presented as a little bit of a bogey team for the reigning NBA champions in recent times, and that may be reason enough for Golden State not to take this game lightly.

But after such an emotional rollercoaster against the Grizzlies on Christmas, it’d be easy for the Warriors’ intensity levels to drop a little in a much more low-key matchup. That’s particularly the case for the Warriors’ younger players who performed brilliantly on Sunday — they must stay in the moment and not get too far ahead of themselves.

Golden State’s last signature victory, a win against the Boston Celtics earlier in the month, was immediately followed by a loss to the Indiana Pacers. Sure, the Pacers held and continue to hold a far better record than the Hornets, but that to was a game the Warriors would have been expecting to tick off as a win.

The Hornets have been buoyed by the recent return of star point-guard LaMelo Ball, although he’s currently listed as probable on the injury report. Draymond Green is also listed as probable for the Warriors, with Curry, Wiggins, JaMychal Green and Andre Iguodala already out.

dark. Next. Klay Thompson rips Dillon Brooks as Golden State Warriors-Memphis Grizzlies rivalry heats up

Golden State must leave Chase Center tonight at 17-18 — anything less and they would have undid all the great work to produce a joyous and important Christmas Day win against Memphis.

Home/Warriors News