House is an oasis for the Warriors. So this upcoming mini residence stand off a three-game dropping street journey ought to be one thing the crew is trying ahead to.
However the two-game residence stand gained’t be simple. They've Giannis Antetokounmpo and the first-place Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday and Western Convention rival Phoenix Suns shortly after on Monday earlier than they set off on the dreaded street once more.
No crew within the NBA has a extra drastic cut up between residence and away data than the Warriors: They’re 27-7 at Chase Middle and 7-27 on the street this season. Sitting in a three-way tie for the sixth seed as of Friday night time, a visit residence to play two of the league’s high groups might both provoke a annoyed Golden State locker room or ship them into an prolonged dropping streak they will’t afford with simply 14 video games remaining within the common season.
“Bought extra video games within the schedule to maintain figuring it out,” Steph Curry stated after their loss to Memphis on Thursday. “A part of how we acquired right here was combating by means of every year, regardless of the challenges had been, although eventualities are somewhat completely different, context is completely different, however once more, sustaining the hope that we now have sufficient on this locker room till it’s confirmed that we don’t or we do.
“That’s all we are able to do as gamers at this level, that’s why we present up on daily basis.”
Can issues go proper? Right here’s how they match up towards the Bucks and Suns.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks have MVP Antetokounmpo listed as questionable on the harm report as of Friday with proper hand soreness. He missed Thursday’s recreation towards the Brooklyn Nets with an analogous harm, so it’s potential the famous person will miss the Warriors matchup.
However the Warriors may have their palms full if Antetokounmpo performs. Draymond Inexperienced, who's coping with a left hand harm, is considered one of few gamers on the roster — wholesome or current — who can defend Antetokounmpo and supply a lot dimension to a very depleted frontcourt.
A part of one more sluggish begin in Thursday’s loss stemmed from head coach Steve Kerr opting to start out 4 guards — Curry, Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson and Donte DiVincenzo. Kerr admitted the choice was “too cute.” However the employees is operating with restricted frontcourt choices.
Andrew Wiggins’ standing continues to be unknown as he tends to non-public points. Jonathan Kuminga injured his ankle throughout warmups in Memphis and will miss extra video games transferring ahead. Golden State has a dimension situation that can be exacerbated if Antetokounmpo takes the courtroom.
Curry particularly should deal Jrue Vacation, one of many higher Curry defenders the place only a few exist. Curry is averaging 32 factors and taking pictures 51.4% from 3 since his return from harm on March 5 and fueled all their comebacks that erased double-digit deficits. However opposing defenses have managed to mood the comebacks — the Grizzlies sealed their win on Thursday by forcing the ball out of Curry’s palms as a lot as potential.
The Warriors are 0-1 towards the Bucks this season, dropping to them in Milwaukee in December. The Bucks sit in first place of the Japanese Convention on the again of a latest 17-game win streak.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns aren’t as scary as they had been just a few days in the past. Kevin Durant will miss Monday’s recreation after struggling an ankle sprain throughout warmups on Wednesday.
Durant has performed the Warriors at Chase Middle as soon as throughout his 1-1/2 12 months tenure with the Brooklyn Nets, but it surely was with out followers within the stands as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. He watched injured from the bench throughout Brooklyn’s two different visits to the Bay Space. So Bay Space followers have but to observe Durant dwell since he suited up for Golden State within the 2019 Western Convention semifinals at Oracle Enviornment.
His absence leaves the Suns with out one of many NBA’s most prolific scorers. An apparent loss for Phoenix and benefit for the Warriors.
Phoenix gave up a whole lot of their depth to land Durant, together with Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson. Bridges, now with Brooklyn, has been a tricky perimeter defender and has had loads of battles towards Curry.
However the Suns have All-Stars Devin Booker and Chris Paul to steer the cost together with former Warrior Damion Lee, who torched Golden State for 22 factors (together with 14 free throws) of their final match up in January.
The Warriors are 0-3 towards Phoenix this season, together with one loss at residence. The Suns have gained 4 straight and are within the Western Convention’s fourth seed.