PREVIEW: Golden State Warriors (16-0) At Phoenix Suns (7-8) – High-Powered Backcourts

penscoachquestion

Golden State Warriors (16-0) at Phoenix Suns (7-8)

Tip-off: Friday, November 27th, 2015 – 6:30PM PDT

Location: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ

TV: CSN Bay Area or NBA TV | Radio: KNBR 680

Livetweet: @LetsGoWarriors #LetsGoWarriorsLive (@chiliankopp)

Projected Starting Lineups:

Warriors (PPG, RPG, APG)

PG: Stephen Curry (32.1, 5.1, 5.9)

SG: Klay Thompson (16.2, 3.7, 2.7)

SF: Harrison Barnes (13.8, 4.9, 2.1)

PF: Draymond Green (12.7, 7.8, 6.6)

C: Andrew Bogut (7.1, 6.9, 2.4)

Head Coach: Luke Walton (Steve Kerr: 16-0, 1.000)*

* – “Warriors’ results under Luke Walton will count on Kerr’s (83-15, .847) official coaching record.” — Warriors’ PR

Suns (PPG, RPG, APG)

PG: Eric Bledsoe (22.9, 4.1, 5.9)

SG: Brandon Knight (21.9, 4.5, 5.7)

SF: P.J. Tucker (6.5, 4.5, 1.1)

PF: Markieff Morris (13.2, 5.7, 1.8)

C: Tyson Chandler (5.4, 9.3, 0.4)

C: Alex Len (5.3, 4.7, 0.3)

Head Coach: Jeff Hornacek (career:94-85, .525)

Previous Matchups

Game Notes

“Warriors consultant Jerry West on KNBR recently voiced concerns pertaining to the forthcoming Warriors match-up which takes place Friday at the Suns.

‘That team plays a lot like we do. They’re quick, they’ve got a great backcourt that can score,’ West said. ‘It’s going to make your backcourt really really have to play well and I think it’s a very dangerous game for us myself.’

Phoenix whom currently holds a seven and eight record ranks second in the NBA in pace at 100.3 possessions per forty-eight minutes. The team is also fourth in the NBA in points per game averaging 105.5 per contest.

The backcourt tandem of Knight and Bledsoe has accounted for 41% of Phoenix’s scoring this season with a combined total of 649 points. They also help everyone else put the ball in the basket as well, dishing out 167 assists.

As far as garnering possessions for their ball club, the 6’2″ average sized guards have pulled in 124 rebounds (8.6 per game). Their quickness has totaled 50 steals.

Taking a look at shot charts for these two reveals a couple weaknesses that the Warriors hopefully will be able to plan around and exploit.

The book on Knight is to contain him to shooting from ten to 22 feet where he’s a modest 37% on 26 for 71.” — Michael Kirwan — LetsGoWarriors.com

(Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account via NBAE/Getty)

Arrow to top