warriors vs nets preview (Photo: Reuters via SportsWorldNews.com)
Brooklyn Nets (25-27) vs. Golden State Warriors (32-22)
Tip-off: Saturday, February 22nd, 2014 – 7:30PM PST
Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
Spread: Golden State (-6) meaning Warriors are 6-point favorites
TV: CSN Bay Area | Radio: KNBR 680 AM
Livetweet: @LetsGoWarriors (by @goldenstatenz)
Last Game / Streak:
BKN – Won 105-99 vs UTAH in Utah, Won 1 straight game
GSW – Won 102-99 vs HOU in Oakland, Won 2 straight games
Probable Starting Lineups:
Warriors:
PG: Stephen Curry (24.4 PPG, 9.0 APG, 4.3 RPG)
SG: Klay Thompson (18.2 PPG, 2.5 APG, 3.0 RPG)
SF: Andre Iguodala (9.7 PPG, 4.3 APG, 4.6 RPG)
PF: David Lee (19.1 PPG, 2.3 APG, 9.8 RPG) Draymond Green
C: Jermaine O’Neal (6.3 PPG, 0.4 APG, 4.7 RPG)
Nets:
PG: Deron Williams (13.4 PPG, 6.6 APG, 2.6 RPG)
SG: Shaun Livingston (7.7 PPG, 3.1 APG, 3.2 RPG)
SF: Joe Johnson (15.3 PPG, 2.7 APG, 3.2 RPG)
PF: Paul Pierce (13.3 PPG, 2.7 APG, 4.7 RPG)
C: Kevin Garnett (6.8 PPG, 1.6 APG, 6.7 RPG)
The Warriors will most likely be without their center, Andrew Bogut, but after the way O’Neal played a couple nights ago against Houston, especially with his game-winning block, there’s confidence among #DubNation with “JO” starting again.
UPDATE: David Lee will not play tonight:
The Dubs will also be looking to get back at the Nets for breaking their ten-game winning streak in Brooklyn earlier in the year.
Monte Poole of CSN Bay Area Group writes:
MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Klay Thompson vs. Williams. Thompson usually gets scoring ball-handlers, so he’ll see a lot of D-Will, who isn’t the player he once was. He’s smart, though, and Thompson (and anybody else with this assignment) will have to avoid foul trouble.
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Iguodala vs. Paul Pierce/Joe Johnson. An example of the matchup problem that is Brooklyn, as Iguodala also could see time against either player. Pierce, however, is an old rival that Iguodala is capable of containing. Johnson likely will see a lot of Draymond Green.
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Jermaine O’Neal vs. Kevin Garnett. This is a classic case of two aging gladiators, still proud as hell, facing each other once more. They can’t bring it as they could 10 years ago, but the winner of this battle of NBA seniors will demand attention.
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INJURY REPORT: For the Warriors, C Andrew Bogut (left shoulder inflammation) is doubtful and expected to miss his seventh straight game.
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For the Nets, F Pierce (turf toe) is probable and G Marcus Thornton (food poisoning) will be a game-time decision.
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LAST 10: Warriors 6-4, Nets 5-5.
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SERIES HISTORY: The Warriors, who swept the Nets in three of the past five seasons, will be trying to avoid a sweep this season. The Warriors have won seven of the last eight meetings in Oakland.
The Brooklyn Game writes:
Brooklyn Nets Breakdown Golden State Warriors 25-27 Record 33-22 5-5 Last 10 Games 6-4 103.1 Points scored per 100 possessions 104.1 104.6 Points allowed per 100 possessions 99.3 93.9 Possessions per game 98.8 45.1% Field goal percentage 45.8% 36.7% Three-point percentage 38.0% 47.7% Rebound percentage 51.3% 15.3% Turnover percentage 16.0% Joe Johnson (15.3) Top Scorer Stephen Curry (24.4) Projected starting lineup: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, David Lee, Jermaine O’Neal
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Last time out: Nets 102, Warriors 98. Kevin Garnett was the man again.
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This the Warriors have to pace themselves as they compete in the brutal Western Conference. They’re currently 11 games over .500, but it only puts them at the 7th seed in the Western Conference.
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Led by Curry, Thompson and Lee on offense, Mark Jackson’s squad is 10th in points per game at 103.5, and 10th in assists per game at 22.7 per game. On the defensive end, the Warriors are second in the league in rebounds per game, and the addition of Andre Iguodala and re-emergence of Andrew Bogut has pushed the Warriors to a top-10 defense.
The Nets will look to complete the season sweep on the Warriors after winning their last match-up 102 to 98 in Brooklyn. Kevin Garnett was huge in the last match-up and he looks to be a force again today. Marcus Thornton is expected to make his Brooklyn debut, but is a game time decision due to food poisoning.
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