Warriors vs. Celtics Preview: They’re rolling now!
Could they really win five in a row?
Holy smokes, the Golden State Warriors have won four games in a row for the first time all season. And they’ve taken the first two contests in their five-game road series.
But now things get more difficult. After cruising to wins against the lottery-bound Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers, the Dubs get a much more difficult matchup, in last year’s Eastern Conference finalists, the Boston Celtics.
The deets
Who: Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics
When: 5:30 p.m. PT
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
TV: ABC and the WatchESPN app (available on fuboTV)
The story
The Warriors looked good in their win over the Milwaukee Bucks, who were admittedly without Giannis Antetokounmpo (but are still a good team). And they looked sensational in their victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Now they get another test to see if they can hang with the the NBA’s big kids.
A win against Boston would not only help the Warriors in the standings, but it would serve as another data point proving that Golden State can at least make things interesting in the playoffs against one of the better teams. And I know we’d all love for that to happen.
Players to watch
Warrior to watch: Draymond Green.
Green has been spectacular during the Warriors recent resurgence. He’s been active and aggressive on offense, looking for his shot, applying pressure to opposing defenses, and keeping the ball moving. On the other end of the court he’s been his usual elite self, and he seems more energized and motivated.
Maybe it’s the small ball lineups, maybe it’s the playoffs being soon, or maybe it’s the effects of the coronavirus fully wearing off. Whatever it is, if it’s here to stay, the Warriors will be a lot better for it.
Celtic to watch: Jaylen Brown.
Bay Area basketball fans will be happy to see the year that Brown, a fifth-year wing out of Cal, is having. It all came together for Brown this season, as he’s averaging 24.3 points per game and shooting 39.7% from beyond the arc, all while supplying excellent perimeter defense. It earned him his first trip to the All-Star Game, and he’ll be a name that the Dubs are circling.
Matchup to watch: Steph Curry vs. Marcus Smart.
Matchups don’t get much more fun than this. Curry is playing perhaps the best basketball of his life, having scored at least 30 points in nine straight games, and doing so with unfathomable efficiency. And Smart is on the short list of best defensive guards in the league.
Curry is a magician with the basketball, and Smart is an F-350 made out of super glue on defense. This should be a lot of fun.
Keys to victory
- Be disciplined on both ends of the court, for 48 minutes
- Don’t get beaten too badly in the bench minutes
- Win the three-point battle
Work that win streak, Dubs.