Warriors game day: Does Golden State have answer for Damian Lillard?
Steve Kerr, 3rd season with Warriors (142-25 with Warriors and overall); Terry Stotts, 5th season with Trail Blazers (184-147 with Trail Blazers and 299-315 overall)
On air: CSN Bay Area and NBA TV; Radio on 95.7 FM
Trail Blazers: PG Damian Lillard (35 ppg, 8 rpg, 5.3 apg), SG C.J. McCollum (21.3 ppg, 5.3 apg), SF Maurice Harkless (10 ppg, 4 rpg), PF Al-Farouq Aminu (5 ppg, 8 rpg), C Mason Plumlee (10.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
Warriors injury report: C Damian Jones (right pectoral surgery) and PG Patrick McCaw (sprained left ankle) are out.
In nine games against his hometown team last season, including five playoff games, the Oakland High alum averaged 33.9 points and 7.1 assists.
Through three games this season, he is averaging 35 points, eight rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 54.9 percent from the field (44.4 percent from beyond the arc).
The two-time NBA All-Star has been up front about the game plan Tuesday:
Lillard, who had some success attacking the rim in Portland’s Oct. 21 preseason loss at Oracle Arena, told reporters recently that Golden State’s interior defense is “just not the same” without Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli.
Can Golden State find “rhythm shots?” As detailed in Tuesday’s print story, a Warriors team that features three of the league’s best three-point shooters is shooting just 26.7 percent from three-point range.
Steve Kerr’s system depends on players’ ability to feast on well-timed screens and transition jumpers.
Will the Warriors limit close-range shots?
Two weeks ago, in the Warriors’ exhibition win over Portland, they allowed Lillard and C.J. McCollum to blow to the rim for a host of early layups.