Looking Ahead to the Next Seven After Minnesota Sweep
After beating the Timberwolves twice, the Warriors find themselves in playoff position in the Western Conference with a 10-8 record. As Golden State travels to and from the Chase Center in its next seven games, let’s take a look at its next five opponents:
Phoenix Suns (8-8) – Thursday, January 27, 7:00 PM in Pheonix
In the only game on a quick roadtrip to the Valley of the Sun – also the second leg of a back-to-back – the Warriors get their first look at a revamped Suns team hoping to build off of its undefeated run in the Bubble. A familiar foe in Chris Paul is running the point, leaning on the scoring of Devin Booker – who entered Wednesday averaging 22.9 PPG – and the emergence of 2018 first overall pick Deandre Ayton. Ayton has averaged a career-high in rebounds thus far after missing 25 games last season due to suspension because he tested positive for a banned substance. Ayton is averaging a double-double in his stint in the NBA, which poses a challenge to newly-inserted starter Kevon Looney and rookie James Wiseman. Booker and Paul also figure to press former Sun Kelly Oubre Jr. and other Golden State players on the defensive end, and a victory against a team that has taken down the Mavericks and Jazz would be an important statement in the standings for the Warriors.
Detroit Pistons (4-14) – Saturday, January 30, 7:00 PM at Home
Golden State will take on another former member of the Lob City Clippers – if load management allows it. Blake Griffin and the Pistons come to the Chase Center after falling 116-106 to a Draymond-less Warriors on December 29. Detroit entered Wednesday second-to-last in the Eastern Conference, but did get an impressive win against the conference-leading 76ers on Monday. The Pistons are paced in scoring by Jerami Grant, whose 2020-21 scoring thus far is more than 10 points higher than his career-best. Derrick Rose was able to score in spurts against Golden State, but given the Dubs’ victory without Draymond Green earlier this season, it would be a disappointing loss for a team on the edge of the early playoff picture.
Boston Celtics (10-7) – Tuesday, February 2, 7:00 PM at Home
The Warriors have already seen the Bucks, Pacers and Nets, and welcome another top-5 team in the East in the Boston Celtics. Brad Stevens’ squad finally has its point guard Kemba Walker back, and still boasts under-25 superstars in Jayson Tatum (who just returned from a COVID-induced absence) and Jaylen Brown. Both Tatum and Brown are averaging over 25 points per game as the Celtics entered Wednesday sixth in the league in field goal percentage (47.6%). Boston has given Golden State trouble over the years, and Marcus Smart figures to be a nuisance when guarding Stephen Curry, so the Warriors may need to lean on complementary scorers like Andrew Wiggins. The game marks the Celtics’ first on a five-game roadtrip, and if the Warriors can catch them off guard, an unexpected win could galvanize Golden State ahead of four road games of its own.
Dallas Mavericks (8-10) – Thursday, February 4, 4:30 PM; Saturday, February 6, 5:30 PM, both in Dallas
To start off their two-part Texas two-step (say that five times fast), the Warriors meet the Dallas Mavericks, who are off to a disappointing start to the 72-game season. Dallas entered Wednesday 20th in the league in scoring, and are still led in points by Luka Doncic, who is averaging 27.3 points per game through 16 games. The Mavericks’ continuity has been hurt by missing role players due to Health and Safety Protocols, and they only have two players that have played in each of their first 17 games. Kristaps Porzingis has averaged nearly 20 points a contest since his return from a torn meniscus, and Tim Hardaway Jr. – son of former Warrior Tim Hardaway – is third in the team in scoring with 17.5 points per game entering Wednesday. Dallas has had the third-fewest turnovers in the league and is in the middle of the association in opponent FG% with plenty of offensive talent to speak of. It’s hard to gauge which Mavericks team Golden State will get, but in a doubleheader with the possibility for adjustments, a two-game split seems reasonable.
San Antonio Spurs (10-8) – Monday, February 8, 5:30 PM; Tuesday, February 9, 5:30 PM, both in San Antonio
The Warriors had their most dominant win of the campaign when they beat the Spurs 121-99 on January 20, and get two more oppurtunities to rout San Antonio on the road trip. Gregg Popovich’s leading scorer DeMar DeRozan scored 15 points on 3-of-8 shooting in the previous matchup, while seven-time All Star LaMarcus Aldridge was limited to just four points. Aldridge is having his worst scoring season since his rookie season, and has an EFG% south of 50% for the first time since 2017. Dejounte Murray had 22 points in the team’s last matchup, and the fourth-year guard is taking the most shots of his career this season, netting his highest scoring average during his time in the NBA. Golden State left the Inaguration Day blowout shooting 50.5% from the field and dishing out 31 assists, and if the Warriors can hold the Spurs to around their 37.2% from the field from the last contest, the Dubs might be able to take advantage and pick up a pair of victories.