Dec 8, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) defends against Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) during the second half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Golden State won 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Here’s what the Warriors must do this week ahead of their Christmas Day game with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After a blowout victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night, the Golden State Warriors have a big week ahead of them. While everyone is looking to the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas Day this Sunday, the Warriors have three games before them.
They have a home against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night, along with two on the road against the Brooklyn Nets and the Detroit Pistons. The Warriors will have plenty of time to get warm before taking on the Cavaliers. Here’s what they need to do this week.
3. Take care of the Utah Jazz at home
Before they can begin focusing on keeping their great road success going, the Warriors have some business to take care of at home. The Jazz are in town on Tuesday night and Golden State has to be ready for a battle.
Although they jumped out to a huge lead over the Jazz on the road a couple of weeks ago, Utah battled all the way back and Golden State was able to get out of Salt Lake City with a victory in hand.
The Jazz have come close many times to beating this great Warriors team but it always feels like Golden State is able to come away with the win. They have to come out firing on all cylinders and win won at the Oracle Arena.
Jan 16, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) takes a shot over Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) during the fourth quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons won 113-95. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
2. Build on their strong defensive performances
The Golden State Warriors have held opponents to exactly 90 points in each of their last two contests. The Portland Trail Blazers and New York Knicks both have rosters filled with guys that can score the basketball.
It’s no small feat to hold those teams under 100 points in a game. Draymond Green is playing like the Defensive Player of the Year and the rest of the team is really contributing defensively to help set up themselves offensively.
Continuing a strong defensive trend and keeping the opponent off the glass this week would go a long way. It’s not going to be easy against the likes of Rudy Gobert, Andre Drummond and Tristan Thompson. That’s why they need to come in ready to fight for every rebound. Brooklyn is also 11th in rebounds per game and is more than capable of really testing Golden State.
Some key performances from Draymond Green, getting to loose basketballs and shoring things up on the glass for Golden State will continue to make this team better and playing at a top defensive level as a unit.
December 25, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30, left) dribbles the basketball against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) in the fourth quarter of a NBA basketball game on Christmas at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 89-83. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
1. Don’t get caught looking ahead to Christmas
When two teams have played 13 games at the highest level over the last two years, it’s hard not to get caught looking ahead to the biggest game of the regular season. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Warriors can’t stand each other. There’s going to be plenty of chippy play. However, that game isn’t until Christmas.
The Warriors have three games to take care of before they get their chance at knocking off Cleveland. The road games against Brooklyn and Detroit will be games the Warriors can’t assume they can coast to a win.
Although the Nets are struggling, they have upset some teams this season at home. The Warriors have to be ready for best effort. As for the Detroit Pistons, the Warriors lost in Detroit last season and it was one of those rare games where nothing went right.
Detroit has plenty of size and they’re going to try and hammer the Warriors all night with it. That’s a game that could tell us a lot about the current makeup of the Warriors’ roster. There’s a lot to watch for in that game.
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