The Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors will square off in what could end up being an NBA Finals preview.
A marquee matchup featuring two of the top teams in the NBA will take center stage Tuesday evening as the Golden State Warriors prepare to face off against the Brooklyn Nets.
The Warriors are 8-2 in their last 10 games (11-2 overall) and Stephen Curry is playing as he did during his two MVP seasons. The Nets currently sit atop the Eastern Conference at 10-4 and have been playing well despite missing their superstar point guard Kyrie Irving.
NBA fans will be able to witness two of the game’s greatest scorers going head to head as Kevin Durant and Curry are the top scorers in the league this season; Durant averaging 29.6 and Curry scoring 28.1 per contest. The Warriors are one of the most complete teams in the league and are well-coached and always prepared.
The entire team from the starters to the players on the bench, from the veterans to the young guys have all contributed to their early success. Andrew Wiggins has been playing well and has scored in double figures in every game he has played. Jordan Poole has also played spectacularly as he is cementing himself as a Most Improved Player candidate.
Gary Payton II has been awesome and it seems like he will become a major piece for this team going forward as one of the most underrated players in the NBA. He’s a great on-ball defender and has fit the Warriors scheme perfectly. The Warriors are explosive on offense as they lead the NBA in scoring at an average of 115.1 points per game but their defense is what sets them apart.
The Warriors have three players ranked in the top 40 in steals per game and neither of those players is named Draymond Green or Andre Iguodala, which speaks volumes about their defense considering Green and Iguodala are considered great defensive talents.
The Nets have only lost four games but those losses have come against top-tier teams. Those losses came against the Bucks, Hornets, Heat, and the Bulls but the Nets are playing well and have their sites set on establishing themselves as the biggest threat in the East and could make a statement if they can pull out a victory against the Warriors.
Durant has been his usual MVP-caliber self as he has been tearing opposing defenses apart as teams have no answer for him. James Harden struggled to begin the season but he’s been playing much better as of late as it appears that he is playing with the same confidence and swagger he had last year. He should continue to improve as the season rolls on especially as a veteran player who can explode offensively on any given night.
While Patty Mills is no Kyrie Irving, he has served as an admirable replacement putting up 10. 4 points per game while giving the Nets a veteran presence with much-needed championship experience. Mills has been lighting up opposing defenses from behind the arc as he is currently 3rd in the NBA in 3-point percentage shooting 48.1 percent.
This game is sure to be filled with plenty of buckets, many highlights and lots of fireworks as this could very well be a possible NBA Finals preview. Which MVP candidate will have the most dominating performance? Will this game be determined by the bench or the role players? This game figures to be a close one but I’m predicting that the Warriors edge out a win in a close one on the road.
Prediction: Warriors 137, Nets 134