The Golden State Warriors are headed to the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland to face off against the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers in a high-stakes early-season clash between two contenders on Friday. The Warriors have had an electric 7-1 start to the season, but the Cavaliers one-up them on that front by going 9-0 so far this season.
Given the forms of both teams at the moment, it’s arguably one of the most notable clashes of the month as both teams will be looking to make a statement with a win over the other right now. The Warriors withstood a three-game Stephen Curry absence with three wins and now that he’s back will be hoping to continue their charge to the top of the West.
Despite the Cavaliers showing their competence on both ends of the court, here are three keys the Warriors have in their pockets to give Cleveland their first loss of the season.
1. Best Net Rating In The NBA
The Warriors have been comprehensively one of the most impressive teams in the NBA to start the season, leading the NBA in net rating by a considerable margin through the opening weeks of the season. Golden State currently has a net rating of +15.1, the best mark in the NBA. The Cavaliers aren’t far behind, with a +12.6 net rating, good enough for third-highest in the league right now.
The Warriors have an electric offensive unit that thrives under Steve Kerr’s motion offense, elements of which former Warriors assistant and current Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has deployed to transform Cleveland’s offense as well. Klay Thompson being replaced with role-players who are satisfied with their role has paid dividends, as the Warriors have true strength in numbers this season.
Even though the Warriors’ 120.4 offensive rating is lower in comparison to the Cavaliers’ 122.6, they have the tools to comfortably out-shoot the Cavaliers while relying on one of the best defensive systems in the NBA right now.
2. Defense Is Designed To Slow Cavaliers Down
The reason the Warriors have such a high net rating is because their defense is second-best in the NBA while their offense is third. The Warriors’ defense has a rating of 104.6, only bettered by the Oklahoma City Thunder (96.3) who have an identical record to the Warriors at the moment.
The Warriors’ defense excels primarily at creating perimeter pressure which blocks entry lanes into the rim to deny the effectiveness of bigs, especially ones without shooting ability. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are non-shooters, while Golden State will likely task big but mobile defenders like Brandin Podziemski or Andrew Wiggins to guard Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
Draymond Green is among the best help defenders in the NBA and will be a tough matchup for Mobley, who will have to contribute offensively to make a difference. He’s averaged 17.3 points and 8.2 rebounds so far and the Green matchup with the Warriors’ defensive solidity is arguably his biggest challenge of the season yet.
3. No Answer For Stephen Curry
The Warriors have demonstrated an ability to defend all kinds of opponents through the start of the season, but the only real answer opposing defenses have had for Stephen Curry on the Warriors is praying he misses his shots. Overcommitting on Curry has caused Buddy Hield and other Warriors shooters to punish opponents while letting Curry cook on his own is a gamble few defenses are comfortable with taking.
Even with Darius Garland’s improved performances this season, he lacks the defensive acumen to guard Curry as his primary matchup. Tasking Donovan Mitchell with that might impact his offensive output given Curry’s off-ball movement is designed to tire out whoever is guarding him. The Cavs’ most reliable defensive option for Curry might be Evan Mobley with Allen protecting the rim against back-cutters like Wiggins or Kuminga.
Curry is averaging 21.2 points on 42.2% from three so far this season with his numbers bound to fluctuate with his ability to go off for massive scoring nights due to the potency of his shot.
The Cavaliers will have to either create a system to limit Curry which opens others up or live with what the 36-year-old guard does. Those are gambles, not definitive answers, so it’ll be a tricky matchup for the undefeated Cavaliers.
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