The Golden State Warriors face crosstown rivals Sacramento Kings in the first round of the NBA 2022-23 playoffs.
While they enter the contest as firm favorites, one NBA analyst believes their poor road record during the regular season might be one of their bigger setbacks against Sacramento.
In his preview, CBS Sports’ Colin Ward-Henninger pointed out Golden State’s 11-30 road record saying, “Already a difficult team to play in Sacramento, the Kings’ home-crowd energy will be turned up to 17 in its first taste of postseason action in over a decade and a half.”
“This would spell trouble for any team, but especially the Warriors, who inexplicably sputtered to the league’s fourth-worst road record this season at 11-30.”
The analyst also added that while the Warriors, with significant championship experience, could easily win at home, they will be challenged by an offensive powerhouse like the Kings, especially during the latter’s home games.
That said, Ward-Henninger also picked the Warriors to win in six, especially after it was reported that Andrew Wiggins would play for them in the playoffs.
The road record is surely worth considering, and if there was any weakness the side had apart from injuries to their key stars, it’s their miserable away run.
Stephen Curry Reveals The Warriors’ Preparation To Take On The Kings
Not the one taking the Kings lightly, Stephen Curry outlined his team’s mental preparation against their rivals.
“You have to assume they’re going to stay true to their DNA, and that made them successful,” Curry explained, via NBC Sports. “It’s what we do. Going into a playoff series, those adjustments happen based on how each game kind of unfolds. Even in-game adjustments based on certain momentum waves and all that.”
The sharpshooter and his team beat the Kings in terms of championship DNA and experience but for those familiar with David vs. Goliath, there’s always a strong ending for the underdogs, who, in this case, are an impressive-yet-inexperienced Sacramento outfit.
Should the Kings defeat the Warriors, the series win could rightly be called one of the biggest playoff upsets.
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