Game Details

  • Tip Off:
  • Television: CSN-BA

Team Profile

Leaders

  • Points: Andre Iguodala, 14.5 PPG
  • Rebounds: Kenneth Faried, 9.7 RPG
  • Assists: Ty Lawson, 7.3 APG
  • Steals: Ty Lawson, 2.3 SPG
  • Blocks: Timofey Mozgov, 2.0 BPG
  • Field Goal Percentage: Kenneth Faried, 54.8% FG
  • 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: Corey Brewer, 41.0% 3PT FG

Scope the Opposition: Roundball Mining.

Preview: The Golden State Warriors (3-3) fell at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers last night in a route at Staples Center and will be looking to bounce back tonight when they take on a Denver Nuggets (3-3) team that was victorious against the Utah Jazz.

The Dubs will have their work cut out for them as the absence of Andrew Bogut is bound to be felt tonight much like it was against the Lakers frontline in the Warriors’ previous contest. Indeed, George Karl’s crew is scoring 50.3 points in the paint per game (tops in the NBA), on the strength of their interior players (Faried and McGee), who do an excellent job of not only finishing at the rim, but scoring second chance opportunities.

In addition, the Nuggets like to use Danillo Gallinari in the pick-and-roll at the top of the floor with Ty Lawson to force the switch and then post up the former Knickerbocker who is defended by a smaller player for easy scoring opportunities.

And just for good measure, Denver has Andre Iguodala, Ty Lawson and Andre Miller that are quite adept at not only breaking defenders off the trouble, but also splitting the trap in the pick-and-roll to get into the lane to create carnage for opponents.

Defensively, the Nuggets can be exploited, especially in the pick-and-roll.

Kenneth Faried has a huge motor and thus plays with a lot of energy, but he isn’t the quickest player necessarily and doesn’t always take the proper angles defensively when hedging on ball-handlers. Consequently, players running the pick-and-roll can turn the corner on him and get into the lane where the Nuggets surrender 41 points in the paint per game (18th in the league).

Golden State will have ample opportunities to create high percentage shots against Denver, but it will be important that they actually run their offense as opposed to simply running out and rushing to put shots up as they did against the Los Angeles Lakers in the previous contest.

Putting Stephen Curry in the pick-and-roll with David Lee can only serve to benefit the Warriors given Curry’s shooting ability as well as David Lee’s skills around the basket that allow him to both finish and feed cutters. The Dubs need to keep things simple especially with their starting unit to take advantage of all their strengths as opposed to simply relying on their perimeter shooting.

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