The Warriors are playing the second half of a back-to-back against the LeBron James-less Miami Heat. This game will not be a home game for either team as the game will take place in another neutral site, St. Louis, Missouri. With most of the regulars sitting out last night’s game, the Warriors had to look to the bench to reach down and dig out a victory.
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The teams come in with completely opposite records. The Warriors are currently unbeaten, standing at 4-0 while the Heat haven’t won a game boasting a 0-4 record. While the Heat are still winless, two of those games were close overtime losses. Once again, the game might be difficult to watch on television, but the radio is always a safe option.
Players to Watch
Shabazz Napier:
Napier will have to deal with the NBA’s best backcourt. It’ll be good for the Heat to measure up and see where they stand, but Napier is going to need to have the game of his life to outplay the “Splash Brothers”. After leading UCONN to a National Championship, Napier can facilitate the offense and fill the point guard role that Miami needs. Mario Chalmers may miss this game, giving Napier a handful to deal with tonight.
Shannon Brown:
Unfortunately, Brown hasn’t found a solid home since he won those championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s always a fun guy to watch with his athleticism and high flying plays. If he draws a lot of playing time, the Warriors will have their hands full trying to keep him away from the rack. As a nine year NBA veteran, he won’t shy away from roughing up the Warriors.
Norris Cole:
Cole has been in headlines lately for receiving a pick from LeBron James. Just in case you don’t follow the NBA, the strange thing about that is James plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cole is a hard nose defender who isn’t scared to hustle and doing the dirty work. Although his numbers aren’t amazing, he’s a player you’d want on your team.
Keys to Victory
Stopping the Veterans:
The Warriors will have to stop Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. Although pre-season records don’t mean much, the Heat will definitely be looking to get a win on the boards. Although these guys are older, they can still play.
Energy Although the Warriors played through the deficit and won last night, they’re going to need to come out and start strong. From the opening tip-off, energy will be crucial in beating the Heat. Look to see Bogut, Lee, and the “Splash Bros” get about their average 24 minutes. More than anything, this game will be good for the Warriors to face someone outside of the Western Conference.
Golden State Warriors @ Miami Heat
Friday, October 17, 2014
5:30PM
Sprint Center. Kansas City MO.