All NBA fans can breathe a sigh of relief now that the pre-season is almost over. The Warriors will finally open up the regular season on Wednesday, October 29 against the Sacramento Kings. Until then, Golden State will play their eighth and final game by taking on the Denver Nuggets again but this time at home. For fans attending, this game’s giveaway will be Stephen Curry’s bobblehead.
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The last meeting between these two teams was more of a home coming for the Iowa native Harrison Barnes Without the “Splash Brothers” for the second half, the Warriors would need the reserves to step up. James Michael McAdoo proved to be too much to handle as he dropped in 16 of his 20 in the fourth. In a close game, the Warriors stormed back and left Des Moines, Iowa victorious.
Players To Watch
Kenneth Faried:
The “Splash Brothers” know this guy can change a game with his energy and athleticism. Playing together for Team USA, Faried was supposed to just be a bench player, but he rose to the occasion and outplayed most people’s expectations. Faried took advantage of Bogut and Lee sitting out. In 23 minutes, he poured in 11 points and seven rebounds.
Timofy Mozgov:
Mozgov and the Warriors fans have one guaranteed mutual thing in common. They both despise Blake Griffin. We’ll save that for another day. In the last preseason meeting, Mozgov went off for an efficient 18 points. He shot 5-8 from the field, dropped in a trey, and shot 7-8 from the free throw line. With Bogut and Lee back in the lineup, we’ll see how he plays against the regular big men.
Gary Harris:
As the 19th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Harris was a solid decision by the Nuggets front office. In the Las Vegas Summer League, he led the team in scoring with 18.6 points. His college resume also presents the Big 10 Freshman of the Year. Harris entered college and played basketball for MSU right after Draymond Green left for the NBA.
Note: Ty Lawson is still day to day as he did not practice with a hamstring injury. His status is still questionable for the game but it is most likely the Nuggets will choose to sit Lawson until the regular season.
Keys To Victory
Turnovers:
Turnovers continue to be an issue for the Warriors. In their last game versus the Clippers, they scored 125 points but committed 28 turnovers. Turnovers will always lead to transition buckets for the opposition. As a fundamental part of the game, turnovers are crucial in tight game situations.
Three Point Shooting
The Warriors’ best quality on offense is their three point shooting. They shot lights out, and made 13 of 22 attempts. That’s a staggering 59% and besides Blake Griffin and Chris Paul sitting out this was another huge reason the Warriors blew out the Clippers. We’ll see how many minutes the “Splash Brothers” play tonight, but it is the last preseason game so don’t be shocked to see them rested early.
Defense
Defense wins championships. That may sound cliche but it’s the other half to a basketball game. The Warriors have so much in arsenal on offense but it’ll have to be done on both ends when it comes to the regular season. There’s no better time to start than the last game of the pre-season.
Game Information
Denver Nuggets @ Golden State Warriors
7:30 p.m. PST, October 24, 2014
Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
TV: CSN Bay Area