NBA 2021/22 on Sunday, 30.01.2022
In the NBA, two teams meet tonight that could cross paths again in the Finals. We are talking about the top game between the Golden State Warriors and the leaderless Brooklyn Nets.
The New Yorkers are still missing their centre Kevin Durant, while the Black and Whites’ playfulness is also a problem. The home side, on the other hand, is running like clockwork, thanks in part to their many home games.
The Warriors now have to prove their mettle against a seasoned franchise that can easily reach the NBA Finals, at least if all their players stay healthy.
But it is precisely on this point that one cannot shake the feeling that the New Yorkers seem to be under a stubborn curse. Kevin Durant has been out for some time now and will be forced to sit out for a long time.
That alone weakens the black and whites immensely. No wonder Brooklyn has now lost its third game in a row and has slipped from first to fourth place in the Western Conference.
The reason why things are going anything but well for the Nets right now has to do not only with Durant, but also with Kyre Irving’s vaccination status. While the talented ballhandler will be in the starting lineup tonight, he is not allowed in Barclays Arena for home games.
Of course, this is not an ideal state of affairs for head coach Steve Nash, as it prevents his starting five from settling in permanently. Instead, a constant rotation is necessary, which is difficult anyway due to further absences.
Harris is such a classic rotation player, who is just as much out of action as Millsap – but the deployments of Claxton and Sharpe are also more than questionable. In short, I wouldn’t necessarily want to bet my money on Brooklyn at the moment.
The Warriors, unlike the Nets, are tuned in. True, the Californians still have to do without Draymond Green, James Wiseman and Andre Iguodala. But the ball is running much more smoothly at the moment.
We must not forget that this is already Golden State’s fifth home game in a row and while the first one was won against the game-weak Rockets, the subsequent victories were all worthy of honour.
The Jazz, Mavericks and Timoverwolves have all been beaten here in the last week. An excellent series, in which we will see another perfectly rehearsed starting five tonight.
The California starting five used in the last two wins over the game-high Mavs and Timberwoles was identical. This consisted of Porter, Looney, Poole and the two All-Star nominees Curry and Wiggins.
Wiggins’ nomination for the All-Star match caused some indignation among basketball fans – after all, it means that the arguably somewhat better Luka Doncic, Devin Booker or Chris Paul have to watch.
However, the 26-year-old cannot care about this. In fact, I expect that this honour will really motivate him once again. After all, let’s not forget that the Warriors already beat the Nets impressively recently.
Both franchises met in Brooklyn in mid-November – and the Californians already managed to celebrate a commanding 117:99 victory. Kevin Durant was fit that evening, but without a chance.
Stephen Curry, who scored 37 points, once again put on a crazy performance.
The odds on a win for the home side are currently 1.40, while a triumph for the New Yorkers, who are shorthanded, is currently around 3.05.
Conclusion: The Nets are slowly but surely having problems with their rotation. Because not only Durant is injured, but with him also other important bench players. On top of that, Irving is usually not allowed to play two games in a row due to his vaccination status.
The Warriors, on the other hand, can hardly be beaten when it comes to playing experience. They are now playing in exactly the same formation for almost the fifth time in a row – but not only that.
All of these games have taken place in front of their own crowd and have always resulted in a win – and that against top teams like the Mavs, Timberwolves and Jazz. A clear advantage for the home side!
In fact, in my Warriors Nets tip, I’m assuming a similar clear victory for the Californians as in last season’s duel against the New Yorkers.
