The Golden State Warriors have finished a losing sequence of three games in which they twice surrendered 130 points or more. As they dug themselves into double-digit deficits then stormed back to make the games interesting…only to stumble down the line, it was the type of erratic basketball that has dogged their season.
That losing streak occurred on the road, where many of Golden State’s losing streaks have happened this season for some strange reason, leading to a 7-26 record in enemy territory. Oh maybe it’s because their defense has been TERRIBLE away from Chase Center.
🚨NEW WORDS🚨
The Warriors' 1st-quarter defensive rating on the road: 124.1. That's the fourth worst DRTG in first quarters this season. That's worse than the overall worst defense in the league (Spurs' 119.6 DRTG).
On a road defense that's spiraling:https://t.co/JHhZ4zo70a
— Joe Viray (@JoeVirayNBA) March 10, 2023
They’re led by Giannis Antetokoumnpo, the two-time MVP averaging around 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. That’s kinda ridiculous. Let’s check out just how dominant the Greek Freak has been this season.
Antetokounmpo is listed as questionable for this game. Additionally the Bucks have former All-Star Khris Middleton getting back into the starting lineup in a good way according to Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
The lone member of the Big Three who played started for the first time since December, and the Bucks’ iron man continued his stellar play in leading the Bucks to victory. Khris Middleton played 31 minutes, but his presence in the starting lineup was more than just an emotional boost.
He came out and assisted on three quick baskets and then made his first three shots to create 13 of the Bucks’ 15 points of the game.
The Warriors will have their hands full trying to guard those dynamic forwards without Andrew Wiggins (personal absence) and Jonathan Kuminga (ankle injury). But they’ll have a superstar named Stephen Curry that the Bucks will have to deal with. Jrue Holiday is Milwaukee’s elite point-of-attack defender, but Curry’s greatness puts him to the ultimate test.
And let’s not forget, for as terrible as Golden State has been on the road, they’re a different beast in Chase Center. They have a record of 27-7 at home, where the raucous Dub Nation crowd gives them an adrenaline rush out of this world.
Source: https://www.goldenstateofmind.com
