Just how healthy is Steph Curry heading into tonight’s game?
In a matchup that promises to be one of the best of the young season, the eastern-conference leading Boston Celtics (13-2) will host the Golden State Warriors (11-3) tonight from TD Garden. Here are a few storylines to look out for in tonight’s game.
Great offense meets great defense
Heading into this game, the first-place Warriors are far and away ahead of every other team in the league with an offensive rating of 116.2 and beating opponents by more than 14 points per game. Golden State is easily the best team in the association on the offensive side of the ball.
Meanwhile, the Celtics have been the second-best team in the NBA in terms of point differential, winning their games by nearly eight points per game. Boston has been a juggernaut defensively, routinely holding opponents to under 100 points. In fact, their defensive rating of 95.8 leads the league.
The big key in tonight’s matchup will be Golden State’s ability to space the floor and score in transition against Boston’s tendency to slow things down and keep the fast break points to a minimum.
The health of Steph Curry
The good news for the Warriors is that Steph Curry is listed as probable for tonight’s game, after missing Monday’s meeting with the Magic due to a thigh injury.
If Curry is anywhere close to full health, Golden State will certainly have the advantage tonight. His ability to force turnovers, hit threes in transition and just wreak havoc on opposing defenses is imperative to the Warriors success, and a healthy Curry may prove to be the difference for the visitors.
Something’s gotta give
The Celtics are the best team in the Eastern Conference and the hottest team in the league in general, winners of 13 straight, while the Warriors have won seven straight and 11 out of 14 overall. In many ways, these are two of the more evenly matched teams in the NBA. So tonight, something’s gotta give.
Boston’s rookie Jayson Tatum has filled in nicely for injured Gordon Hayward and truly looks like a star in the making. Meanwhile, Celtics coach Brad Stevens is making all the right tweaks and continues to demonstrate why he is generally accepted as one of the brightest coaches and strategists in the league today.
The Warriors, on the other hand, continue to prove why they’re still in possession of the best offense in the league, and one of the best defenses as well. Plus, new additions Nick Young and Omri Casspi have only added depth to an already loaded roster.
It’s conceivable that tonight’s game could very well be a preview of a potential NBA Finals matchup in June.
