The only teams in the Association to win at least 60 games last season, the Warriors and Hawks will meet for the first time in 2015-16 on Monday. The teams split the series last season with each winning on its home floor and will complete this year’s series in the span of nine days.
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LOOK AHEAD
The inconsistent Hawks entered the All-Star break with a 31-24 record, good for first in the Southeast Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. But they are only three games ahead of the Hornets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference. The Hawks had a busy first part of the season, playing the most games of any team for most of it. They hit the break having played 55 games, tied for the most in the league. Out of the break, Atlanta has a five-game homestand over 10 days with the contest against Golden State being their third in four nights. They’ll enjoy three days off before taking on the Bulls on Friday.
While the Hawks are enjoying a home stay after the break, the Warriors are, well, road warriors. Monday’s game will also be Golden State’s third in four nights, only they’ve all been on the road. After opening with a back-to-back at Portland and the Clippers, Golden State continues its six-game, post-break trip with contests against Atlanta, Miami and Orlando, before a trip to Oklahoma City ends it. The Warriors won’t play their first post-break home game until Mar. 1 when these same Hawks visit Oracle.
INJURIES
Through their championship run last season and the first half of this one, the Warriors have stayed remarkably healthy. Backup center Festus Ezeli is out until late March after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
Hawks reserve center Tiago Splitter opted to have surgery on his hip, a procedure that will keep him out for the remainder of the season.
KEY MATCHUP
The NBA’s trade deadline came and went and Al Horford is still a member of the Hawks. The nine-year veteran has spent his entire career in Atlanta after being taken with the third overall pick in 2007, and expressed his desire to stay in the town he now calls home. While management undoubtedly listened to offers from other teams regarding Horford, in the end the Hawks elected to keep their big man and core player. Horford’s numbers this season are in line with his career totals. He’s averaging 15.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 blocks per game, and he is one of the better two-way players in the league. As a big with the ability to spread the floor all the way out to three-point territory and do all the little things it takes to win, Horford remains an integral part of the Hawks rotation. His athleticism gives him a big edge over Warriors center Andrew Bogut. Horford likes to play away from the rim and knock down mid-range jumpers. Pulling Bogut out of the middle also gives Horford the opportunity for dribble penetration and when the D collapses, he can kick the ball out for open perimeter looks. Horford has a high court IQ and is an excellent passer.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
The matchups between these clubs last season were more exciting when they both took the NBA by surprise. The Hawks rolled to a 60-win season while the Dubs worked their way to a championship. The first meeting this season isn’t as dramatic. The Hawks have been up and down all year and will try to gain solid footing in a jumbled Eastern Conference during their homestand. Golden State is in the middle of a six-game post-break road trip and could be fatigued after a back-to-back set and travel to Georgia. The Warriors’ trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green also participated in All-Star festivities last weekend, and that could add to the fatigue factor. Those issues may keep the game close, but the Warriors will do in the second half of the season what they did in the first: win basketball games.
Golden State 108, Atlanta 102
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