Warriors at Timberwolves: Game #70

Warriors at Wolves
7:00 pm CDT
FS North

My approach to this one is going to be just to enjoy the show the Warriors put on, and hope that the Wolves can hold up their end of the bargain by helping to make it entertaining. The Warriors come in at 62-7 on the season, still on pace to break the single season wins record despite their loss Saturday night in San Antonio. That was their worst shooting game of the season, and likely doesn't bode well for the Wolves tonight.

I don't need to tell you much about the Warriors team obviously. They play fast, can defend, and shred more or less every defense they see with their shooting and versatility. As a team, they lead the league in 3P%, three pointers made, 2P%, eFG%, and of course offensive rating.

Steph Curry himself has made 337 threes on the season (easily surpassing his own NBA record), while the Wolves have made 361 as a team.

These teams haven't met since November 12th, a 129-116 Warriors win at Target Center in which the Wolves were without Ricky Rubio. Curry went for 46 that night, though the Wolves, who were down big early, staged an impressive run to force the Warriors to bring back their starters midway through the fourth quarter.

You might recall that game as an early season indication that the team functions significantly better with Zach LaVine at shooting guard rather than point guard, as they made their run when Mitchell decided to put Andre Miller in the ball game to run point. At any rate, the game was never really in doubt, but the young (and old) Wolves showed some resiliency in not folding their tents.

One interesting aspect of tonight's game is to see how the teams match up, especially to start the game. The Warriors are without both of their centers tonight, as Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezili are both injured. Against the Spurs they started a small lineup with Draymond Green their biggest player. The Spurs countered by benching Tim Duncan (!) and starting Boris Diaw. They still had a size advantage with LaMarcus Aldridge, but obviously changed things up to counter the Warriors quickness (and then put Leonard on Green for the most part).

The Wolves, of course, have been starting two centers in Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng, the exact opposite approach. Frankly I hope Mitchell sticks with it if for nothing else for entertainment purposes.

I expect this will be as full as Target Center has been in months and fuller than it will be for the rest of the season. Hopefully it's a fun one for the crowd.

Expected lineups

Warriors

Steph Curry
Klay Thompson
Brandon Rush
Harrison Barnes
Draymond Green

Wolves

Ricky Rubio
Zach LaVine
Andrew Wiggins
Gorgui DIeng
Karl-Anthony Towns

Our blogging buddies are over at Golden State Of Mind. Be excellent

No pics gifs links to illegal streams.

Enjoy. Chat. Go.