Three X-Factors That Are Vital to a Warriors Win Over the Lakers
It’s safe to say that everyone wins as fans tune in to the Warriors vs Lakers play-in matchup. In all honesty, it’s the only play in-game worth watching. It’s two worthy defenses going at it. It’s two household franchises going head to head. And most importantly, it’s two of the biggest brands meeting once again in the postseason: Stephen Curry vs LeBron James.
Golden State is a five-point underdog as they travel to Staples Center with the hopes of upsetting the defending NBA Champions. The victor gets an immediate spot in the postseason, while the loser gets one more shot against the winner between the Grizzlies and Spurs. Sure, Wednesday night is not the end of the road, but the Warriors would love to knock off their foe and avoid an extended play-in.
Los Angeles has the larger volume of talent on the roster, but talent can only take you so far in a playoff setting. You need x-factors on your side: advantages that can swing the tide of a game from one side to the other. In one of the most anticipated games in recent memory, these three themes will be key to observe as Golden State aims to upset the Lakers.
Which team is more in sync?
Los Angeles comes in off a five-game winning streak, while Golden State boasts a six-game winning streak of their own. Steph Curry played 40 minutes in a game that had immediate implications, whereas LeBron aggravated his ankle injury in the Lakers’ season finale, even though their play-in destiny seemed set in stone. James will be fine for the play-in, but it begs the question: why did Los Angeles play their starters in a somewhat “meaningless” game?
The answer is team chemistry. After injuries forced Anthony Davis and LeBron James to the sideline, the Lakers’ team chemistry understandably took a hit. They slid in the standings, and while they maintained their strong defensive ranking, their offense undoubtedly lacked. Golden State, meanwhile, has caught fire at the right time, with the scoring champion Stephen Curry leading the way and others like Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole thriving as well.
Any team can say they will flip the switch for the playoffs, but momentum is a big influence. Catch fire at the right time like Golden State, and the effects just might carry over past the regular season. 15 out of 16 ESPN “experts” have the Lakers winning over the Warriors, but anything goes in one matchup, and it could come down to which team has the edge in team chemistry.
Contain AD, attack Drummond
Golden State will be heavy underdogs in regards to the size in the frontcourt, as Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond will present problems on the boards. In Sunday’s win over the Grizzlies, Jonas Valuncianis had 16 rebounds, with six of them on the offensive glass. But Golden State has a counter in Draymond Green, who is in Defensive Player of the Year form to close out the regular season. Can anyone truly shut down AD? Probably not, but you can look to limit his impact, and Draymond did just that when Golden State upset Los Angeles back on January 18. AD’s stat line: 17 points on 6-16 shooting. Not shutting him down, but containing him.
On the flip side, you have to attack Drummond in a similar fashion as the Warriors attacked Valuncianis on Sunday. Sure, he grabbed 16 boards, but on the other end, he was in the target sights of Stephen Curry. Whether it’s a give-and-go or pick and rolls, if you can get the Lakers defense confused and Drummond on the perimeter against Curry, you’ve got an offensive advantage. It should be no problem for 30, who has experience in this arena.
Curry’s shot volume
Curry not only won the scoring title on Sunday, but he also broke his own personal record in field goal attempts with 36 against the Grizzlies. It’s the type of shot volume that Warriors fans have been waiting to see, especially in a season like this, and it’s the type of volume needed for a win against the Lakers. Steve Kerr is a smart coach, and it’s not rocket science: your best player and offensive engine is number 30, and do whatever it takes to get him a good look.
So if it’s in isolation against Drummond, or it’s off-ball following a screen, if it leads to Curry creating offense then it’s, by all means, the best plan of attack. Granted, a loss against the Lakers does not bump Golden State out of playoff contention, but an upset in Staples Center is the perfect catalyst to continue this Warriors run. You’re chasing wins, granted all play-in teams are, so play your best cards to win. Let Curry cook.