Here is what you need to know before the Lakers’ tilt with the Golden State Warriors.
1)
So far, Jabari Brown has looked like he is ready for the NBA. Brown, the D-League’s leading scorer, has played two games for the Lakers, averaging 8.0 points by shooting 7-for-11 from the field in 40 total minutes. The rookie hit each of his first four shots against Atlanta Sunday and finished 4-for-5.
2)
The Lakers have lost four straight to Golden State in the Bay Area, last winning there on March 27, 2012. Even worse for L.A. is how it is losing, as the Warriors’ average margin of victory during this stretch is 19.8 points. However, the Lakers took the teams’ last meeting with a 115-105 victory in Los Angeles on Dec. 23.
3)
Stephen Curry has emerged as one of the NBA’s top MVP candidates, as he is averaging 23.6 points, while hitting a league-high 3.4 3-pointers and ranking second in fast-break scoring (6.1). Curry has also stepped up on the defensive end, with his 2.16 steals placing just behind Kawhi Leonard (2.19) for the league lead.
4)
Klay Thompson, who is third in the league in 3-point shooting (43.8 percent), has been on a tear lately. In his last four games, the son of former Laker Mychal Thompson is averaging 25.0 points, while shooting 54.4 percent from the field (37-for-68) and 55.2 percent on 3-pointers (16-for-29).
5)
Draymond Green is putting together a strong claim for this season’s Defensive Player of the Year award. The third-year pro currently leads the NBA in both defensive rating (96.5) and defensive win shares (4.4). He also leads all non-bigs in rebounds (8.2) and blocks (1.4).
6)
Andrew Bogut has also been a key cog in Golden State’s defense. The seven-footer only allows opponents to score on 40.8 percent of their shots at the rim, which is the third-best protection in the league. Despite averaging the fewest minutes of his 10-year career (23.7), Bogut also ranks 13th in the league in blocks (1.7).
7)
In his first season, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has guided his team to a league-best 52-13 record. Kerr’s success landed him in the All-Star Game coaching the Western Conference, as he became Golden State’s first all-star coach since Don Nelson in 1992.
8)
The league’s top offense, Golden State is on pace to lead the NBA in scoring (109.7), field goal percentage (47.7) and 3-point percentage (39.5). Should the Warriors keep up their production, they will average the league’s most points since Phoenix in 2009-10 (110.2).
Warriors Shot Chart
9)
Part of the reason for Golden State’s dominating offense has been its excellent passing. The Warriors lead the league in assists (27.1), which would be a franchise record and the most by any team since Utah in 1994-95 (27.5). Unsurprisingly, Golden State also tops the NBA in points created by assist (64.3) and secondary assists (8.1).
10)
The Warriors have been just as strong defensively as on offense. They are holding opponents to a league-low 42.5 field goal percentage, as foes average the second-most shots (87.0), but the 18th-most baskets (37.0). Golden State is on pace to become the first team to lead the league in both offensive and defensive field goal percentage since Philadelphia in 1980-81.