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Tied at halftime, this game is certainly challenging the Warriors to rise. Oubre has risen, Paschall has not. The bench seems weak.

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Feb 2, 2021Liked by punk basketball

Why Warriors' Brad Wanamaker is excited to face former Celtics team: https://sports.yahoo.com/why-warriors-brad-wanamaker-excited-210022729.html

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Feb 2, 2021Liked by punk basketball

Interesting stat: Dubs are tied with Celtics for 10th spot for DefRg (108.9). Kerr delivered on his promise of top 10 defense after 20 games!

OffRtg: Celtics are +3.4 over Dubs.

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I'll be sure and pull snippets from this for an article for everyone (maybe just the game thread), but if you have a Chronicle subscription, the new Wiseman article is mandatory reading:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/warriors/article/Family-sacrifices-helped-Warriors-James-15915607.php

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> @wcgoldberg

> Draymond Green and Eric Paschall are both listed as "probable" with muscle tightness. Warriors need both of them in the wake of James Wiseman's injury.

ohhhhh boy....

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Feb 2, 2021Liked by punk basketball

Celtics stats:

Offense:

16 in points scored (111.6)

11 in points in paint (47.6)

12 in fastbreak points (13.5)

9 in offensive efficiency!!!!

10 in shooting % !! (47.3%)

8 in three point % !!!!!! (37.7%)

15 in two point % (52.7%)

5 in off. rebound % !!!!!!!!!!! (25.1%)

17 in def. rebound % (77.4%)

11 in total rebound % (50.6%)

17 in opponent blocks (5.3)

21 in opponent steals (7.9)

25 in assists (22.8)

23 in turnovers (15.1)

Defense:

8 in points allowed!!!!!! (109.2)

18 in opponent points in paint (46.9)

22 in opponent fastbreak points (13.7)

13 in defensive efficiency

21 in opponent shooting % (46.8%)

9 in opponent three point % !!!! (35.8%)

22 in opponent two point % (53.4%)

9 in blocks!!! (5.6)

3 in steals!!!!!!!!!!!!! (9.1)

3 in opponent assists!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (22.4)

8 in opponent turnovers!!!!!! (15.5)

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My biggest concern coming in; we've been pretty spotty in our three point defense, and Boston (and specifically the fantastic Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum) have been lighting up the three point scoreboard. We need whoever is on Brown (I'm going to guess Oubre but it could be Wiggins) to have a really inspired defensive effort to slow him down without requiring lots of double-teams, since he's adept at passing out of double-teams and the Celtics are well-coached to take advantage of these situations. Tatum will likely fall to Wiggins in this scenario with Draymond directing the defense and playing goalie.

Brown and Tatum are shooting 44.3% and 43.5% respectively from three point land on a combined 5.7 makes a game on 13 attempts a game. Payton Pritchard is also shooting an excellent 42.5% albeit at a much lower rate of 1.2 makes / 2.9 attempts per game. Theis is also a very respectable three point shooter shooting 38.2% but low volume at less than one made three per game.

Kemba Walker (as mentioned in the article) is the big exception as he is taking a high volume of three pointers -- 6.8 a game -- and making only 2 per game, shooting under 30%. Expect his defender (likely Steph) to sag off and give him the three until he proves he can make a few, to prevent his dribble drive game and getting the Jaylen and Jayson train going with points in the paint.

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