Why Podziemski vs. Monk is Warriors-Kings matchup to watch

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Why Podziemski vs. Monk is Warriors-Kings matchup to watch originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Despite encouragement amid early signs of resurgence, the Warriors have a glaring flaw that must be repaired to become a more consistent winner.

Data over the last 10 games shows Golden State’s point-of-attack defense is the greatest threat to its hopes of revival. The leading opposing scorer in nine of those games was a guard, with LeBron James being the only exception.

“We’re allowing too many drivers to get into the paint, and that leads to rotations and open 3s,” coach Steve Kerr said Thursday after practice. “That’s been an issue for us this year. We have to do a better job with that. We’ve got to keep people in front of us as best we can.”

This is one problem Stephen Curry is not suited to address and has yet to be solved by the addition of Jimmy Butler.

The next test is Friday night in Sacramento against a Kings squad with two guards, Zach LaVine and Malik Monk, capable of dropping 30 in any game. When the ball goes up at Golden 1Center (Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 6 p.m. PT, with tipoff scheduled for 7), Golden State’s first line of defense will be Brandin Podziemski.

Podziemski’s projected matchup will be Monk, a hyperkinetic shooting guard masquerading as a point guard since the trade of De’Aaron Fox two weeks ago.

“A lot of it falls on my shoulders and Jimmy’s shoulders,” Podziemski conceded Thursday after practice. “If I’m out there with Steph – just like last game guarding (Houston guard) Jalen Green – I’d assume Malik Monk and Zach LaVine. So just taking that challenge head on and understanding that if I just lock it on that, everything else will take care of itself.”

Monk is averaging 18.1 points per game, with a slight uptick since Fox’s departure. LaVine, acquired from Chicago on Feb. 3, is averaging 21.5 points in six games since joining the Kings. Small forward DeMar DeRozan, another penetrator, is averaging 21.9 points this season.

The Warriors over the last 10 games have allowed 25 points to Houston’s Aaron Holiday, 42 to Dallas’ Kyrie…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/why-podziemski-vs-monk-warriors-144017723.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2025-02-21 14:40:00

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