NBA fans across the world eagerly wait for April every year. It’s time for the NBA Playoffs. The Western Conference has been closely bundled up the entire year, leaving us with some mouth-watering matchups in the postseason.
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The defending champions, Golden State Warriors, finished 6th in the seeding, setting up a first-round matchup with the Sacramento Kings. Stephen Curry-led team has had a terrible season on the road and will not enjoy a home-court advantage in the series.
The Kings, meanwhile, are enjoying a historic run after bringing in Mike Brown as the head coach. The Kings ended a 16-year drought, securing a playoff berth as the 3rd seed. They last made the playoffs in 2006. Mike’s coaching has proved to be a revelation for the team, making him a candidate for the Coach of the Year.
Stephen Curry believes the teams know each other well
Mike Brown was the assistant coach for the Warriors from 2016 to 2022. He has contributed to the success of the organization, helping them win three NBA championships. With Golden State’s core intact, it is safe to assume that Mike Brown would know the team well. In a recent press conference, Stephen Curry talked about the defense Brown will throw at him :
Steph said he wouldn’t be surprised if Mike Brown throws a box-and-one at him 😅 pic.twitter.com/KGYOxH9jFi
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) April 12, 2023
The box and one strategy is a defensive strategy deployed by NBA teams to shut down the opposing team’s best player. The defense is set up such that one player would always be shadowing the opponent’s best player while the remaining four would form a box around the paint in a zone formation.
Curry believes his former assistant coach would throw multiple defenses at him. He then said he wouldn’t be surprised if they go box and one. Steph went on to say:
“Mike B knows us well and we know him well!”
“We know it’s going to be tough. They’ve been a great team all year. They’ve had a great season. Mike B knows us well and we know him well.”
Steph Curry on playing the Kings in Round 1 pic.twitter.com/NTDkUYvQo3
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) April 13, 2023
Steve Kerr echoed Stephen Curry’s sentiments
The head coach of the Golden State Warriors – Steve Kerr, had similar comments about the matchup as his star player Stephen Curry. While talking to reporters, Kerr praised his former colleague and talked about the upcoming series:
“You express your love for each other, and then the gloves come off and you wait until after the series ends to communicate again.” 😂
– Steve Kerr on going up against Mike Brown in the first round pic.twitter.com/Gzv0WGA2m2
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 13, 2023
Sacramento Kings have had the best offensive rating of all teams in the NBA this season, whereas the Warriors also finished in the top 10. The Kings have struggled defensively, while the Warriors’ defense has been missing on the road. It will eventually come down to the strategies and adjustments made by both coaches. The gloves are ready to come off on April 15th, and we are all here for it.
