Gameday: Mavs, Warriors Ready For Heavily Guarded Matchup

 

It’s an early afternoon tipoff, as the Dallas Mavericks defend their home court against the hottest team in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors.

 

The Warriors travel to Dallas with the clear much-deserving best record in the NBA. Despite hiring a first-year head coach in Steve Kerr, Golden State’s team chemistry has been nothing but stellar. But can the Mavs be the villains to snap GSW’s 14-game winning streak?

 

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Keys To The Game:

 

Stop “Chef Curry” and his 3-Point Shooting Friends

 

Stephen Curry is arguably the best point guard in the league right now. He is, for the most part, why this Golden State is having much success right now. Curry and his teammate Klay Thompson ranks top 10 in the three-point field goal percentage category (40% and 43% respectively). With the Mavs being the 25^th best defense in the league, these guys have to find away to defend the three-point line at all costs.

 

 

Air Monta

 

“Mr. Have It All” is having one of the best seasons of his nine-year career. The news of Ellis being signed as a Jordan brand athlete proves his success through 24 games this season. Averaging 46% from the field, Monta has to display that killer scoring mentality today against his former team.

 

 

Mavs Offense vs. Warriors Defense

 

If there’s any game this year that you should not miss watching, it is certainly this Mavs-Warriors matchup. The Mavs, averaging 110.5 points per game, makes this team the best offensive squads in the league. Their offensive firepower will definitely be put to the test today. Golden State has a 30.3 defensive efficiency rating, which nearly doubles the second-best Washington Wizards team at 18.3.

 

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THE X-FACTOR: Chandler Parsons

 

No Mavericks player has ever received more criticism this season than Chandler Parsons. After signed that $45 million offer sheet at a club in Orlando, expectations have been extremely high for Parsons. To no avail, Parsons struggled to average above 30% from the field and three-point line. But the last four games Parsons has finally showed can make an impact in Dallas:

 

Chandler Parsons averages the last 4 games: 23.2 PPG, 59% FG, 50% from 3, 4.25 RPG, 2 APG. pic.twitter.com/Q7GoJQzIqS @TheMavsFanatic

— #HuieHaveItAll (@Terence_Huie) December 12, 2014