Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Klay: Don't see anyone beating us 'when healthy'

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Saturday, 08 April 2023 01:05

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Golden State Warriors won't know until Sunday if they will finish the regular season as a top-six seed in the Western Conference or compete in the play-in tournament. But either way, the team is confident it is finally hitting its stride.

"I don't see a team who can beat us in a seven-game series when we're healthy," Klay Thompson said.

The Warriors have won seven of their past nine games, including a 22-point victory over the short-handed Sacramento Kings on Friday night. The Warriors are on the brink of having their whole roster back together and are a win away from avoiding the play-in.

Thompson added that the team can play at a higher level despite a turbulent regular season. The main area for improvement is playing with focus for as much of a full game as possible.

In their 119-97 win over the Kings on Friday, "careless" was the word used to describe Sacramento's run in the second quarter. After building a 32-16 lead in the first quarter, a number of costly turnovers (the Warriors finished with 24) and a 3-point shooting barrage by the Kings cut the Warriors' 17-point advantage to five by halftime.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr warned before the game that there was "no excuse" for his team to let its guard down.

Donte DiVincenzo said that at halftime Kerr told the Warriors, "You guys know what's at stake. You guys are going to pick this up in the second half."

"That's a message we needed to hear," DiVincenzo said. "But we shouldn't have to turn it around at halftime. We're a good enough team. We can be a great team. We just have to start that way."

Carelessness was also a topic after the Warriors' setback in Denver earlier this week and after their loss to Minnesota the week prior.

"We've always been a team that lives on the edge," Kerr said. "We're a little wild, a little chaotic, but we've thrived in that chaos for many years. We just can't cross the edge. ... It's up to us. We have it in us. But the focus, the attention to detail, it all has to be there."

DiVincenzo admitted that with so many teams resting key players through the final stretch of the regular season, it's easy to look past games. That's likely what happened against the Nuggets, who were without Nikola Jokic.

Sacramento rested Domantas Sabonis, De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk.

Portland's injury report for its Saturday game against the LA Clippers lists nine players as out, including Damian Lillard, Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons. The Blazers have been eliminated from postseason contention.

This should be a contest the Warriors easily win despite their road woes this season.

In Thompson's opinion, the three main pillars they have to focus on are valuing the ball, not settling for bad shots and communicating on defense.

"If we do that, we will be in a great position to repeat," he said.

But before going for back-to-back titles, the Warriors need a win against Portland to secure a seeding no lower than No. 6. If the Clippers lose either their Saturday game against the Trail Blazers or their Sunday matchup against the Phoenix Suns, the Warriors could climb to the 5-seed.

However, if the Warriors lose Sunday and the Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans pick up wins, Golden State could fall back into the play-in.

"It's a good problem to have for us -- we can control our own destiny," DiVincenzo said. "We just go in and try to win the game and we get what we want. And what we want is to not be in that play-in game."

Read 271 times

Soccer

Klopp in no mood to wave white flag in title race

Klopp in no mood to wave white flag in title race

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLiverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has refused to give up on the title...

Mata: Utd culture must be built around Fernandes

Mata: Utd culture must be built around Fernandes

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJuan Mata has said that Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes i...

Arteta: Arsenal must park Spurs rivalry for PL title

Arteta: Arsenal must park Spurs rivalry for PL title

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMikel Arteta said on Friday that Arsenal need to "put their rivalry...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Knicks call Embiid's flagrant on Robinson 'dirty'

Knicks call Embiid's flagrant on Robinson 'dirty'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHILADELPHIA -- The New York Knicks took exception to the flagrant...

Lakers falter again, on brink of another 4-0 exit

Lakers falter again, on brink of another 4-0 exit

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Having just logged the 285th playoff game of his car...

Baseball

Braves activate Albies from IL after broken toe

Braves activate Albies from IL after broken toe

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsATLANTA -- Second baseman Ozzie Albies was activated Friday by the...

'I'm still Aaron Judge': Why the Yankees' captain believes he can turn it around

'I'm still Aaron Judge': Why the Yankees' captain believes he can turn it around

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Aaron Judge thought he had struck out again. It was his...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated