Inside The Nets

GAME PREVIEW AND INJURY REPORT: Brooklyn Nets vs. Golden State Warriors

The Nets are looking to bounce back after a blowout loss to the defending champs Nuggets.

Marin Gabric

© John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
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The West Coast road trip continues for the Nets and, next up, the Golden State Warriors. This will be a tougher game than most people expect because even if they're in a slump, this Warriors side is one of the most dangerous teams in the league.

They still have two-time MVP and four-time champion Stephen Curry leading the charge, who the Nets will likely struggle against since they have no point guard defenders to match up with him. However, Vaughn's team does have the advantage in this game as they look in better shape than the struggling Warriors.

The Nets need to control the game better

In Brooklyn's recent games, they have failed to control the game and let their opponents dictate the pace. The win against the Phoenix Suns was impressive, but the Nets couldn't fully control the game when they needed to. Much was the same against the Nuggets because the defending champs dictated every move.

The best way to control the tempo is through rebounding, which the Nets have done a great job of this season. They are ranked first in the league at 47.7 rebounds per game, with the Warriors close behind at 47.3. 

"You can't give good teams extra opportunities. The rebounding piece, even tonight, is the extra opportunities they got rebounding the basketball," Coach Jacque Vaughn said after the loss to Denver.

Nic Claxton and Day'Ron Sharpe, showcasing exceptional rebounding skills, need to establish the tone for the Nets, while their teammates must also strive to compete for loose balls to prevent the Warriors from capitalizing on the opportunity.

Injury Report

The Nets are still dealing with some significant injuries, with Ben Simmons, Dennis Smith Jr., and Lonnie Walker IV all sidelined. They won't be present for the rest of the road trip, but they look set to return in the coming weeks. 

Dorian Finney-Smith is also dealing with left knee soreness, but he's listed as probable for this clash against the Warriors.

For Golden State, Gary Payton II is still sidelined with a calf injury. However, the most significant blow for the Dubs is Draymond Green's indefinite suspension after his questionable strike to Suns center Jusuf Nurkic.

The game is played at the Chase Center, usually a boost for the Warriors, but recent results tell a different story. Still, it's shaping up to be an exciting, high-scoring matchup worth watching.

Jacque Vaughn highlights Brooklyn's fatigue display in the brutal loss vs. Denver: "Tough back-to-back"

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Marin Gabric
MARIN GABRIC

Marin's love for writing developed in high school but was furthered in college when he took a number of creative writing courses. Doing sports writing felt like an extremely natural continuation, as it furthered his passions in both writing and basketball.  Marin loves the feeling of looking at stats after a game and analyzing what each team could've done better or what they excel in compared to the rest of the league. And the ability to do so for his favorite team, the Brooklyn Nets, is quite special in itself. 

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