Programming note: Catch Warriors Pregame Live at 4 p.m. and stay tuned for all the action tonight when Golden State tips off with the Hawks at 4:30 p.m., only on Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area!
UPDATE at 3:20 p.m.: Warriors coach Mark Jackson just told reporters in Atlanta that Stephen Curry will not play tonight due to a strained tendon in his right foot.
The good news for the Warriors is they have a chance to putTuesdays ugly loss to the Indiana Pacers behind them. Theyll take on theAtlanta Hawks on Wednesday in Game 2 of their five-game road trip.Warriors coach Mark Jackson said he was embarrassed by the102-78 loss to Indiana and that his team got outworked.
The Hawks have hung in there despite Al Horfords pectoralinjury. In the past, Horford has dominated the Warriors on the interior so hisabsence is a bonus for Golden State.Here are some things to watch for during Wednesdaysgame:Shoot better: Sometimes it doesnt getmuch more simple than that. The Warriors went 3-for-22 from 3-point rangeagainst the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday and got walloped.RELATED: Box score: Pacers 102, Warriors 98
The Warriors dont have a lot of interior optionsoffensively and so theyve got to make outside shots when they get them. Whenthey dont, theyre in big trouble.Bottom line is the Warriors have to shoot better from3-point range, and Monta Ellis could actually have something to do with that ifhe starts the game by trying to draw and kick out to outside shooters.Rushs minutes: Dorell Wright didnt do awhole lot of anything against Indiana, and you get the sense Warriors coachMark Jackson is getting less and less enamored with Wrights play.RELATED: Dorell Wright game logs
And it doesnt help Wrights cause that two of Jacksonsfavorite effort-guys -- Brandon Rush and Dominic McGuireare waiting in thewings. If Wright gets off to a slow start against Atlanta, it might be worthnoting how quick of a hook Jackson has.Curry uncertainty: Warriors point guardStephen Curry missed Tuesdays game because of a strained tendon in his rightfoot. It was the 10th game this season Curry has missed because ofinjury.It seems unlikely Curry will play against Atlanta, though hetold reporters he was going to try.Regardless of whether Curry plays or not, its not a stretchto think that the uncertainty surrounding Currys foot and ankle isnt helpingthe Warriors cause any.Defend Smith: Josh Smith is the kind ofathletic and skilled big man the Warriors sometimes have trouble defending.Hes considered a power forward but would be a handful for a player such asDavid Lee to defend.RELATED: Josh Smith game logs
If Lee is struggling to defend Smith, expect Jackson to giveDominic McGuire a crack at him.
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