Warriors vs. Celtics on January 26, 2019

A possible Finals matchup is in the works when the Warriors trek their way to Boston on January 26, 2019. The Warriors are favored to come out of the Western Conference and the Celtics are favored to come out of the Eastern Conference.

There are many factors to take into consideration in this first matchup of the season between the Warriors and Celtics.

First, the Celtics will presumably be healthier than they were last year, getting all-star point guard Kyrie Irving and all-star forward Gordon Hayward back on the court. With their two best players back on the court, the Celtics are a threat to dethrone the Warriors from atop of their perch.

Another great aspect of the matchup is the young and developing tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The matchup between those two young Celtics will provide a good test for Durant and Draymond Green because they will have to bring their A-games against the two all-stars.

Next, the point guard matchup between Irving and Curry should receive most of the attention as this game approaches. Irving is a master with the ball in his hands, with it often looking like there is a string attached to it. Curry may not have as flashy of a handle as Irving, but it still wobbles defenders left and right and creates the separation he needs to launch those pinpoint 30-foot moonballs. The point guard matchup will be the most intriguing, to say the least.

The battle of the death lineups should be one of the most exciting parts about this matchup in late January. Assuming that Boston coach, Brad Stevens puts out his own version of the death lineup of Irving, Hayward, Tatum, Brown, and center Al Horford to combat the Warriors’ Hampton’s 5 of Curry, Klay Thompson, Durant, Andre Iguodala and Green should be the matchup all eyes should be on. There will be numerous switching on the defensive end by both teams and the lineup that gets the most defensive stops in the fourth quarter will presumably be the victorious team in this matchup.

This game should live up to the billing, with the matchup between point guards and death lineups to be wildly entertaining. The Warriors will play the Celtics in their second to last game of a five-game road trip in a Saturday Night Primetime contest.