NBA Game of the week: Golden State Warriors vs. Atlanta Hawks

On Saturday the Golden State Warriors will begin a road trip facing off against the Atlanta Hawks.

The white-hot Warriors, 9-1 in their last ten games, have been flying since acquiring Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline.

Butler has been providing 17 points, six rebounds and six assists since joining Golden State and has completely reinvigorated the Warriors as they attempt to dial in for a playoff run.

The Atlanta Hawks have not been riding relatively as high as the Warriors but they sit as the 7th seed in the East just 5.5 games back from the playoffs, to avoid the play-in the Hawks need to battle a tough schedule with many playoff teams in their last thirteen games.

In the single game played against the Hawks and Warriors way back in November, the Warriors took the victory 120-97 with Andrew Wiggins leading the team with 27 points while Stephen Curry dropped 23 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, both of these players will not be in Atlanta, Wiggins got traded to the Miami Heat, while Curry will not travel to Atlanta with the team due to a pelvic contusion but could join the team as the Warriors continue their six-game road trip against the Heat on Tuesday night.

This allows Atlanta to collect a win against a weakened Warriors team but they should not be underestimated, Atlanta has had plenty of experience against Jimmy Butler with his years in Miami with the rival Heat.

But, pieces like Caris LeVert have played very well since joining Atlanta, providing almost 18 points per game in the month of March on an incredibly efficient 54 percent from the field with 43 percent shooting from the three-point arc.

If LeVert and Trae Young can flex their three-point prowess against a Curry-less Warriors then the Hawks can beat the Warriors at their own game.

The Warriors will need to change their fundamental reliance on three-point shooting in this game and outwork the Hawks, with pieces like Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, in games without Stephen Curry, effort and physical stifling defense are the two best ways to break down opponents.

The Warriors currently are the 6th seed in the West, currently seeded to face the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs, but in a Western Conference so close the Warriors could get an upper seed in the West if they continue the pace they have been on.

The Hawks are in a significantly less comfortable spot than that of the Warriors, currently in the play-in, the Hawks will need some help and misfortune from the Pistons if they wish to escape the play-in.

Both teams have a hard race to the finish line as they avoid the play-in and try to reach for the best position to set up a playoff run.

With under a month left in the season every win and loss will matter significantly more for these teams just on the fringe so stay tuned because playoff basketball is just around the corner.

Massimo Manfra is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mgm6116@psu.edu.