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The Brooklyn Nets take on the Golden State Warriors for the second time this season, this time at Chase Center. The Nets will be boosted by Kevin Durant's return as he makes his return to the Warriors' home court.
Steph Curry and co. will look to settle scores after the mauling they received in the season opener against the Brooklyn Nets with a scoreline of 125-99. By no means will it be easy for the Golden State Warriors, though, as the Nets have added James Harden to their roster.
Brooklyn Nets vs Golden State Warriors - Combined Starting 5
The Brooklyn Nets will be pumped to have their Big Three: Kyrie, KD, and Harden, all available to them at the same time.
The Brooklyn Nets have been dismal defensively. Steve Nash's side conceded 120 points or more in seven consecutive games before their 104-94 win against the Pacers in the last game. Steve Nash will be hoping for more of the same from his team when they travel to the Chase Center on Saturday. KD's return will also benefit the Nets in that department.
The Golden State Warriors have been dealing with injury blows all season long. Meanwhile, veteran star duo Steph Curry and Draymond Green have been helping Steve Kerr's men steady the ship. The two are expected to put in a monumental effort against the star-studded Brooklyn Nets lineup as the Warriors continue to fight without key figures like Klay Thompson and James Wiseman.
Apart from the two veterans, youngster Kelly Oubre Jr. has also been delivering the goods for them. The former Phoenix Suns star has held backcourt alongside Steph Curry in the absence of Klay Thompson and continues to impress Steve Kerr and the rest of his Golden State Warriors teammates.
With so much talent and star power on both sides, one would wonder what the best combined starting 5 would be. Let's have a look at the best players in each position in this game.
Point Guard - Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors)
It would have always been a tough choice to pick one player between Kyrie and Steph but going by the stats and impact one has had on their team, it's fair to say Steph is the better choice.
Curry leads Kyrie in scoring averages at 30 PPG compared to Irving's 27.9, and they're level on assists per game at 5.9. While both Steph and Kyrie are important to their respective teams, the former is currently one of the top candidates for MVP, which also adds to why he deserves to be in this combined starting lineup.
Shooting Guard - James Harden (Brooklyn Nets)
James Harden has made some notable changes to his game since he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. The former Rockets talisman has now taken up the role of a provider with players like Kyrie and KD around him, making sure he makes the most out of this season and is finally able to win a ring. He has averaged about 23.3 PPG, a career-high 11.3 APG and 8.2 rebounds per game so far.
With KD back, one can expect Harden to dish out another set of dimes in double digits against the Golden State Warriors.
Small Forward - Kelly Oubre Jr.
Kelly Oubre Jr., who has been playing through the back this season, was originally a small forward. However, due to Klay's season-ending injury, Oubre has had to replace Thompson. With the guards' pool filled with superstars like Harden, Kyrie and Steph, it was always going to be tough to slot him into one of the backcourt positions in this combined starting lineup.
But thanks to Draymond Green's performances as a center, Oubre seems like a great fit for this position. The former Suns player has been in terrific form in the last 5 games, making sure Steph Curry gets all the support he needs from him as an alternative scorer in the team. Oubre has averaged 19.8 points since the start of February and is only getting better with each game.
Power Forward - Kevin Durant
While some might prefer Kyrie over Steph and Wiggins over Oubre, Kevin Durant is an undisputed starter in this combined lineup. The former league MVP has been exceptional in his comeback season. He is fit, hungry and is delivering consistently in each game. If not for the Covid protocols that kept him out of action twice, KD would have been well on course to be in the top 3, for both, the scorers' list and MVP ladder race.
Center - Draymond Green
As mentioned earlier, Draymond has been exceptional this season for the Warriors. He hasn't shot as well as he usually does, but has made sure he covers up for it with his clinical playmaking. The forward turned center (temporarily) has dished out 10 assists or more in his last 5 appearances. His strong presence on the court makes him a must-have in this combined 5.
It will be exciting to see how he performs against former teammate Kevin Durant.
Guess the Lakers players!
