The upcoming 2022 NBA Playoffs are going to be an exciting one for the fans of both Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings as the two teams will clash on the court. The biggest challenge for the Warriors will be to combat Sabonis, a skilled All-Star center for the Kings, who has an offensive versatility that is hard to manage.
The Battle of Rebounders
Sabonis is known for being a dominant rebounder, leading the NBA at 12.3 rebounds per game. However, Golden State’s Kevon Looney led the league in total offensive rebounds at 274. Looney’s rebounding, particularly on the offensive end, will be crucial in stopping Sabonis from dominating the boards, giving his team plenty of second-chance opportunities.
Going Small Against Sabonis
During regular stretches of the game, Golden State will go small with Draymond Green battling against the 7’1″ big man. With Green’s excellent defensive skills and agility combined with Looney’s size and strength, they have what it takes to answer Sabonis’ challenge and limit his impact on the game.
Exploiting Sabonis’ Weaknesses
To outdo whatever Sabonis provides on the other end of the court, Golden State will need to exploit his weaknesses, particularly in pick-and-roll or on switches. This could give them an advantage and an opportunity to take control of the game.
The Prospects of Former Gonzaga Players
In addition to this exciting matchup, another spotlight is on two former Gonzaga basketball players participating in the playoffs – Sabonis and Hachimura. While Hachimura is settling in with the Lakers after starting eight games and coming off the bench in 22 games averaging 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 22.4 minutes in a Lakers uniform, Sabonis has had a career-best year leading the NBA in rebounding and assists, averaging 19.1 points on a 61.5% field goal percentage.
Sabonis’ Conversion to Judaism
Off the court, Sabonis is also making headlines with his decision to convert to Judaism after getting married to Shashana Sabonis, a Jewish woman. The couple had a Jewish wedding last year, and they have a one-year-old son named Tiger. Sabonis observes Jewish traditions such as keeping kosher and observing holidays like Passover and Shabbat dinner every week.
Despite the challenges of keeping all the laws of Judaism while having an NBA career, Sabonis is determined to continue his Jewish journey with Rabbi Erez Sherman from Sinai Temple in Los Angeles as his mentor. He has also built close relationships with members of the Jewish community in Sacramento, including Rabbi Mendy Cohen of Chabad.
In conclusion, the Golden State Warriors will have their work cut out for them in their playoff game against the Sacramento Kings primarily due to Sabonis’ remarkable talent on the court. However, with Looney’s rebounding expertise combined with Green’s defensive skills, there is plenty of hope that they will be able to stop him from dominating the game. With Sabonis also making headlines off-court for converting to Judaism, it is clear that he is willing to take on challenges beyond just basketball.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
