5 Predictions for the Golden State Warriors at Atlanta Hawks

Mar 7, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) controls the ball against Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Kyle Korver (26) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Atlanta Hawks 111-97. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) controls the ball against Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Kyle Korver (26) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Atlanta Hawks 111-97. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 31, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after forcing a jump ball against the Phoenix Suns in the second quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Suns 106-87. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after forcing a jump ball against the Phoenix Suns in the second quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Suns 106-87. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Steph Curry will drop 40 points

No offense to Atlanta’s defense, but I don’t think Jeff Teague is a good enough defender to hold Curry down when he’s playing as well as he can.

After Curry’s 51-point explosion against the Dallas Mavericks, Curry is already in one of those zones only a handful of players in the NBA can ever get to.

Will it last on the cross-country flight?

I think so. Curry played out of his mind in the second half against Dallas, and it reminded me a lot of Curry’s breakout party in Madison Square Garden only a few short years ago.

Teague is no J.J. Barea on defense; that’s for sure. But, there’s a point where great offense beats great defense. The Hawks should know all about that because they’ve been doing it to teams all season.

If the Warriors start off slowly, Curry will score a ton of points to get his team back in the game. That’s what he’s always done in his career.

I think there’s a very good chance Atlanta jumps out to an early lead and Curry carries the team back from the dead to at least make it interesting.

Next: X-Factor: Mike Scott