Programming note: Warriors-Heat coverage tips off Thursday at 4 p.m. with Warriors Pregame Live on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (territorial restrictions apply)
Word is out around the NBA. Playing the Warriors means dealing with long-range bombers Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, who rank second and third in the league in 3-pointers made.
Their next opponent, Miami, has made Thompson and Curry a focal point of their defense Thursday night – at least according to Heat superstar LeBron James.
Asked about Thompson and Curry during practice on Wednesday, James exhibited a measure of respect, if not reverence, for the two guards.
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"They're two of the best shooters that our history has ever seen,'' he said. "To have both of them in the backcourt is a matchup problem for a team defensively.''
While James acknowledged other Warriors threats – David Lee, Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut – he reserved a special admiration for the two guys who staked out their territory during the playoffs last spring.
"Their nickname is the 'Splash Brothers' for a reason,'' James said. "We understand that we can't just get down on ourselves if they make a few. We've just got to come back and execute offensively.''
Entering Thursday's games, Thompson has made 97 3-pointers, Curry 96. Portland guard Damian Lillard leads the league with 102.
