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The Golden State Warriors will end a four game road trip when they travel to Detroit on Tuesday to take on the Pistons.
Detroit (0-3, 0-1 home) will play its second game in second days after losing to Atlanta on Monday night. The Pistons rested Rose and Griffin in that game, these two being their only quality players, if we’re being honest. The remaining roster seems built for tanking, and Rose and Griffin are far from what they used to be themselves – as injuries and years have washed over them, and the game changed from under their feet as well, particularly in Griffin’s case. Detroit is 0-3 despite playing the Wolves, the Cavs and the Hawks: not exactly top tier opposition.
The Warriors (1-2, 1-2 away) finally got their first win of the season two nights ago, after previously being blown out by the Nets and the Bucks. It wasn’t pretty though. Golden State needed some Curry heroics and a last second Damion Lee three pointer to escape with an 129-128 victor against a Chicago Bulls team which is unimpressive at best. Still, the Warriors showed some good signs and the way that win was achieved is bound to give them a lift.
Injury report: Draymond Green (Warriors) is expected to be the only notable absentee tonight. Of course, Klay Thompson as well, but he is out for the season.
Listen, the Warriors haven’t been that good so far, but fact is they managed to defeat the first accessible opponent they met (Nets and Bucks are title contenders), and are bound to get better with each passing game. We must not forget that this is a brand new team, so it was always going to take a bit of time until they learn to play together. But when that happens, and with Draymond set to return soon (not in this clash), the Warriors will be a playoff team capable of making some noise.
As things stand right now until Draymond comes back, there will be some ups and downs, but the Dubs need to take care of teams like the Pistons. And they should. They are better than people make them out to be after the first three games. Meanwhile, Detroit is just not good, and will finish somewhere at the bottom of the rankings. They are also on the second night of a back to back, which counts, although they did rest Griffin and Rose against Atlanta.
Look for Curry to have a big night, as he finally shook off the rust in the fourth quarter against Chicago, and seems to be getting in rhythm after missing most of last season. You also have to believe Golden State’s two wings, Wiggins and Oubre Jr, will improve.
Wiggins was half decent against the Bulls, but still below his standards. Oubre has been historically atrocious and can not possibly play as bad as he did so far – he has the worst shooting stats in the first three games of the season since the shot clock was introduced in 1954!!! The man is 7-40 from the field and 0-17 from three, all 7 of his makes being dunks. Surely it must be a statistical impossibility for him to continue like this, so any improvement for him will help the Dubs a lot.
I will back the Warriors for a second game in a row. As I said when I backed them against the Bulls, they are underrated at the moment, and I am glad to take advantage while it lasts. They have some weapons and Curry alone is enough to carry them against the weaker teams in the league, like the Pistons. Prediction: Detroit Pistons – Golden State Warriors 107 – 115.
Pick: Warriors
Odds: 1.63 @ Jetbull
Stake: 9
Possible profit: 5.67
Event date: 29 December
