NBA Picks: The Golden State Warriors host the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday in a game that can be seen on TNT. The Warriors are off to a great start this season under new head coach Steve Kerr and they are favored to win this contest against the Nets. It is a good matchup for Golden State as they have won eight of the last 10 at home against the Nets.
Back-to-Back for Brooklyn
The Nets will be playing with no rest as they were in Phoenix on Wednesday night. Brooklyn split their first two games of the season on the road as they lost to Boston but beat Detroit. The Nets have been averaging about 104 points per game while allowing about 98 per contest. Their offense revolves around their two guards, Joe Johnson and Deron Williams.
Early Season Domination by Golden State
The Warriors won their first five games of the season both straight up and against the spread. Their wins were not flukes either as they were leading the league in offense at 107 points per game and in the top five in fewest points allowed at 93 per game. Part of the reason for their success is a healthy center Andrew Bogut. He is dominating the boards and getting the ball to the playmakers.
“Andrew’s one of the best passing centers in the league,” head coach Steve Kerr said, “He’s one of the best I’ve ever seen, and so for us to get him the ball on the elbows as a dribble-hand-off guy, back-door-pass guy, that will be emphasized.” It is all about health for Bogut who has missed a lot of time in his career due to injuries.
Harris Barnes said that the team is far better with Bogut in the lineup. ‘It’s having one of the best defensive centers in the league there versus not having him there.” Barnes said, “It’s daylight and darkness.”
Kerr has brought defense to the Warriors this season and now the team is good on both offense and defense.
“We feel we have a great defensive team. The most important thing is that everyone has bought into the system. We can’t be more happy,” Bogut said. “Everyone sees that we’re a run-and-gun team but we’re getting it down in the trenches, too.”
Series Notes
These teams met twice last season with the Nets winning 102-98 in Brooklyn while the Warriors won 93-86 in Oakland. Five of the last six in the series have gone over. Eight of the last 10 games have gone over the total.
NBA Predictions
We’ll look for the Warriors to win this one at home and for the game to go over the total.
