Chicago @ Golden State
The Warriors come to record one of the worst offensive performances of the season , and are looking for answers . It will be difficult to find them before the visit of the Chicago Bulls defensive .
Playing after a 4 day break , Golden State ( 29-20 ) lost at home 91-75 against Charlotte Bobcats. They recorded 31.2% in Fg, its worst record since 2004.
The team averages 38.4% in the last 4 meetings .
Stephen Curry & Klay Thompson scored 17 and 12 points , respectively. David Lee was so only 8 points ( 3-13 Tc) . After an opening 12-4 , the Warriors have lost 5 of the last 7 home games.
On the opposite side , we have Chicago ( 24-24 ) , who come to win 101-92 in Phoenix, breaking a streak of 5 straight wins .
Carlos Boozer had 19 points and 12 rebounds, Joakim Noah 14 points and 14 rebounds. Jimmy Butler and D. J. Augustin scored 18 each. They limited the Suns with 13 points in the first quarter.
Chicago has won 2 of the last 4 games played on the road (San Antonio & Phoenix ) lost in New Orleans and Sacramento.
They are 2nd in the league receiving only 92.8pp, and are tied with New Orleans in perimeter defense with 43.4% . After opening the season with a 3-11 , have won 8 of the last 9 road.
Last year, Chicago won both meetings (87 - 103 / 113 - 95)
Golden State has won 11 of the last 14 direct confrontations .
The Insurance: Warriors have won 2 of the last 3 games .
The Probable: Golden State - 8.5 / 189.5 + Over
Surprise : Chicago won them last year
MY FORECAST
True, the Warriors lost to the Bobcats, something truly amazing. But they recently won in the defensive half teams like Portland or Clippers , getting brand 3-2 in the last 5 games .
Individually I prefer Template Golden State , especially if they play at home. Lee will be in better shape ( Bobcats before coming off a shoulder injury ) and I see Stephen Curry beating DJ Augustin in all facets of the game.
I understand that the Bulls win in Phoenix. Mainly because the inner game of Phoenix was totally inferior. In this case however, I see players like Lee & Bogut stopping Boozer and Noah . They did it to Griffin & DeAndre Jordan , so hopefully something.
Last year Chicago win in Oakland, 113-95 . Albeit with significant performances of players like Luol Deng ( 23 points ) , Nate Robinson ( 20 points ) and Marco Belinelli (13 points )
No longer have these players in squad , and in the last 7 games they have only won 3 ( Charlotte - San Antonio - Phoenix) , losing clearly to really offensive teams like Clippers or Minnesota, and against teams with less than 50 Win% as New Orleans or Sacramento.