With the way the Golden State Warriors are playing, the question is no longer when the Dubs will lose. Instead, it’s slowly trending towards will they ever lose this season? The Warriors can’t be overconfident, though, later tonight, as they’re up against a dangerous Boston Celtics team on the road. Will the Warriors continue their march to beat the LA Lakers’ 33-game win streak record? Or will the Celtics send Golden State crashing to its first loss of the season?
Read on for a breakdown of this matchup. Looking for more? Click here for a preview of Heat vs. Pacers.
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Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics Betting Preview
[sc:NBA240banner ]Golden State just won’t lose. And it doesn’t look like the Warriors are getting fatigued by their current seven-game road trip that includes a stop later tonight at Beantown, where they are 4-2 ATS in their last six trips there.
The Warriors, however, are being plagued by a number of injuries, which threatens their chances of prolonging their streak. The Warriors, who are already without Harrison Barnes (ankle), have put the questionable label on Klay Thompson for their game against Boston. Thompson was a man possessed in Golden State’s 131-123 win over Indiana on Tuesday, as he drilled 10 threes and finished the game with 39 points, but hurt his ankle late in the contest. Leandro Barbosa also has a questionable tag with an illness. If Thompson and Barbosa can’t go, Stephen Curry will have to partner with Brandon Rush and Ian Clark in the backcourt.
Nevertheless, the Warriors are a team to reckon with so long as they have Curry on the floor, who’ll bang away from the three-point area on a scary-good efficiency. Curry is making 32.2 points per game and is knocking down 5.2 treys on 46.5 percent.
Curry should get support from Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, two versatile players who can do just about anything on the floor. Green is averaging 13.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game on the season. Iguodala, on the other hand, has averages of 7.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 3.7 APG.
The Warriors are number one in the league with an eye-popping average of 13.6 threes per game.
Brad Stevens knows a thing or two in taking down big underdogs. Tonight, the ex-Butler Bulldogs coach will have to summon a great all-around effort from his crew for Boston to beat the seemingly unstoppable Warriors.
Boston has been coasting at home lately, as it has won four straight at TD Garden, the latest being the Celtics’ 105-100 victory over Chicago on Wednesday. The Celtics are 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in their last four games at home.
While the Celtics have a platoon of big men to throw at Golden State, they also have the personnel to keep up with the Warriors’ vaunted small ball tactic. Expected to lead the Celtics’ attack is spitfire guard Isaiah Thomas, who is pacing the team with 21.0 PPG. Thomas led all Boston scorers in the Bulls game, scoring 20 points, while adding five assists and rebounds.
The Celtics are also getting tremendous numbers from the concerted efforts of Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder and Kelly Olynyk over the last four games. During that span, they’ve joined Thomas in averaging at least 14.8 PPG, 1.8 threes, and 43.8% shooting from deep. They’re not on the Warriors level in terms of three-point shooting, but the Celtics aren’t too shabby from the outside either, as they’re hitting 9.2 threes per game.
Defensively, the Celtics should be able to have some measure of success in containing the Warriors’ outside shooting. That’s not an easy task, but the Celtics are among the league’s best in defending against the three, allowing opponents to make just 7.0 on 33.3% shooting per game. Boston is seventh in the league too in scoring defense with only 97.9 points surrendered per contest.
Jared Sullinger, meanwhile, has been beasting beaneath the boards of late. He’s averaging 9.7 RPG, but has grabbed 36 boards over the last two outings.
Boston is third in the league in bench scoring with its relievers mustering 40.8 PPG. On the flipside, the Warriors’ second unit is averaging 33,5 PPG.
