Golden State has been on an absolute tear lately. They’re at the top of the Western Conference with a 10-2 record. Now, taking on the LA Clippers, who haven’t come out of the gates nearly as hot, they’re coming into this game with a 7-7 record. With Kawhi Leonard still out, this will likely be the James Harden show again. Despite a middle-of-the-road record, the veteran talent across this team is still dangerous and is not a team to sleep on.
We’re not entirely sure what to do with this Clippers team. On the one hand, they are very deep with veteran talent, but they feel one man short, even with Kawhi playing. They're in a weird spot in a competitive Western Conference. They’re good enough to hang around but don’t seem to have any meaningful playoff aspirations; they’re basically in basketball limbo. This feels like a punt year for the organization, as they lost Paul George in free agency, Leonard is hurt once again, and they lack the assets to improve the roster through a trade.
Still, it'll be interesting to see how they match up against the Warriors tonight. Curry is currently listed as a question for tonight's game. Even if Curry misses this game, the Warriors' offense is still better than the Clippers. With Wiggins and Green’s defense returning strong this year, they’ll make it hard on this group. The Clippers will most likely rely heavily on the production of James Harden to find a win tonight.
On the other side, the Warriors have options on offense. Buddy Hield has been a particularly great signing over the summer for the Warriors. He’s been excellent. He is putting up 17 points a game on 47% shooting from three, busting this team's offensive potential wide-open.
The Warrior's only place they've been vulnerable has been their size. This team is not big, with rotations consistently having their tallest player in the 6’7 or 6’8 range. We could see Zubac have a strong outing against them, as he’s been good this year. Regardless, we just like what we have seen out of the Warriors, and we believe they can take it on the road tonight in LA!
Ivica Zubac Points 16+: The Warriors' biggest weakness remains their lack of size. They have come out hot this year shooting the 3-ball, but when it comes down to scoring inside, they have been weak. The same goes for their defense, and the size disadvantage could play right into Zubac's strength. Especially with Mo Bamba out tonight, the Clippers will use Zubac a ton if he can stay out of foul trouble.
James Harden Over 3.5 Turnovers: Harden has been a turnover machine this year. On average, he has given the ball up 4.5 times a game. Taking on the Warriors, who have some solid wings in Wiggins and Draymond, they’ll be threatening the passing lanes all night. We expect Harden to dominate the ball as well, which ultimately leads to more turnovers in itself. Considering how solid Golden State has been this year, this line could be a lock.
Andrew Wiggins 2+ Assists: Andrew Wiggins hasn’t been known for his passing abilities, but we like him tonight. The Clippers have some long defenders they can throw at the guard, which could lead to Wiggins getting more touches early in possessions. Wiggins is already averaging 2.3 assists a game, so this 2+ number is right in his wheelhouse.