I really chose the worst time to go through a brawl, which has been shown since I returned to Deadspin A week ago.
The good news is that all poor stretches have to end, and it will be our main goal to try to secure Thursday’s over/under on the hardwood between Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets.
Now you may be thinking, “Oh, if the networks are involved, you probably think a low point, right?”
Wrong.
It is true that Brooklyn is second last in the NBA with its difficult points a total of 105 points per match as a team. However, remember that the networks have handled a lot of injuries this season, and for the first time since the fall they all have back to full health (apart from Noah Clowney).
The most important player back in action is undoubtedly Cam Thomas, Brooklyn’s fourth year sensation. The former LSU product is on average career for the entire line in points (24.2), field target rate (44.5), free throw percentage (88.1), three-pointer per match (2.8), returns (3.4) and assists (3.4).
While tonight only marks its third game back from injury, it looks like Thomas will not be a minute limitation, unlike in his previous two matches when he fit up for about 25 minutes per piece. Thomas also played as if he had not missed a rate, a total of 40 points in the 50-hall.
Ironically, the 23-year-old was injured in Net’s first matchup with Warriors earlier this season, which came back at the end of November. In that game, Thomas Golden State burst into 23 points in just 23 minutes before maintaining a left Hamstringstam. He would miss all but two of the next 40 matches before returning last Thursday.
Armed with D’Angelo Russell and Cameron Johnson by their side, this is a much more powerful group than it was in recent months, and that figures to appear on the scoreboard.
On Warrior’s side, they have also experienced a recent rejuvenation that will run the crime. Sure, one of the biggest basketball players in history, Steph Curry, still shoots lamps anywhere he launches a shot, but it has been the addition of veteran Jimmy Butler who really has uncorrated Golden State when he possession of basketball.
Before he acquired Butler from Miami last month, Warriors averaged only 111.7 points per match – uncharacteristically low for them. But in the ten games since Landning Butler they have gone 9-1 while they listed 120.9 points per match as a club.
By comparison, if this was Warrior’s point average for the season, they would be ranked as the fourth in the NBA.
When the two teams previously met in November, they engaged in a high score 128-120 shootout-surprising won by Nets. With both teams now with full strength, I expect something that is not so far from the captivating pace. In turn, it means to go over in this one.
Choose: Over 223 (-108, Fanduel)
NBA BETTING RECORD: 17-15, -0.71 unit
Above/below: 5-5
Anything else: 12-10
Each bet rated as if it were to win a unit.
Follow me @Mattzylbert On Twitter/for potentially more choices added there.
