NBA 2021/22 on Monday, 10.01.2022
The Golden State Warriors’ star will by no means sink in the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, even if recent results have been somewhat disappointing. But no one probably seriously thought that the Californians would win every game.
At first glance, the Warriors continue to boast a dream record of 29-9! However, part of the truth is that four of those losses alone have come during the last ten NBA games.
The reason is partly due to the Covid-related turmoil that several NBA teams have been facing these days. Most recently, this even resulted in a “negative premiere” for the Californians.
The 82-99 defeat against the Mavericks, which I correctly predicted, was followed by another defeat – this time against the Pelicans. This is the first time Golden State has lost two NBA games in a row this season!
Statistically, three losses in a row would be too much of a good thing. Especially since the Californians have problems on the offensive end, but these could be fully remedied by a comeback announced for tonight.
Because after two and a half calendar years, Klay Thompson is finally returning! While it’s not expected that he’ll be back to top form right away, what you hear from the coaching staff should still make you optimistic.
Especially since Thompson’s value cannot be questioned. The long-time Warrior is hard to beat for consistency. Until his serious Achilles tendon tear, he averaged over 20 points per game over his last five seasons!
Warriors fans can thus look forward to a significant offensive upgrade, which can give the team a boost again, especially through pinpoint threes. The loud support of their own fans is already a certainty for the blue and yellow tonight.
This could be a further advantage, which can also be proven statistically with wonderful numbers. The Californians have only lost three of their twenty home games – more rarely than any other NBA team this season!
Apart from the fact that Cleveland, for its part, has already lost three of its last four away games, the Cavs never looked particularly good, especially against the Golden State Warriors! In fact, the wave of back-to-back defeats has taken on almost historic proportions!
Basketball fans should prick up their ears, because the Cavaliers have failed to win any of their last thirteen NBA games against the Warriors – three of those losses came in the 2021 calendar year alone.
These were by no means close, by the way, because with 98:129, 101:119, 89:104, the deficit at the end of the game was 15 points at best! It was especially three-point legend Stephen Curry against whom the Cavs never found a remedy – not even close.
In each of the last three games against the Cavs, Curry was the player with the most points from both teams and even broke the 40-point mark in the last encounter last November.
The Cavs therefore have enormous problems providing a three-point specialist like Stephen Curry. If he is now also flanked from beyond the line by an accurate Klay Thompson, that means even more problems for Cleveland.
Conclusion: The Warriors have faltered of late, losing two straight games for the first time this season. But as you can easily see, this is grumbling at the very highest level.
In the game against the Cavs, the Californians will benefit from their home court, from the return of Klay Thompson and from the qualities of Stephen Curry. He is unstoppable, especially in games against Cleveland.
Possibly the best three-point specialist of all time, he has been the best man on the floor in each of his last three games against the Cavaliers! Moreover, the Californians have won each of the last 13 NBA duels against the visitors!
My Warriors Cavs tip: The home side is ahead by at least nine points!
