Warriors on the warpath
Ten games into the NBA season it is clear this is a different Golden State team. The defending champions, who were 11 games under against the number a season ago, are taking teams seriously. The Warriors have covered six of seven games heading into Monday night, and have been double-digit favorites in five of those covers. They are the best team in offensive efficiency, averaging 1.172 points per game possession, and they are just outside of the top 10 in defensive efficiency. It is the Warriors’ world, and the rest of the Association is just living in it at this point.
Now, the upstart Grizzlies roll into The Bay on the back-end of a back-to-back after facing the Suns. The Grizzlies are much improved from a season ago, even ranking fourth in defensive efficiency, allowing opponents to score just 0.999 points per possession. However, this team has a weakness that will be exploited on Monday night. Memphis is 29th in the league in terms of pace, and dead-last in opponent fast-break efficiency. Golden State is the best fastbreak offense in the NBA to this point. They are in the top half of pace this season as well. Look for Golden State to push the pace, make the Grizzlies uncomfortable, and take a big win at home. THE PLAY: Warriors, -14 Jonathan Von Tobel is VS i N’s co-host with former NFL executive Michael Lombardi on “Betting Across America” from Atlantic City on Saturdays (10 a.m.-Noon) and Sundays (10 a.m.-1 p.m.) on VSiN.com, fubo TV and Sirius XM 204.