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Suns host sizzling Warriors Monday
By: Freddy Wander - StatFox
Published: 3/9/2015  at  10:43:00 AM
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GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (49-12)

at PHOENIX SUNS (33-31)

Tip-off: Monday, 10:05 p.m. ET
Line: Golden State -5.0, Total: 216.5

The Phoenix Suns return home following a long road trip to host the Golden State Warriors this Monday night.

Golden State comes into this battle with wins in five of its past six games SU as it covered just twice in that time. The team’s elite offense was able to score at least 102 points in each of the games in that time as it shot better than 46% in five of the contests. On Sunday, the Warriors took on a tough opponent in the Clippers and were giving 8.5 points at home as they just failed to cover the spread in a 106-98 win. The team hit 40-of-80 shots (50% FG) in the victory and was its usual impressive self from behind the arc; making 10-of-22 three-pointers (46% 3PM). The Suns have done slightly better of late following a 5-game losing streak in mid-February and come into this contest with victories in four of their past seven games (5-2 ATS). Their offense was the main reason that they either won or lost in that period, scoring more than 105 points in each of the four wins as they averaged a mere 83.7 PPG in the losses. On Saturday, the team finished off its road trip with a visit to the Cavaliers as big 11-point underdogs and just barely covered in an 89-79 loss. It was a horrible showing by Phoenix, who made a meager 30-of-84 shots (36% FG) with the starters shooting just 31% from the floor as a unit. The Warriors have taken a majority of their losses when playing away from home with a record of 22-10 SU (15-17 ATS) on the road as they face a Suns group which is 17-13 SU (15-15 ATS) at Talking Stick Resort Arena. These clubs have split the first two matchups between each other this season with the home team winning by an average of 15.5 PPG. The last time they were in Phoenix was in early November and the Suns won 107-95 as 2.5-point favorites despite shooting just 43% from the field as they made 27 free throws and forced their opponent into 26 turnovers. Overall in the past three seasons it has been all Golden State in this series as they have gone 7-3 SU (5-5 ATS) and scored triple-digits eight times. As far as trends are concerned, the Warriors have put up a record of 8-4 ATS (67%) this season against opponents within their division and Phoenix is a solid 12-4 ATS (75%) when revenging a road loss to an opponent this year. Going into this contest, Golden State has no injuries to its club as the Suns have C Alex Len (Ankle) listed as questionable.

The Warriors have no problems dominating on the offensive end of things and they lead the league in scoring (109.8 PPG), field-goal percentage (47.8% FG) and three-point percentage (39.1% 3PM). They’ve been solid on defense as well, giving up 99.7 PPG on a miniscule 42.6% shooting (best in league). PG Stephen Curry (23.8 PPG, 7.8 APG, 4.4 RPG, 2.1 SPG) has seen a dip in his performance over the past three games, scoring 17.7 PPG with 7.3 APG in that time, but has had his way in the two games against the Suns, going for 26.5 PPG, 8.5 APG and 3.5 SPG. SG Klay Thompson (21.7 PPG, 43% 3PM) has made five of his last 10 three-pointers in the past two games and is coming off a very nice 21-point performance in the win over the Clippers on Sunday. He wasn’t on the court for the first meeting with Phoenix, but provided his team with 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting with two blocks the last time they saw each other. SF Draymond Green (11.4 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 1.4 BPG) has found his offensive game over the past three games and has netted 21.3 PPG over that period, adding 8.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.7 SPG and 1.7 BPG as well. He’s been all over the court in his two performances against the Suns this season with 15.5 PPG, 10.0 RPG and 3.0 BPG.

It has never been the offense for Phoenix that gives them fits and this year the team is scoring 105.3 PPG (3rd in league) behind 45.7% shooting (9th in league). It is the defense that really is the issue as the Suns are allowing opponents to put up 104.8 PPG (3rd-worst in league) on 45.2% shooting (11th-worst in league). PG Eric Bledsoe (17.0 PPG, 6.0 APG, 5.5 RPG, 1.7 SPG) is coming off a rough shooting performance (3-for-12) in the loss to the Cavs when he scored seven points to go with nine assists, four rebounds and a steal. He hasn’t been too much of a force in the first couple of meetings with this opponent, going for 12.5 PPG and 3.0 APG. PG Brandon Knight (17.3 PPG, 5.3 APG, 4.0 RPG, 1.4 SPG) is still trying to find his groove with the Suns and has netted a mere 12.8 PPG on 29.5% shooting over the past five contests. He has yet to face the Warriors this year and averaged a solid 22.5 PPG (55% FG), 5.0 APG and 1.0 SPG in two games last year as a member of the Bucks. PF Markieff Morris (15.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.2 SPG) has been the team’s best offensive player of late, making 51% of his shots for 16.2 PPG over the last five games. He didn’t do well in the first game against Golden State this year, fouling out after 25 minutes with eight points and seven rebounds, but put up a double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) in the most recent matchup.


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