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Unbeaten Warriors host Grizzlies Monday
By: Brian Graham - StatFox
Published: 11/2/2015  at  12:53:00 PM
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MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (2-1)

at GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (3-0)

Tip-off: Monday, 10:30 p.m. ET
Line: Golden State -8.5, Total: 200

The unbeaten Warriors look to roll over another NBA opponent on Monday night when they host the surging Grizzlies.

Memphis (1-2 ATS) saw its season get off to a rough start with a 106-76 home loss to Cleveland, but has bounced back with big wins at Indiana (112-103) and Brooklyn (101-91) on Saturday. Golden State (3-0 ATS) has destroyed all three opponents this season by an average of 16.7 PPG with a pair of victories over New Orleans sandwiched around a 112-92 blowout at Houston. The Warriors also romped the Grizzlies in the final three games of last year's playoff series matchup, winning by 17 at Memphis in Game 4, prevailing by 20 at home in Game 5 and closing out the series 108-95 on the road. Golden State has won 20 straight regular-season home games by an average margin of 12.9 PPG, and hasn't lost a regulation game in Oakland in 39 tries, going 38-1 with the lone defeat coming in overtime. But the Grizzlies usually play well versus top-notch competition, going 107-71 ATS against teams with a 6+ PPG margin since 1996. But the Warriors also don't back down from quality opponents, going 35-21 ATS versus winning teams in the past two seasons. The only injuries to note are Memphis C Marc Gasol who hurt his finger last game, but is expected to start, while Golden State remains without C Andrew Bogut indefinitely due to concussion symptoms and rookie PF Kevon Looney for at least four months after hip surgery.

Can the Warriors post another double-digit win to start the 2015-16 season? For the answer, connect to The Platinum Sheet for all the Expert picks throughout the entire 2015-16 season. StatFox Zach got the season off to a flying start with a 5-0 Best Bets record in the first week.

Memphis got off to a horrible start to the season by shooting only 35% FG in a 106-76 home loss to the Cavaliers, but in the past two games, the club has piled up 106.5 PPG on 46% FG. But the Grizzlies are still allowing too many easy baskets, with opponents shooting at least 47% FG in all three contests. Memphis is a very balanced team on offense with five players averaging double-figure scoring led by PG Mike Conley, who has 14.3 PPG (5-for-10 threes) and 8.0 APG to start this season. Conley played well against Golden State last season with 16.5 PPG, 5.0 APG and 3.5 SPG in two regular-season meetings. C Marc Gasol has not played very well with only 13.0 PPG on 43% FG and a pedestrian 5.7 RPG, but has a very nice matchup on Monday against a Warriors team that he averaged a double-double against (19.2 PPG, 11.2 RPG) in last year's playoffs. PF Zach Randolph also had a big postseason series against the Warriors with 17.0 PPG (50% FG) and 8.5 RPG, but hasn't been that special to begin the 2015-16 campaign. Although Randolph has done great work on the boards with a team-best 9.7 RPG, he has scored only 12.7 PPG on 41% shooting. SF Jeff Green (11.0 PPG on 50% FG) and SG Courtney Lee (10.7 PPG, 37% FG, 2-of-11 threes) round out the main scorers for this club, while defensive magician SG Tony Allen has 2.7 SPG to go along with 7.0 PPG and 7.0 RPG this season.

Golden State led the NBA in scoring (110.0 PPG), overall shooting (48% FG) three-point shooting (40%) and assists (27.4 APG) last season, and have been even better in 2015-16 with 119.0 PPG on 48% FG, 41% threes and 27.0 APG. Although the defense has allowed too many points at 102.3 PPG, opponents are shooting a mere 42% FG on 30% threes. PG Stephen Curry, the reigning league MVP, has been blazing hot to begin the season with 39.3 PPG on 59% FG and 49% threes plus 7.3 APG and 2.3 SPG for good measure. Curry has also shot very well against the Grizzlies in his career with 21.8 PPG, 49% FG, 47% threes and 7.3 APG. His "Splash Brothers" partner SG Klay Thompson has not yet found his stroke, with his modest 13.0 PPG (21.7 PPG last season) on 43% FG and 25% threes. But Thompson loved shooting against Memphis last season with a robust 30.7 PPG on 62% FG and 75% threes (18-of-24). The team's third key player is SF Draymond Green, who is once again filling the stat sheet with 13.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 4.3 APG and 1.3 SPG. But Green has had difficulty scoring against a tough Memphis defense, averaging only 5.1 PPG on 39% FG and 27% threes in 10 career meetings.


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