NBA Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden State Warriors

Added on Mar 13, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

NBA

NBA Western Conference action on Sunday as the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Golden State Warriors. The T-Wolves are on a rare two game winning streak and have pulled out of the West basement by 1/2 game over the Sacramento Kings. The Warriors are coming off a big win over the Orlando Magic and are in 12th place in the conference.

Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden State Warriors
March 13, 2011 6:05 PM Pacific

The Timberwolves are on a 3 game winning streak against the pointspread going 2-1 SU but we’re not thinking this is a ‘buy’ sign. They covered on the road against Dallas in a lookahead spot to a game against the Lakers and beat erratic Indiana and sputtering Utah–who played without power forward Paul Milsaps. The Utah game in particular was a perfect tactical matchup for Kevin Love and while Golden State has the same undersized front line and the Jazz do at the moment they’re becoming a solid home team and play an uptempo style that to some extent negates a team’s presence in the paint. Just ask Dwight Howard, who’s Orlando Magic lost SU at Golden State in their last game.

Minnesota isn’t a very good road team (5 road wins on the year) and have struggled in games against ‘uptempo’ opponents away from home. In a road game with a total of 210 or higher the T-Wolves are 2-16 SU/7-11 ATS. They’re also not a team that deals well with success–after a win of 10+ points Minnesota is 2-8 SU/3-7 ATS. Warriors are 9-4 ATS against the Northwest Division this year and have a profitable ATS record in revenge spots–and Minnesota beat them at home earlier this year. We’re not sure that the T-Wolves recent run of ‘success’ has more to do with fortuitous scheduling than any uptick in their performance–consider their 5-12 ATS record in the 17 games prior to the 3 game ATS winning streak. Like Dwight Howard, Kevin Love’s ability in the paint isn’t as effective against the Warriors’ style of play and we look for Minnesota to return to their losing ways here. Just a lot more upside with a Golden State team that plays good ball at home, has better coaching and is heading in the right direction as a franchise.

Bet Golden State Warriors -6′ over Minnesota Timberwolves