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The 27th day of April in 2012 dramatically altered the trajectory of the Golden State Warriors franchise. It's easy to forget a terrible season, but if that were the case then Warriors' fans would be forced to forget much of their lives. It is my personal opinion that the 2011-2012 season is the third most important key to Golden State building a championship caliber roster, right after the selection of Steph Curry in 2009 and new ownership taking over in 2010.
Basically the Warriors owned a top seven protected pick that season, meaning if they weren't one of the seven worst teams in the league then Utah would own the rights to Golden State's first round draft pick. The Warriors tanked and finished in a tie as the seventh worst team in the league with the Toronto Raptors. Even after ending the season 5-22, the Warriors only had a 50 percent chance of keeping their pick. On April 27th, 2012 the Warriors won a coin toss for draft positioning with the Raptors. Golden State kept their pick and drafted Harrison Barnes 7th overall, then Festus Ezeli in the late first round and Draymond Green in the second round. Two years later the Warriors defeated LeBron James on his home court to win the NBA Finals.
This story should give Brooklyn Nets fans hope as they are smack dab in the middle of tanking away the 2015-2016 season. But as part of the ugly Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce trade with Boston, the Celtics actually own the unprotected rights to Brooklyn's first round draft pick this season. So no matter how bad the Nets are this year the end of the tunnel is still dark because the Celtics get their pick. It's the cruel world of sports but it is crazy to see how one bad season can turn a franchise around, or keep them in the basement for years to come.
Dear Mikhail Prokhorov, it sucks to suck, huh?
The Nets are in the Bay Area to take on the piping hot defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. PST and the game will be broadcasted live on CSN Bay Area.
Last Time Out
The Nets dropped a tough game in Sacramento last night to the Kings by a score of 111-109. Brookyln's lone win this season came on the road against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. Tonight's game will be the last game of an odd four game cross country road trip for the Nets. The Warriors on the other hand defeated the Minnesota Timberpups on Thursday 129-116 behind Steph Curry's 46 points to remain as the NBA's lone undefeated team. The tenth straight win to start the season is now the best start in Golden State's franchise history. Who wants to bet that record won't last long?
Golden State (-9900) enters Saturday's contest as 17 point favorites over Brooklyn (+2000). The over/under line is set at 208.5 total points according to BetOnline. Lets check out some betting trends between both teams compiled by OddsShark.com:
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Who: Brooklyn Nets (1-8, 3-6 ATS) vs. Golden State Warriors (10-0, 7-3 ATS)
What: Game 11 of 2015/16 NBA Season, Game 1 of current 2 game home stand.
When: 7:30 p.m. PST
Where: Oracle Arena, OAKLAND, CA.
How to watch:
- National: NONE
- Local: CSN Bay Area
- Online: CSN Bay Area Extra Live, TNT OverTime
Radio: KNBR 680
Spread: Warriors -17
Over/Under: 208.5
Moneyline: Golden State -9900, Memphis +2000 (via Westgate Superbook)
Spread and Over/Under via BetOnline
FLO's PICKS
Lets see how my picks faired in Thursday's game against Minnesota:
ML - GOLDEN STATE - WIN - GS 129-116
ATS - GOLDEN STATE -9 - WIN - GS by 13
O/U - UNDER -210.5 - LOSS - 245 total points
Season Totals:
ML - 10-0 (100%)
ATS - 6-4 (60%)
O/U - 3-7 (30%)
The Warriors may be the easiest team to pick on the money line since the 1996-1997 Chicago Bulls. Either that or I am a god damn genius. Lets check out tonight's matchup against Brooklyn.
Brooklyn is bad. Like really bad. The Warriors are good. Like really f--king good. I think that is all the intel needed to make my picks. The only thing I am worried about is if the bench will blow a huge fourth quarter lead thus allowing the Nets to cover.
Without further adieu, here are my selections for tonight.
ML - GOLDEN STATE
ATS - GOLDEN STATE -17
O/U - OVER -208.5
Lastly, my heart goes out to any readers who have family or friends in France. I encourage everyone to stay educated on issues that are happening around the world.