NBA Picks 2/27 – Golden State Warriors @ Washington Wizards

NBA Picks 2/27 – Golden State Warriors @ Washington Wizards

by Thomas Quaynor for Wannamakeabet.com

The Golden State Warriors (29-27) begin a four-game East Coast road trip against the Washington Wizards (9-48) tonight at Capital One Arena. Golden State is an 11-point favorite and the total is 239.5. These teams are meeting for the second and final time tonight. Golden State beat visiting Washington 129-118 in the first matchup on Dec. 22 as Steph Curry knocked down 8 three-pointers enroute to a game-high 30 points. Golden State is coming off a 119-103 loss to the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Sunday night, while Washington lost their 11th straight game after dropping a 114-105 decision to the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. 

GAME STORYLINES: GOLDEN STATE

The Golden State Warriors homegrown trio of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green formed during the 2012-2013 season, since then they’ve become one of the great dynasties in NBA history. Over the past 11 seasons, the trio has gone on to win 4 NBA Championships (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022) and won an NBA-record 73 games during the 2015-2016 season. The championship run for the trio may soon come to an end as all three players are now in their mid-to-late 30’s with Steph Curry being the only one still performing at an elite level on a consistent basis. Injuries and the supporting cast being made up of mostly young players could also hinder the chances of another championship for the trio.

After winning the NBA title in 2022, a leaked video showing Draymond Green punching teammate Jordan Poole in the face during an October 2022 practice and injuries to key players (Steph Curry missed 26 games, Andrew Wiggins missed 45 games) ruined any chances of Golden State repeating as champions in 2023. These factors caused Golden State to get off to a slow start last season. They finished 44-38, knocked off the upstart No. 3 seed Sacramento Kings in the first round and then were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in 6 games in round two. 

During the offseason, Golden State re-signed Draymond Green to a four-year, $100 million dollar extension and then traded Jordan Poole for a package that brought back 12-time All-Star Chris Paul. The moves signaled that the organization wanted to have veteran leadership on the team to make a few more championship runs.

Unfortunately for Golden State, this season has also been marred by the antics of Draymond Green and injuries. Green has been suspended for a total of 17 games due to two separate altercations with Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert and Phoenix’s Jusuf Nurkic, while Chris Paul has been out since Jan. 5 with a fractured left hand. Paul has missed 24 games this year but is expected to return tonight at Washington. Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins have also seen dips in their production this year which has contributed to Golden State’s disappointing record.

Despite Golden State’s inconsistency this season, superstar guard Steph Curry continues to amaze in his 15th NBA season. The 35-year-old, 9-time All-Star is putting up 27.7 points, 5.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds while shooting 45.9 percent from the floor and 41.4 percent from long distance through 53 games. A case could be made that Curry has carried Golden State through the first half of the year, and a championship run is possible if Chris Paul remains healthy and Draymond Green stays on the court for the rest of the season. Golden State has gone 11-6 since Draymond returned from his latest suspension on Jan. 15

Golden State has also received a boost from a group of promising young players in athletic forward Jonathan Kuminga (15.3 pts, 4.7 rebs, 52.6% from 2), along with rookies Brandin Podziemski (9.9 pts, 5.9 rebs, 3.9 asts) and Trayce Jackson-Davis (6.6 pts, 4 rebs, 68.4% from 2). Kuminga struggled during his first two NBA seasons after being selected seventh overall in the 2021 draft, but he’s now having a breakout season in year three. The 21-year-old combo guard Podziemski was chosen to participate in the Rising Stars game during All-Star weekend, he was selected No. 19 overall by Golden State in the draft. Jackson-Davis has been used sparingly of late but he did have a stretch in December and January (when Draymond was suspended) where he had four double-doubles and was averaging about 9 points and 8 rebounds per game. Jackson-Davis is the son of former long-time NBA bruising rebounder power forward/center Dale Davis. 

GAME STORYLINES: WASHINGTON

The Washington Wizards spent the previous three seasons attempting to build a competitive roster around star guard Bradley Beal, they brought in former all-stars Russell Westbrook for the 2020-21 season, followed by Kristaps Porzingis in Feb. 2022 to help out Beal. Those three seasons resulted in one playoff appearance in 2020-21 (34-38 record) and three losing seasons. During the offseason, Washington made the decision to deal Beal and Porzingis, and start from scratch with talented swingman Kyle Kuzma, along with younger players and future lottery picks. Kuzma re-upped for $102 million dollars for four years in July. Washington also added Golden State shooting guard Jordan Poole and Memphis point guard Tyus Jones in the offseason.

Washington’s plan to tank the season has worked out perfectly as they now have the second-worst record in the NBA at 9-48 and are just one game ahead of the 8-49 Detroit Pistons for the worst record in the NBA. The Wizards are on pace to break the single-season franchise record for losses which is 63 set by the 2000-01 and 2008-09 Wizards teams. They are currently on a season-high 11-game losing streak and have dropped 17 of their last 19 games. 

Kyle Kuzma has been one of the few bright spots for the Wizards this season. The 28-year-old Kyle Kuzma is having his best season in year seven, he’s averaging 22 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and shooting 45.6 percent from the floor. Forward Deni Avdija is enjoying a breakout season in his fourth season, he’s averaging 13.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the floor and 40.4 percent from beyond the arc, all are career-highs. He scored a career-best 43 points and tied a career-high with 15 rebounds in a 133-126 loss at New Orleans on Feb. 14. Through 8 games in February, Avdija is averaging 20.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 56.5 percent from the floor and 48.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Wizards selected Advija with the No. 9 pick in the 2020 draft and he’s starting to live up to expectations. Advija is questionable for tonight’s game due to a heel injury.

Expectations were high for Jordan Poole coming into the season considering he averaged a career-high 20.4 ppg in a secondary role with Golden State last year and played very well in the playoffs during Golden State’s championship run in 2022. Poole was expected to be Washington’s go-to player on offense but his shooting efficiency from the field has fallen off this year. He went from averaging 20.4 ppg on 43 percent shooting in 30 minutes last season to 16.1 ppg on 39.9 percent shooting in 29.3 minutes this season.  Washington made the decision to bring Poole off the bench three games ago against Denver, and it has seemed to work as Poole is averaging 23.3 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 3.7 three-pointers in 30 minutes over that span. Poole had a season-high 31 points in his last game against Cleveland on Saturday night. 

THE PICK

The Wizards were actually competitive in their last game against Cleveland, I don’t think a horrible team like the Wizards are capable of back-to-back strong showings, Also, Capitol One Arena will be filled to capacity with Golden State/Steph Curry fans tonight, it will be like a home game for the Warriors. Golden State should win this one with ease, Lay those big points and take the Warriors!!