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I have to admit: I have absolutely no idea what to expect from this game tonight.
Which I think is natural. How many people really expected the 76ers to pummel a Grizzlies team who had been 12-2 at home on the season?
Which I guess makes the 76ers favorites tonight against the surprising 19-10. It makes no logical sense, which is the only way to make sense of this team sometimes.
The 76ers should have struggled defending the Memphis front line, which came into the game as one of the best post-up teams in the league and second in the league in offensive rebounding rate. But, after the first quarter the 76ers amazingly did a good job containing the Grizzlies low post players.
Similarly, the Warriors stellar shooting from the perimeter presents some concerns for a 76ers team that has uncharacteristically struggled defending the three point shot this season. Which, of course, likely means the Stephen Curry (who has scored 20+ in 4 straight) will shoot 4-17.
I haven't a clue what to expect from this team right now.
Curry presents the biggest problem defensively, but this is a well rounded team with a diversified offensive attack. David Lee and Klay Thompson are averaging 19.9 and 15.9 points per game respectively, and Jarrett Jack and Harrison Barnes are also liable to get hot from deep.
Perhaps most surprisingly, though, is that Mark Jackson has them buying in on the defensive end, where they rank just above league average. That might not seem like all that much of an accomplishment until you take into account that the Warriors have been 27th, 26th, 29th, and 28th in defensive rating over the last 4 years, and this has largely been without Andrew Bogut, who has missed all but 4 games so far this season.
Tip-off for this one is late, at 10:30 eastern time on Comcast SportsNet. Game thread will be up at 10.