The vibes can't be great in Golden State as the Warriors land in Phoenix after blowing a 12-point lead down the stretch to the Grizzlies, who closed the game on a 17-2 run over the final four minutes. The Warriors are now 0-2 and are expected to be without Stephen Curry and Brandin Podziemski. What might their starting lineup be then, you ask? The expected five is Brandon Williams, De'Anthony Melton, Yaxel Lendeborg, Gui Santos and Draymond Green. That is a bench unit with a 36-year-old Draymond in the twilight of his career.
This is the third game in four nights for a shorthanded Warriors team after a 10 PM ET tip on Friday. Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody were already out before Curry and Podziemski joined them. Even with Curry on the floor they trailed by double digits in both games. I thought highly of Steve Kerr in his early years, but between a front office that stood pat and his own stubbornness with the rotation, this team looks headed for the lottery. Nothing about this group says it keeps this game close.
Phoenix lost by 41 to the new look Ja-led Portland team on Wednesday, scoring just 83 points on 6 of 32 from three. That result is the only reason the number is 9.5 and not closer to 15. The Suns have had two days off since, this is the home opener, and Devin Booker should be able to rally a squad of Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and new addition Miles Bridges. I'll lay the points with Phoenix.
Warriors vs Suns prediction: Suns -9.5 (+100) available at time of publishing. Playable to Suns -10.
