OC Dooley:“2 UNIT” NATIONAL-TV NBA LATE NIGHT TOTAL (Warriors at Thunder UNDER 206 in an approximate 9:45 eastern tipoff telecast on ESPN): The oddsmakers had no choice but to inflate this particular total since Oklahoma City’s attack is anchored by the same Kevin Durant who currently leads the entire NBA in scoring. In the past five games alone a dynamic Golden State offense led by three-point sharpshooter Stephen Curry has put up a high average of 105 points per night. But the bottom line in what most likely is a shock to most is that statistically these pair of sides rank among the best DEFENSIVELY in the entire league. Just last night in a TNT national telecast Oklahoma City literally “stole” a road victory at Houston in a defensive clinic where they held the Rockets to just NINETEEN POINTS in the entire second half. Considering that Houston is now a popular “national” team due to the duo of Dwight Howard and ex-Thunder reserve James Harden, that defensive effort by Oklahoma City last night was one for the ages. For those who have followed Golden State in the past three years since a new upper-management team was installed they have attempted to become a viable defensive side which was a mere afterthought back in the days when veteran Don Nelson was the head coach. The leader these days is former ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson who was brought on a few years back despite having no prior head coaching experience. Jackson impressed the Warriors upper-management by actually stressing DEFENSE and his team this campaign has moved all the way up to the #4 slot ranked (points allowed per 100 possessions) just behind none other than Oklahoma City. To make a long story short Golden State has made a leap in “defensive” statistics due to the offseason acquisition of veteran Andre Iguodala. In addition former Milwaukee star and significant big man Andrew Bogut has already played more games than all of last campaign as he now is finally healthy. So far this season when facing an excellent offensive opponent who averages at least 99 points per contest, Golden State has gone 10-2 UNDER the total on the ROAD
