The Golden State Warriors are in the midst of a big losing streak, but are still in a good position to make the postseason, worthy of a bet.
The Dubs have dropped seven of their last eight and sit at 23-27 on the season, just a half-game up on the Pelicans for the final spot in the play-in game.
DraftKings Sportsbook has the Warriors odds of making the postseason set at +225, which is a valuable wager to have due to several circumstances.
For starters, Golden State’s schedule down the stretch is favorable.
The Warriors have the seventh easiest schedule remaining, per Tankathon, which is the least challenging of all the relevant teams in the play-in game hunt. As well, GSW has three matchups with the Pelicans, which are sure to have playoff implications with less than a game separating the two clubs.
Stephen Curry is of course the X-factor to this bet.
One of the best players in the world has been nothing short of heroic on the floor, averaging over 29 points and six assists and shooting over 40% from beyond the arc. The two-time MVP is averaging a career high in field goal attempts and at his career average in field goal percentage, over 47%.
Despite an increased load this season with a weaker supporting cast than usual, Curry has lived up to his billing.
If the Warriors are able to make the play-in game, I’m bullish on their chance to qualify for the postseason, even if it means winning two games. Of all the likely teams partaking in the mini tournament, Curry will be the best on the floor and has the ability to thrive in a single elimination setting.
The Warriors are more than 17 points better when No. 30 is on the floor, in the 100th percentile across the league, according to Cleaning the Glass.
At +225, this is a smart wager to get down on now as the Warriors hit somewhat of a rock bottom during a long season given their current skid.
There are still 24 games left in the season and not only is the schedule is going to ease up for Golden State, nine of their last 13 games are at the friendly confines of the Chase Center.
The Warriors are way off from their title teams of the past several seasons. No. 2 pick James Wiseman has not been the impact contributor many expected right away and Draymond Green is not the two-way threat he once was.
However, the power of Curry is strong and he’s more than capable of navigating the Warriors through a play-in situation.
An ideal closing stretch to the season, coupled with the talent of Curry makes me confident in getting a great number such as +225 to make the postseason.
In closing, game-by-game odds for the Warriors will be shorter than what the futures market is projecting for due to the respect Curry has by both oddsmakers and bettors. With shorter lines once the play-in games roll around, bettors will get more outs by locking in this +225 number to hedge later on.
Reed is a native of New Jersey and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a die-hard Brooklyn Nets fan and always believes the spread has a chance of covering. You can follow Reed on Twitter @ReedWallach for more commentary.