NBA Matchups: November 6

Golden State Warriors (back end) at Detroit Pistons (back end)

Team Totals: Warriors 115.8, Pistons 108.8

Injury Report: Both on B2B, but Jaden Ivey (likely Q, illness), Alec Burks (likely D, forearm), Klay Thompson (likely P, knee)

Warriors projected starters: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney (Note: Watch out for the B2B)

Pistons projected starters: Cade Cunningham, Killian Hayes, Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren

Kerr quotes: Said Kuminga changed the game and Wiggins had a good outing in OKC, said they did “just enough” defensively, said the Wiggins/JK/GP2 trio has to play at a high level to “round out our team”, said they were not aggressive against the Cavs and the shot blockers may have deterred them, said the veterans should play today, said they were searching for guys and that’s why he went to Podz and TJD, so they’re going to try different things and they “know exactly what they have in Loon” as they ramp Dray, said he’s not worried about Wiggins and he has a long track record.

Monty quotes: Said they couldn’t handle McCollum in the first half and they struggled with how Ausar was getting screened, said Sasser is a great off-ball player and is a complement to Cade and Killian, said they had spacing issues and guys were missing easy assignments, said there’s “no way” Gordon should be driving on them, said the Suns aren’t usually physical and they were more physical than them, said Sasser “works his tail off” and he’s “always ready to play”.

Stats and Notes: 

*Despite Steve Kerr saying the Warriors will play their guys today, the Warriors being on a back end here will certainly be something to watch on the 1:30 injury report, and we can probably expect Klay Thompson to sit. Maybe more. The Warriors should be adding more defenders into the rotation, and their defense has already been fantastic. They rank 11th in D overall despite giving up some O boards, and they’re actually giving up some rim stuff this year. The Pistons have still held up as a top-five rim defense on the year, and they are limiting 3-pointers at just 26.3% of shot volume (second lowest). We’ll see how these teams respond on the B2Bs.

*The Warriors are going to be so tough to play with Kerr trying out some new stuff in his rotation. The floors are gross, and the B2B factor makes it worse.

Great matchups: Stephen Curry

Good matchups: Killian Hayes (wouldn’t play him, though)

Bad matchups: Kevon Looney

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San Antonio Spurs (back end) at Indiana Pacers

Team Totals: 115.3, 123.8

Injury Report: Spurs on a B2B and it should just be Devin Vassell (O, groin)

Spurs projected starters: Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham, Keldon Johnson, Victor Wembanyama, Zach Collins

Pacers projected starters: Tyrese Haliburton, Bruce Brown, Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, Myles Turner

Pop quotes: Said he loved how his team closed even though they’re so young, said he loved the 37 assists and it was even more impressive on the road, said Zach Collins is improving on the offensive end, said Devin Vassell should be out for a while, was asked about Branham playing more and he said “someone has to play,” said Vassell is more short term than long term on his groin injury, said Wemby is “collecting information” on KYP and how to guard certain guys, said he likes that Wemby is so versatile, said Sochan “is not going to be Chris Paul in five games”, said he is not going to sit anyone today.

Carlisle quotes: Said Haliburton had a “historic” third quarter, talked a lot about the refs without trying to get fined, said Jalen Smith has been active and has earned the job “pretty clearly”.

Stats and Notes: 

*The Pacers continue to be embarrassed around the basket with the most points allowed at the rim in the league. They’re completely taking away the 3-pointers from teams at a league-low 25.1% of shot volume, so shooters just aren’t getting great looks. This has been the Pacers for years, so we should be buying these small samples. Plus, this game environment is awesome with the Pacers and Spurs in the top eight for offensive pace. The Spurs have seen their rim numbers really take a hit, but their schedule recently has shifted things. I would still expect them to be a rim funnel for those who are brave enough to go at Victor Wembanyama.

Great matchups: Victor Wembanyama, Myles Turner, Tyrese Haliburton

Good matchups: Keldon Johnson, Zach Collins 

Bad matchups: Obi Toppin

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Dallas Mavericks (back end) at Orlando Magic