The Golden State Warriors host the Los Angeles Clippers tonight in their first preseason game. Fans, players, coaches, and higher-ups on both teams will probably be holding their breath that none of their players gets severely hurt, specifically their former prized 1st round picks.
Last season, both teams had their dreams deferred once again as former #1 pick overall, Blake Griffin's season ended before it even started. Same went with forgotten Warriors power forward Brandan Wright, who re-injured his shoulder in preseason last year and was forced to rehabilitate the rest of year.
Both teams will probably shake off some rust if not have to learn how to play together. The Warriors have a radically transformed lineup, with few regular rotation players returning. The Warriors have rebuilt their line-up drawing mostly from rotation players whereas the Clippers brought several players from the draft, which they seem to be trying out to see who can back-up the oft-injured Baron Davis.
But these "freeseason" games, to quote my man Eric Rukis, have little to do with the star players than seeing some NBA hopefuls latch onto a team. Will Jeremy Lin, making his preseason debut, not be as "nervous" as Marcus Thompson II tweeted the other day from their open practice? Will Willie Warren shake off the negative labels around his personality that followed him throughout his sophomore slump at Oklahoma? Is Dorell Wright really the offensive powerhouse that local sports critics are saying is already an upgrade over Corey Maggette and Kelenna Azubuike?
With little on the line, so to speak, what are you looking forward to seeing the most with today's first preseason game?
Head over to SB Nation's Golden State Warriors blog, Golden State of Mind, for more discussion about tonight's game.