The Golden State Warriors are home sweet home after their elongated seven game road trip, and are immediately greeted with one of the best teams in the league as they host the Orlando Magic tonight at Oracle Arena.
The Warriors road trip was, in a word, unsatisfactory. Facing sub-par teams in six of their seven games and a 2-5 record to show for it is not quite how the Warriors had envisioned it. But that’s all over now, and with a win tonight over one of the elite teams in the NBA it could go a long way in building some confidence and stringing together some wins. But that’s always easier said than done against the Magic.
Orlando is on a five game roadie of their own which started with a very close call against the Sacramento Kings last night, barely escaping with a win. After that poor showing on the road I’m looking for the Magic to refocus themselves quickly against Golden State. In their last meeting on January 3rd the Magic won handedly at the Amway center 110-90, with All-Star Dwight Howard dropping 22 points and 17 boards on the W’s. David Lee and the rest of the Warriors big men are going to have their hands full tonight trying to guard the possible MVP candidate, although Mr. Lee has had seven double-doubles in his last eight games.
Tipoff is set for 7:30 PT tonight and will be seen on CSN BayPlus and heard on KNBR 680. I’ll be at this game live and in person, look for the guy wearing a Warriors jersey!