Opinion
4 min read

Will the Golden State Warriors Cast a Spell on Orlando Magic at Kia Center?

As the Golden State Warriors prepare to face off against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center, fans are eager to see if their team can conjure up a win on March 27. The Warriors' recent performance has been a mixed bag of tricks, with their last game against the Dallas Mavericks ending in a 99-109 loss. Despite this setback, there are several positive takeaways that suggest GSW could turn things around in their upcoming game.


SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 2: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors goes to the basket during the game on January 2, 2024 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

In their clash with the Mavericks on March 14, GSW demonstrated resilience and an ability to compete even when not leading for most of the game. They managed to keep their time trailing to just under two hours and held onto a lead for about one hour and forty-four minutes. Their scoring was fairly consistent across quarters except for a dip in the second quarter where they scored only 15 points.


One area where GSW showed promise was in points from turnovers; they scored 11 points off turnovers compared to Dallas's 21. However, it's worth noting that GSW had more possessions (102.36) than Dallas (98.36), indicating opportunities were there but perhaps not fully capitalized upon.


SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 02: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball up court against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on January 02, 2024 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

GSW also displayed strength inside by scoring nearly half of their total points in paint (48 out of 99). This is an encouraging sign as it shows they can effectively penetrate defenses and score close-range baskets – something they'll need against Orlando Magic's defense.


Looking back further at GSW’s performance against San Antonio Spurs on March 12 provides additional insights into what fans might expect at Kia Center. In that game, which ended with a victory for GSW (112-102), we saw an impressive display of offensive efficiency with field goal percentages hitting solidly at around fifty percent and three-point shooting accuracy standing strong at forty-four percent.


SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 02: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic looks to pass the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on January 02, 2024 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The bench contributed significantly too, adding twenty-nine points to the scoreboard – almost matching what was seen against Dallas where bench players contributed twenty-eight points. This depth could be crucial when facing ORL’s squad that may not match up well against such balanced scoring threats from both starters and reserves.


Defensively speaking, while blocks were low in both games (three against DAL and four versus SAS), steals were high – nine steals each time – showcasing active hands and anticipation skills which will be essential when trying to disrupt ORL’s playmakers.


With these factors considered alongside ORL’s own challenges this season, it seems plausible that if GSW can maintain defensive pressure while exploiting any weaknesses within ORL’s ranks through strategic offense execution - particularly from bench players - victory could very well be within reach for Golden State Warriors.


Warriors fans should mark their calendars for March 27th as tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 PM ET at Kia Center in Orlando, FL. The action will be broadcasted live on BSFL and NBCS-BA networks; don't miss out as your team looks to weave some magic of its own on court!

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