Warriors-10 In a situation where I tend to play the visiting dog (Warriors 1st game back after a 5 game road trip), I am now convinced that the Warriors are the right side tonight.
Coming off of a big win at New Orleans to end the vicious trip (Atl/Char/Mia/Orl/N.O.) on a winning note and finish the trip with a 2-3 record, the Warriors now have 18 of their next 22 games at home in what will be the deciding factor of whether this team will make a playoff push or not.
I have listened to some "under the radar" player/coach/G.M. interviews and the one thing that has stuck out is that they all agree that they can't let this home opener versus the Cavs be a "trap" game.
We have a classic case of two teams going in opposite directions tonight. The Warriors have won 5 of 8 and two of those 3 losses (Miami & Orlando) they had 20 point leads on the road and couldn't hold on. They finally have a fully healthy roster and are playing at a very high level. Meanwhile Cleveland comes in to the Oracle tonight getting outscored on average by 9.2 points per game. They are being outscored by 12.58 points per game on the road. They are being outscored by 21.8 points per game on the road versus Western Conference Opponents. [B]I repeat.....the Cleveland Cavs are being beaten by 21.8 points per game on the road vs the West (@ N.O/SAS/T'Wolves/Hou/OKC).[/B] Their defense has been atrocious, they are the worst team in the Eastern Conference, arguably their best post player J.J. Hickson is in the doghouse with coach Byron Scott, and now both of their top 2 shooting guards (Anthony Parker-Doubtful and Boobie Gibson-Out) are injured.
Cleveland is coming off a 15 point loss to Toronto who had just lost 11 games in a row and now have the daunting task of asking Ramon Sessions, Alonzo Gee, Mo Williams, and Christian Eyenga to rotate and slow down a finally healthy and in a groove Stephen Curry and Monta "Career Year" Ellis. Good luck with that.
Also while the Warriors have been on a 5 game roadie their front line is actually quite rested. David Lee missed the 4th game of the trip because of a lower back bruise that was suffered in the middle of the trip and Andris Biedrins first game back from missing 6-7 games with an ankle tweak was the last game of the trip as well. So in actuality this will be only the 2nd game in 6 nights for the two big men.
Ekpe Udoh the Warriors rookie post presence is just beginning to have the game slow down for him after missing all of summer league and training camp with a wrist injury.
Coach Smart has been bringing him along very slowly but after playing some crunch time minutes in the Warriors big win over the Hornets a few nights ago (including a Hakeem Olajuwon type "shimmy-shake" made basket over David West down the stretch) the coach said that Udoh was now being taken off of "baby food" and progressing to solid foods nicely.
I've watched this kid play and while his stats aren't popping off the charts even in limited minutes, he does a LOT of things that help his team. His length alone alters a lot of opponent shot attempts, he has amazing poise and touch for a rookie, and is finally a force down low. In essence Udoh has been like picking up a solid player in a trade without having to give anything up.
If this was a situation where a middle of the pack Jazz/Rockets/Bulls/Blazers type of team were playing in this same scenario tonight in the place of the Warriors I would probably lean to the Cavs in this 1st game home from an extended road trip scenario.
But the Warriors are a team that is energized and excited. This team is the closest thing to a college team (at least attitude & chemistry wise) that the NBA has ever produced in my opinion. Oracle Arena is arguably the best home court advantage in the NBA because the fans make the most noise and are thirsty for another playoff run.
This team likes each other, they play hard every single night, and they [B]LOVE[/B] their coach. I don't think the veterans on this team (David Lee/Dorell Wright (Who is playing out of his mind right now)/Monta Ellis/Vlad Rad) allow the Warriors to play flat tonight. In fact I think they go out and put forth an excellent effort for their coach (who was fired by the Cavs 7.5 years ago) and the home fans.
It is not often that a 14-21 team is a 10 point favorite against anyone in the NBA.
I'm telling you there is a reason for it.
Warriors win this one easily 109-93.
Enjoy
