Golden State Warriors must bounce back against Blazers

Ups and downs have been the norm for the Golden State Warriors this season. With so many changes to the roster over the offseason and conflicting motivations, it’s no wonder the team has been unpredictable. But, it’s important they get it together tonight against Portland.

We thought the second half of the season would be more kind to the Warriors – now it seems the opposite is true. The Dubs have a grueling gauntlet to run through in March, starting with a showdown in Portland before dueling the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers in consecutive games. They face Philly just a few days after this stretch.

A tough stretch is approaching for the Golden State Warriors and they need to put their best foot forward tonight in Portland.

Portland currently sits in fifth place among the Western Conference but has been in a rut where they’ve lost four of their last five games. They defeated a young Charlotte Hornets team to stop the four-game skid behind 17 fourth quarter points from Carmelo Anthony.

Meanwhile, the Warriors are fresh off one of their best runs of the season – that is, until they ran into the Los Angeles Lakers. The Dubs had won three games in a row for the first time only to get stomped in LA by the defending champs.

Tonight’s game marks a chance for both teams to get momentum back on their side entering the back half of the season. With only one game separating the fifth and eighth seeds in the West – this could end up being a pivotal game for the playoff picture.

The Warriors will have to get back to playing team basketball as they did prior to the Lakers game. A healthy Draymond Green will be crucial for this as he leads the NBA in assists over his last 10 games. Of course, there’s the possibility Green doesn’t play due to his sprained ankle.

Then, there’s the backcourt battle between Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry. These two are always fun to watch, though Curry holds a significant advantage in their meetings. Curry holds a 25-7 record against Lillard and averages 31.9 points when matched up against him.

The Warriors are about to embark on a trip against the cream of the Western Conference crop. It’s important they start it off right with a win against Portland.