Golden State Warriors v Orlando Magic: Key Matchups and Analysis
The Warriors may have a tough time overcoming the length and athleticism of the young Magic.
The Warriors are small and largely unathletic as a team, at least until Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga become consistent rotation players. That’s their identity and it has been for quite a few years, while the Magic have built a team in stark contrast.
The Magic are currently starting two seven footers alongside two bigger forwards — the Warriors only start one big forward and one bigger guard, while everybody else is notably undersized for their position.
The Magic are also much younger and far more athletic than the Warriors, leading to some potentially problematic strings of plays for the away team. The Warriors only have two distinct advantages going into this game in Orlando — Their world class ability to shoot the ball from anywhere in the building at any given time, and decades of experience in knowing how to win.
With the ability for the Magic to play numerous big men at the same time while also playing bigger guards, the Warriors may struggle to score in the paint and get the necessary stops on the defensive end of the floor.
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The Warriors may be forced to shoot more threes than what the doctor ordered, and as the saying goes, you live and die by the three — an idea the Warriors know all too well.
This game may not seem like much from the perspective of a non-Warrior/Magic fan, but this is a game that could set the tone for the rest of the two teams’ seasons. Neither wants to walk away with another tick in the L column.