Orlando Magic at Golden State Warriors (Dec. 6, 2021): 3 Things To Watch, Odds and Prediction
The Orlando Magic head out West to take on the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors as their California tour begins on this long road trip.
Orlando Magic (5-19) at Golden State Warriors (19-4)
Time/TV: 10 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
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Line via WynnBet: Warriors by 15
Tickets: $38-$976 on StubHub
2022 Season Series: Tonight in San Francisco; March 22 in Orlando
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | 99.1 | 101.6 | 111.4 | 48.9 | 26.8 | 15.3 | 21.7 |
| Golden State | 100.2 | 112.5 | 100.2 | 56.2 | 27.6 | 16.1 | 22.9 |
OMD Prediction
The Golden State Warriors are back. That is about the only way to describe it. The joy and ball movement, the defense and toughness and the Stephen Curry deep shots and manipulations are all back. In a lot of ways, playing the Warriors deserves to be in its own separate category. They are just a unique team and they are so good that even among the best teams it takes a great effort.
The Orlando Magic under Steve Clifford did a good job staying competitive with the Golden State Warriors. The Magic’s ability to limit turnovers and stay disciplined defensively made the Warriors a bit easier to beat — the Magic picked up three wins over the Warriors in Clifford’s three seasons with the Magic (all at Amway Center).
There were a few close calls in there too — Kevin Durant needed a big second half and an Aaron Gordon injury to win once in Oakland and then Stephen Curry went bonkers to upend an undermanned Magic team last year in San Francisco.
This is not that team. But that gives an idea of how much discipline it takes to keep up with the Warriors. Especially when they are operating on all cylinders as they are right now.
38. 118. 41. Prediction. 102
3 Keys To Watch
Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers
The Orlando Magic have had a lot of focus on turnovers lately. In many of their most recent losses, turnovers have been a decisive factor for the team. A brief spurt of turnovers has often put the team in a hole. And the Orlando Magic pointed to their turnover issues as the big reason they lost their close game with the Houston Rockets.
Orlando is 25th in the league with a 15.3-percent turnover rate. However the Magic rate well comparatively in points allowed off turnovers (15th with 16.0 per game). The Orlando Magic’s turnover issues are more about an opportunity lost than giving away points to their opponents (although the Golden State Warriors are second in the league with 19.7 points off turnovers per game).
The one big weakness the Warriors have is their turnovers. Golden State has a turnover rate of 16.1-percent (28th in the league). They will throw the ball around a ton. That was always a weakness of the championship Warriors teams too. So there might be something to press there. But Orlando has not been particularly good at converting turnovers into points either.
Turnovers will be a big key to this game and Orlando cannot make a ton of mistakes.
The Draymond defense
The Golden State Warriors are a small team. They run Kevon Looney as the starting center and that is the only traditional center they use. Nemanja Bjelica and Draymond Green eat up the other center minutes. That can either be an advantage for the Orlando Magic’s bigger lineup or it could lead to trouble with their ability to switch.
But it undoubtedly all works because of Draymond Green and his versatility. He will undoubtedly spend time in this game defending Wendell Carter but more likely his assignment will be to slow down Franz Wagner. The rookie has been on a tear lately and he has earned the respect of getting matched up with this all-defensive team player.
Opponents shoot 42.7-percent when Green is the closest defender, according to NBA.com’s tracking stats, and the Warriors have a 100.6 defensive rating with Green on the floor. That is actually the third-worst on the team. The Warriors’ bench has been driving a lot of the team’s defense — not that the starters are bad.
Franz Fest
With Cole Anthony going bonkers and making an All-Star case and the hype around Jalen Suggs, there has not been as much attention on Franz Wagner as perhaps he has deserved. But Orlando Magic fans have come to love Wagner and everything that he does. And Wagner is playing some of his best basketball of his young career so far.
Wagner is averaging 17.0 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and 4.5 assists per game in his last six games. He is doing this while shooting 46.5-percent from the floor and 38.9-percent from beyond the arc. Wagner has been aggressive in attacking the basket and especially in transition where he is creative with getting into the lane and finishing at the rim.
Next. How the Orlando Magic can climb out of the basement. dark
It will be interesting to see how much attention the Warriors put on him. The next big adjustment for the rookie will be adjusting to how defenses change with Wagner taking such an important part of the offense.