Warriors Pride! NBA Playoffs Return to Oakland

Oakland is showing its pride in the Golden State Warriorsahead of the team's first playoff home game this year with a campaign that includes ads on buses, at the airport and downtown, Visit Oakland announced Wednesday. 

The Warriors will return home after splitting two games with the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the NBA playoffs. 

The Warriors entered the playoffs with a 51-31 record and won their first game against the Clippers 109-105 Saturday before being clobbered Monday 138-98.

The next game will be at the Oracle Arena in Oakland Thursday at 7:30 p.m. To cheer the team on, AC Transit buses headers will say "Go Warriors" for the duration of the playoff run, city tourism group Visit Oakland said. 

City Hall will be adorned in blue and yellow light and Warriors flags will be raised on City Hall and the Tribune Tower. 

"Good Luck" ads will be placed in Oakland International Airport security and baggage claim areas and hotel staff at the Oakland Marriott City Center will wear Warriors gear. More than 1,000 "Oakland is Warriors Ground" posters have been distributed and put up in local restaurants and businesses, Visit Oakland said. 

The city's excitement is bolstered by the Warriors' exceptional season -- it's the first time the team has had over 50 wins in 20 years, and only the fifth 50-win season in the team's 68-year history, Visit Oakland said. 

 It is also the first time in 22 years that the Warriors have reached the playoffs in two consecutive seasons. 

Last year, the Warriors advanced to the second round after taking down the Denver Nuggets but were dispatched by the San Antonio Spurs. 

This will likely be one of the last seasons the Warriors play in Oakland, with the team announcing this week that it had purchased land near San Francisco's Mission Bay for a new arena slated to open for the 2018-19 season.

--Bay City News