Ranking the Golden State Warriors’ Opening Week Games
January 5, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers power forward Lamar Odom (7) and Golden State Warriors shooting guard Kent Bazemore (20) go for a loose ball in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Clippers won 115-89. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
5. @ Philadelphia 76ers, November 4
The Sixers are not what they are going to be. Currently, Philadelphia is in the lead to win the Andrew Wiggins sweepstakes and therefore intentionally putting a poor product on the floor for the 2013-14 season. This should lead to a blowout win for the Warriors, but you never know with games on the road. Playing in Philly is always a hostile experience, but this team is in no way ready to make the playoffs in 2014. All the Warriors should be healthy, so this game should be a pushover. Expect the Warriors to build an early lead and not look back.
4. HOME vs. Sacramento Kings, November 2
The Warriors have had their fair share of tough battles against their Northern California rivals, the Sacramento Kings. An early season game should remind each fan base why this rivalry deserves more notoriety. The Kings attempted to grab Andre Iguodala this offseason, but pulled their massive deal almost as soon as they put it on the table, so there may be an under the radar animosity between those two parties. The Kings also made a great move by choosing to not re-sign the ball hogging Tyreke Evans. They also poached former Warriors assistant coach Mike Malone to become their head coach as well as former Warriors’ executive Vivek Ranadive and backup forward Carl Landry, so now the Dubs/Kings contests will have even more underlying hostility, with the Kings having the little brother complex that the Los Angeles Clippers suffered from for years.
3. @ Minnesota Timberwolves, November 6
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been stuck in ‘upstart’ mode for a few years now, and they are looking to make the jump to legitimate playoff contender. This early season matchup could be a telltale sign as to whether the T’Wolves will be the real deal or not. When healthy, Minnesota can be very dangerous, they have starters that can outplay almost anyone in the league, and if Pekovic ever starts getting the benefit of calls, he will make the leap to elite center. The matchup of centers between Pekovic and Andre Bogut will be one to look out for come November 6th. Another game within the game to keep your eye on will be the battle of the point guards between Ricky Rubio and Stephen Curry.
2. HOME vs. Los Angeles Lakers, October 30
The Los Angeles Lakers are another team is total disarray, with Kobe Bryant out for at least the first leg of the season, and Dwight Howard gone via free agency, the Lakers were desperate for players this offseason, signing Nick Young, Jordan Farmar, Wesley Johnson, and Chris Kaman. While none of those players will decide the fate of the Lakers this season, the front office was clearly sending a message that they refuse to bottom out, no matter how great the draft class. The Warriors and Lakers have had their fair share of epic games in the past, with the Lakers winning most of the contests, but with the Warriors now on the upswing, the Dubs could stomp the Lakers in this early season matchup.
1. @ Los Angeles Clippers, October 31
Not only will this be the Warriors first real test of the season, but it will also begin a newly formed rivalry with the best NBA team in California, the Los Angeles Clippers. This game will be broadcast on TNT, so even the networks are warming to up the idea that the Warriors-Clippers games are some of the bests contests and every NBA fan deserves to see Chris Paul and Stephen Curry go at it. This will be the first of four meetings between the two clubs in 2013-14, and the first of two at Staples Center. This matchup has become the premier bout on the West Coast, as both teams are expected to finish in the top six in the Western Conference. The Warriors will have their hands full with arguably the deepest team in the league, with the Clippers having re-signed all significant free agents and bringing in a few new players to lengthen their bench.