Golden State Warriors’ Schedule Breakdown: A Rough Start
By Eric He
Despite having the distinct title of “defending NBA champions,” the Golden State Warriors were not exactly given an easy hand by the schedule makers.
The Warriors have their work cut out for them, leading the league with 20 back-to-backs and over 54,000 miles to be traveled.
But the challenges begin almost right away with a very difficult first five games. Here’s what the schedule looks like off the bat:
- Oct. 27 (Tuesday) vs. Pelicans
- Oct. 30 (Friday) @ Rockets
- Oct. 31 (Saturday) @ Pelicans
- Nov. 2 (Monday) vs. Grizzlies
- Nov. 4 (Wednesday) vs. Clippers
Not only is that five games in nine days with a road back-to-back in the middle, but those are also all quality Western Conference opponents. And in a conference that only got better this offseason, a couple of losses could make the difference between home court advantage in the playoffs and a tough road matchup — or, in the Warriors’ situation, a shot at repeating as the top team in the West.
Playing the Pelicans — a non-divisional opponent — twice in the first three games is a rarity, but the Warriors will host New Orleans in the season opener and then face them again four days later in the Big Easy. The league likely wants to milk the playoff rematch and Alvin Gentry, the former Warriors’ assistant, taking over the Pelicans.
Apr 25, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives past New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the first quarter in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
On paper, the Warriors are clearly still the stronger team. But despite sweeping the Pelicans in the first round, Anthony Davis gave Golden State fits in that series, and who knows what Gentry has in store against his former club. Plus, the Warriors will be guests for the Pelicans’ home opener on Halloween, so don’t expect for either game to be a gimme.
As a matter of fact, the Warriors’ first four games will all be against teams they knocked out in the playoffs en route to the NBA Finals. The Rockets and Grizzlies are also on the slate, and like the Pelicans, they will be looking for some payback.
The Rockets have upgraded their lineup with the addition of Ty Lawson, while the Grizzlies nearly upset the Warriors in the second round, jumping ahead 2-1 in the series. These are both elite teams who have had all summer to think about what exactly went wrong against the Warriors, and they will be thirsty for another shot at the team from the bay.
May 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) dribbles as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) defends during the second half in game four of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs. at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
And wrapping up the brutal stretch is a date at Oracle against the Clippers, a team that the Warriors did not face in the playoffs (thank you, Rockets) but is always good for an intense affair. The Warriors can ill-afford to get off to a rough start in the first four games and then falter at home against the rival Clippers, which would be quite a blow that early in the season.
From there, the schedule gets a bit easier, with five of six games against non-playoff teams from last year, which will give the Warriors a chance to “catch-up” should they struggle in the first week and a half.
Still, the early schedule means that the Warriors need to shed whatever “championship hangover” they may have very quickly. The Warriors started last season 5-0, which set the tone for a magnificent 21-2 start and sent a message to the rest of the league that this team could contend for a title.
This year, a perfect record through the first five games may be too much to ask for. With expectations sky-high once again and a target on their backs, the Warriors have their work cut out for them, and the adversity may start right away.