Golden State Warriors: Five Opening Night matchups

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t championship contenders. They’re, most likely, not even going to make the postseason. In terms of talent, they are nowhere near the Warriors.

Yet, there’s something about them that makes them a tricky matchup for the Dubs. The Lakers have blown the Warriors out a few times over the last few years. Granted, those were in Los Angeles, but they still managed to do it with a significantly inferior team.

For Warriors fans, there’s still elements of a rivalry here. For years the Lakers beat up on the Warriors and dominated California. Now, the tables have turned and Golden State fans still remember those beatdowns, even if it meant nothing to Los Angeles.

The main attraction here would be two-time MVP Stephen Curry going head-to-head for the first time with rookie Lonzo Ball. This won’t be a point guard matchup that matches up two of the best at their position like, say, Curry versus Russell Westbrook. Instead, this is more about the storyline behind the matchup.

Before Ball was even signed to a professional basketball team, his father, LaVar, made sure everyone knew who he was. Throughout UCLA’s run in the NCAA tournament, the Ball family patriarch became a sensation because of his edgy comments in the media. He touched on every subject.

After sending the basketball world into a frenzy by proudly proclaiming that he, LaVar, would have been able to beat Michael Jordan in a game of one-on-one, he might have one-upped himself. He said that Lonzo is better than Curry. When asked again, he doubled down, and declared that his son, who wasn’t the undisputed best player in college was, at that moment in time, better than the league’s first ever Unanimous MVP.

While Curry didn’t get into it, he definitely heard the comments. Through no fault of his own, Lonzo Ball has a target on his back. And when Steph Curry has it out for you, you’re in trouble.

Also, it’ll be nice seeing Luke Walton again!