Warriors vs. Nets will be pivotal in gauging where Golden State is at

The Warriors have already played the Brooklyn Nets once this season, losing by more than 25. This game will showcase just how far they’ve come since then.

Stephen Curry will play for the Warriors, and the Big 3, including former MVP Kevin Durant, will be in the lineup for Brooklyn. It will be a heavy-weight clash on national television, and it could be among the most telling games for Golden State.

Since the Warriors last faced the Nets, quite a bit has changed for them. Stephen Curry has taken his game to the next level. He’s a certified MVP candidate, and the rest of a team that was relatively new to playing alongside him is figuring it out.

They’re helping to fully unleash Curry’s dominance. He’s averaging 30 points and over five rebounds and assists per game. That’s what Curry has to do in order for this to be a playoff-contending team in the West.

Now, what makes Golden State special is that, while Curry is the one leading the charge, it’s become a bit more than a one-man show.

Draymond Green has stepped up, as has Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins is arguably playing the most impactful basketball on his career. On top of those three, Eric Paschall and Juan Toscano-Anderson have been helpful for Golden State.

This is a team that was preseason ranked one of the worst in the West. When the news that Klay Thompson would miss the entire season again with a season-ending injury, many thought this Golden State team would fold.

Management was able to acquire Oubre Jr., and Curry has returned to dominance. Now, on the national spotlight, we’ll be seeing what they’re really made of. The Nets and Warriors helped kick the season off in a 26-point victory for Brooklyn. Curry had 20.

Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant combined for 48, and the Nets breezed their way to an opening-day victory. Round 2 may be a bit more difficult although they’ve acquired James Harden. The Nets have one of the worst defensive ratings in league history since adding Harden.

How the Warriors exploit their defense will be important, and while Curry’s play may decide the game, the Warriors must have more from his supporting cast. 40 from the two-time MVP can only go so far. That’s what will showcase their development as a team.

This is one of their biggest games of the season, and destroying the Durant-led Nets would be a huge confidence booster as the team goes into an easier portion of their schedule over the next few weeks.