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Christmas will be a better gauge of where Warriors are at than opening night

By Nathan Beighle

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 21: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a basket with Andrew Wiggins #22 in the first quarter NBA Play-In Tournament game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Chase Center on May 21, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 21: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a basket with Andrew Wiggins #22 in the first quarter NBA Play-In Tournament game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Chase Center on May 21, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors are going to be playing in a couple of the most important games of the season, on opening night and Christmas. For the former performance, discount it as Klay Thompson will still be sidelined.

With the 2021 NBA Draft having ended and free agency period coming to an end, there’s not much more to look forward to. While those were the premier events, fans are now in the heart of the offseason with even Summer League come and gone.

With the Warriors playing on opening night and on Christman Day, only judge them by the latter as they should be rounding into form and at full strength.

However, the league has released the slate of games for the two most important regular-season dates. Fans can start to look forward to games that feature some of the best in the NBA, and despite their recent struggles, the Warriors will be playing in both of the released slates of games.

Golden State will take on Los Angeles in the second game of the season on the first night of games. The Warriors and Lakers will play after the Nets take on the Bucks, a couple of teams that had a thrilling seven-game series in the 2021 playoffs.

With the Lakers on Tuesday, Golden State will turn around and immediately welcome the Clippers to the Chase Center. However, neither of the games will truly be a great display of the Warriors’ true potential, and the one reason why is because of the absence of Klay Thompson.

Even at 85 percent, Thompson is still better than most shooting guards in the NBA and will be a big-time improvement over Damion Lee. A lesser reason for their struggles, Golden State’s two top rookies will be in their first couple of games.

Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody could easily play key roles later in the season. Combine their limited exposure to the NBA and the absence of Thompson, and Golden State may easily get crushed to start the season.

By Christmas, everything should look much better with both of those negatives erased. Five-time All-Star guard Thompson should be back by the time Golden State takes Phoenix. If he is, fans will get a much better look at what this team will look like when it comes time for the playoffs.

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With only three Warriors’ games having been released, just keep in mind their potential struggles and why they may have a tough start to the season. Christmas should be the best true showing of the three known games.

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