Golden State Warriors (0-0) at Los Angeles Lakers (1-0)
Tipoff: Wed 10/30/2013, 7:30PM PDT
Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
TV: NBA TV, CSNBA | Radio: KNBR
Livetweet: @LetsGoWarriors (by @goldenstatenz)
As the Golden State Warriors‘ season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers draws nearer, excitement is picking up. For the first time in a long time, the Warriors come into a season predicted to finish ahead of the division foes, who lost Dwight Howard in the off-season, and will be without Kobe Bryant for a significant part of the season.
Stephen Curry looks like a budding superstar, and Andrew Bogut is as healthy as he’s been in years, and the extensions they’ve signed with the team figure to keep the lineup intact for seasons to come. Lee, also coming off an injury for the second consecutive season, still looks like the reliable 20-10 guy he’s always been.
The Warriors, to their credit, added an All-Star in Andre Iguodala, and now feature one of the most well-rounded starting units in the league. It came at the cost of an experienced and trustworthy bench unit, which could hav featured Jarrett Jack, Carl Landry and Brandon Rush (coming off an injury).
Instead of standing pat after their best season in nearly two decades, the Warriors pursued both Howard and Iguodala, looking to make the big splash that could catapult them into contention. But it’s left them more prone to injuries than ever before. They lack a quality backup big or point guard, which could prove to be a big concern if Bogut or Curry miss significant time.
Injuries have already hit Harrison Barnes, who is dealing with “foot inflammation,” and has missed the past three weeks and will be unavailable in the team’s first two games. His absence opened the door for Klay Thompson, who once looked like he might end up the Warriors’ sixth man.
Tonight’s opener seems like the perfect way for Thompson, the Warriors breakout star in the preseason to get off on the right foot. The Lakers will likely start two point guards, as they did last night, and few of their perimeter players are equipped to defend the Warriors’ third-year guard.
For that matter, it looks like it could be a good night for the Warriors’ entire starting lineup. Only Pau Gasol, expected to start at center, has ever been praised for his defensive prowess, but age and injuries have hurt his game on both ends. Steve Nash, Nick Young, and Shawne Williams aren’t exactly stalwart defenders, either, and Steve Blake is just too small to be regularly defending shooting guards.
But it’s important not to get caught up in the lack of defense in the starting unit, especially after the Lakers bench demolished the Los Angeles Clippers starters last night.
Jordan Farmar and Xavier Henry began the season with a bang, and usurped the starters’ minutes down the stretch. The Lakers’ bench played the final 15 minutes, extending the lead against Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Despite it being a back-to-back, most of their roster should be fresh, because no player was on the court longer than 27 minutes.
The Lakers have the ability to light it up on offense, even without Bryant. The roster is already fitting Mike D’Antoni‘s offensive system better than it did at any point last year, and his trust in his bench helped give the Lakers the Pacific division lead after one game.
That’s something the Warriors don’t have yet. Their bench was unproductive, often looking lost during the preseason, and without Barnes, it could continue into tonight’s game. The Warriors starters will likely have to carry the load if they’re to start the season on a positive note. They’re arguably more talented at every position until Bryant returns, so losing this game would definitely be a disappointment.
The Warriors need to find a fit, both with the bench and the starting lineup if they want to move into the upper echelon of NBA teams. They’ve got a whole lot of time to figure it out, but a good start would certainly help their cause.
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