With their sheer domination of the Western Conference for five consecutive years, an unlikely superstar scooping up back-to-back league MVP awards and three championships, the Golden State Warriors increasingly became the franchise other NBA teams and fans loved to hate. Their frenetic pace, stirring ball movement and perimeter shooting forced the rest of the league — its teams and their individual players — to sharpen their skills and adjust.
People aren’t always immediately amendable to change. Yet, they did change — they caught up, learning how to beat the Warriors at their game.
Although the Warriors emerged from the Western Conference in 2018-19 with a clean sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers, they struggled in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers, a team then without a superstar. The Warriors even made it back to the NBA Finals for a chance to defend their title in three-peat style, but they came up short against an unrelenting Toronto Raptors team led by Kawhi Leonard, who signed with the Clippers in free agency and will pester the Warriors in four regular-season games.
So, what are the prospects for the Warriors in tonight’s season opener, and beyond? What challenges must they overcome to succeed in 2019-20? How does the team’s schedule help or hurt their chances?
Your guide to the Warriors’ 2019-20 NBA season:
First: Warriors vs. Clippers season opener
Warriors vs. Clippers season opener
When: Thursday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. PT / 10:30 p.m. ET
Where: Chase Center (San Francisco)
How to watch: TNT
Storylines
The Warriors 2019 postseason ended in nightmarish fashion and the NBA’s schedule-makers for the new season have chosen to make them confront their immediate past. The Toronto Raptors, with Kawhi Leonard at the helm, gritted out a six-game NBA Finals victory on the Warriors’ home floor — a Game 6 already missing Kevin Durant (Achilles tear in Game 5) in which Kevon Looney (chest) and Klay Thompson (ACL) also went down.
Leonard signed with the Clippers in free agency and brought Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder to join him. Those surprise free agency moves catapulted the Clippers to top-contender status, even before their first preseason game. But the Clippers don’t necessarily need Leonard and George to get past the Warriors. In the 2019 NBA Playoffs first round, those who assumed a Golden State sweep would unfold were treated instead to a battle in which the starless Clippers won two of six games against the star-studded Warriors.
The Clippers picked up their first win of the 2019-20 regular season on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers, the other team expected to do big things in the West. Patrick Beverley threw the game ball into the stands at the end of the 112-102 win and was handed a $25,000 fine on Wednesday. Already a notorious on-court pest, he should be extra juiced tonight against the Warriors.
Next: Warriors vs. Clippers 2019-20 season series
Warriors vs. Clippers 2019-20 season series
The Warriors outlook against the Clippers depends on whether you hold a glass-half-full view of a life or a glass-half-empty perspective.
Half-full:
The Warriors get four chances for their new-look roster to solve the newly stoked Clippers.
Half-empty:
That’s four meetings with a dominant, frontcourt-heavy team and return dates for the team’s injured centers have not been established yet. (See “Reasons to worry,” page 7.)
Perspective:
After missing the preseason because of a tweaked hamstring in training camp, Kevon Looney is expected to make his season debut in the team’s regular-season opener. Although still short of bigs, the Warriors won’t face the Clippers again until the new year.
Warriors vs. Clippers 2019-20 regular season series
Game 110/24 — Chase CenterTNT
Game 21/10 — Staples CenterESPN
Game 33/10 — Chase CenterTNT
Game 44/11 — Staples CenterABC
Warriors on the road in 2019-20
Ready or not, the Warriors hit the road immediately after their regular-season opener, starting with a back-to-back:
Sunday, Oct 27, at Oklahoma City Thunder
Monday, Oct. 28, at New Orleans Pelicans* (NBA TV)
Following knee surgery, No. 1 overall draft pick Zion Williamson is expected to miss between six and eight weeks. Although the Warriors surely hope the rookie heals well, no one would blame them if they were relieved about not facing him while they’re still figuring out their identity.
Golden State also has a back-to-back in early November, the second and third games of a road trip that takes them from the Minnesota Timberwolves to Oklahoma City before they can return to San Francisco.
Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Houston Rockets
Friday, Nov. 8, at Minnesota
Saturday, Nov. 9, at Oklahoma City
To round out the year, the Warriors play four games on the road between Nov. 17 and Nov. 22 and five between Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, which includes a back-to-back on Dec. 1 (at Orlando Magic) and Dec. 2 (at Atlanta Hawks).
Christmas comes early for the Warriors: They play five games at home between Dec. 20 and Dec. 28 but will ring in the New Year on Dec. 31 in San Antonio against the Spurs.
Next: Warriors vs. Lakers 2019-20 season series
Warriors vs. Lakers 2019-20 season series
If watching the Warriors and Lakers battle in four of five preseason games didn’t sate your fancy for this matchup, these teams meet four times in the regular season.
Game 111/13 — Staples CenterESPNGame 22/8 — Chase CenterABCGame 32/27 — Chase CenterTNT
Game 44/9 — Staples CenterTNT
The Warriors finished the preseason with a 2-3 record. All three losses were dealt by the Lakers.
Next: Warriors-Lakers preseason in review
Warriors-Lakers preseason in review
The Warriors struggled mightily this preseason but came alive for wins against the Timberwolves and, in their preseason finale, the Lakers. In the preseason-concluding victory, LeBron James and Anthony Davis did not play, which allowed the Warriors offense to operate without obstruction on every shot attempt. Whether the Warriors can win with James and Davis on the floor is yet to be seen.
Getting Looney back from his hamstring injury should be a big help to start the season. The season debut of Willie Cauley-Stein — whenever it happens to be — also should give the team a boost. For now, Golden State has demonstrated an inability to get past the Lakers’ frontcourt strength.
Next: Reasons to worry
Reasons to worry
There’s no reason to spin into hysteria or anything, but the questions swirling the Warriors and their new-look roster are legitimate. Sure, prospects for wins and losses are a part of it, but the bigger part is player health.
Here’s a rundown of some of the challenges this team will face:
Stephen Curry’s big minutes
No Klay Thompson, no Kevin Durant and a roster in rebuild, Curry is expected to carry the scoring load, anchor the offense, and that requires big minutes. Although the two-time league MVP says he’s not worried about his minutes, others — fans, talking heads, etc. — are, with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith stating today that he doubts Curry’s ability to make it through the season.
Injuries
The Warriors ended the 2018-19 postseason with a blitz of devastating injuries and picked up where they left off even before the official start of 2019-20 training camp. The following players already have missed time:
Willie Cauley-Stein (foot strain)
Kevon Looney (hamstring)
Alen Smailagic (ankle)
Klay Thompson (ACL)
Alec Burks (ankle)
Omari Spellman (back)
Burks has been ruled out for the Warriors’ Thursday regular-season opener. Looney and Spellman are expected to play.
Timetables have not been provided for Cauley-Stein’s, Thompson’s or Smailagic’s return.
Marquese Chriss (toe infection) is considered probable to play in the Warriors regular-season opener.
Spellman no longer is listed on the injury report.
