Golden State Warriors: Top 3 games to watch in 2018-19

1. Dec. 25, 2018 vs. Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN)

Christmas Day showdowns are usually reserved for rematches of the NBA Finals, but this season will be different. The defending champion Golden State Warriors are going to be facing off against a new opponent this Christmas, but also a familiar one.

This is largely due to the fact that LeBron James has now left the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Los Angeles Lakers. As a result, the Lakers will play against the Warriors on Christmas Day as the Cavs watch from home.

Watching how James tackles the Dubs with a new supporting cast around him will be intriguing. The King has put up historic numbers in the last four NBA Finals in which he faced the Warriors. Last season, Bron averaged 34.0 points, 10.0 assists and 8.5 rebounds a game as his team was swept.

Obviously, James will want to set the tone in his first matchup with Golden State this season. In contrast, the Warriors are going to bombard the Lakers with everything they have got. Both of these teams will be battling for a highly tense 48 minutes.

This will be the first matchup between these two powerhouse teams. The Lakers are going to attempt to solidify themselves as legitimate title contenders. This is one game that every NBA fan should make sure not to miss.