1. The Warriors’ early collapse
With several key roster subtractions, the Golden State Warriors were destined to step down from their perch atop the NBA mountaintop. Through two games, however, the former world beaters look unrecognizable even in their altered state.
On the night they christened the Chase Center, the Warriors couldn’t recapture the Oracle Arena magic, falling 141-122 to the LA Clippers. The defeat was an eyesore for a team that still had three All-Stars, but against the presumed title favorites, Golden State was given a slight pass to start the season.
A 120-92 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder was not the response the Dubs were looking for, only furthering the general concern for a team coming face-to-face with the dissipating invincibility they’ve grown accustomed to over the title-contending years.
Draymond tells it like it is after the Warriors' second straight blowout loss. pic.twitter.com/NHi98EVlOY
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 27, 2019
A potential championship run seems out of the question right now, but all hope is not lost for these Warriors. They didn’t just lose starters Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson but also key bench veterans Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala, two staples during their run to five straight Finals.
The early stages of this season are an adjustment period. An extreme one? Perhaps, but Stephen Curry and Draymond Green have come back from far steeper climbs than the one currently in front of them.
They’ll get themselves right, integrate new faces like D’Angelo Russell and Willie Cauley-Stein and have the Warriors in the thick of the Western Conference playoff picture. Given everything they’ve been through over the last five years, the three-time champs have earned that benefit of the doubt.