Daunting schedule will show whether Warriors are true NBA contender or not – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

SAN FRANCISCO — Coach Steve Kerr used the word “scary” Tuesday when describing the Warriors’ upcoming schedule, a clearer admission of what his team is up against in contrast to how he referred to their stretch of games beginning Wednesday evening. against the no. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, following Golden State’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets the night before.

“The schedule is the schedule,” Kerr said Monday after the Warriors’ 128-120 loss. “I’m not looking ahead. There are all kinds of tough games. A couple of weeks ago we had OKC, Boston and Cleveland staring at us. It is what it is.

“You just play. We have to play better. Nothing else matters.”

All true statements. Kerr, his coaching staff and players can only go one game at a time.

The past, which in the Warriors’ case is two consecutive games of blowing nearly 20-point leads in the third quarter only to lose to shorthanded rebuilding teams, is the past. The future will be written soon enough. And they’ve already faced a daunting set of games this season during a five-game road trip that ended against the Celtics, Thunder and Cavaliers.

The Warriors went 2-1 in their toughest early season test. Until then, they had beaten the competition at the bottom level. Those wins on the road against the Celtics and Thunder are what opened the eyes of the entire league.

Only now are the Warriors staring at a slate that is a month of games that could reveal whether the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts. Golden State opens the gates to a cape. By the end of the calendar year, it should be pretty clear how much of a contender these Warriors can be — if they’re fine as they are, or if a shake-up is expected.

“What’s disappointing is the last two games were very winnable,” Kerr said Tuesday after the Warriors’ practice. “Great leaders, on the road in San Antonio and at home last night. Those are games we should close out and obviously we face a daunting schedule ahead.

“So it’s disappointing, but it’s 82 games and we’re going to face all kinds of things — whether it’s a tough schedule, injuries like we have now, people out. It doesn’t matter. Nobody cares .”

The thunder is only the beginning. Then it’s on to games in Phoenix and Denver. The Suns are 9-1 with Kevin Durant this season, and while the Nuggets have been good but not great, Nikola Jokic has largely been great by averaging a triple-double of 29.7 points, 13.4 rebounds and 10.9 assists per game.

Coming home won’t be an easy welcome back when the Warriors have a three-game homestand against the Houston Rockets, winners of eight of their last 10 games and then two straight against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

A short set of home games is followed by a flight to Memphis to theoretically play Ja Morant for the first time since Jan. 25, 2023, then a game in Minnesota for the Warriors’ third date with the Timberwolves in two weeks. They have their first of two games against the Indiana Pacers this season, then a Christmas game at the Chase Center against the Los Angeles Lakers, the fifth time the Warriors have played LeBron James on Christmas.

The year ends with another visit to the Intuit Dome and home games featuring the Suns and Cavs.

That ends 23 games in which the Warriors’ opponents have a current combined record of 136-91, a 59.1 winning percentage. The only Western Conference team with a record under .500 in those games is the Timberwolves at 8-9. The only Eastern Conference team they will face is the 8-10 Pacers, a team that can turn it around quickly.

There is also something missing in that math. That does not include the NBA Cup.

In the midst of taking out their shields and fending off a number of the best teams in the West, the Warriors will be competing in the NBA Cup after already qualifying for at least the quarterfinals.

“It’s our ability, and every team’s ability, to win games in the middle of tough stretches,” Kerr said. “To play through the bad stretches, not to get too down. You trust that during the 82, if you have a good team and you’re committed and you play with energy, your record will end right well.”

One game at a time. That’s the only way the Warriors can get back on track and stay healthy by not taking a long look at the schedule. What lies ahead of them could tell the story of what the season will ultimately be, good or bad.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast