Warriors’ Opening Week Breakdown Ahead of Game 4

If he maintains this level of play through the remainder of the season, Curry will surely enter the MVP conversation and perhaps even lead the franchise to his fifth championship before he calls it a career.

A New Kuminga Emerges

Jonathan Kuminga has emerged from the offseason looking like a completely new player. Despite the contract negotiation drama, he appears to have found his footing early in Kerr’s updated system.

The 23-year-old had an incredible opening week, putting up solid numbers in all three games as a starter. He began the season with a strong 17-point performance against the Lakers and has shot an efficient 55% from the field throughout the week. Maybe that new two-year $48.5 million contract was the solution. The season looks bright for Kuminga.

Weaknesses

Turnovers Still a Problem

Turnovers have been a problem for the Golden State Warriors. Even when they were known as the San Francisco Warriors, the team committed 45 turnovers in a single game in 1971, a record that unbelievably still stands today.

Despite defeating the Lakers on opening night, the Warriors committed a worrying 18 turnovers and allowed Luka Dončić to run wild with an impressive 43 points. Dub Nation thought the worst was behind them after the opening-night struggles. The Warriors appeared to have solved their turnover issue with just eight in an overtime win against the Nuggets. But inconsistencies crept back in as they committed 25 in their first season loss on the road against the Trail Blazers.

If the Dubs are serious about chasing another championship, limiting turnovers must become a top priority. With a difficult schedule ahead, valuing every possession could be the difference between a win and an early exit when the season winds down.

Fatigue Setting In Early

Although Kerr didn’t seem to blame the back-to-back schedule for the defeat in Portland, it clearly impacted the Warriors’ performance.

It was a competitive first quarter for Golden State, but fatigue began to set in during the second as the Blazers seized total control of the game. Defense was a major issue for the Dubs, and giving up 139 points to a young Trail Blazers side was a shock to the franchise. Moses Moody went just 1-6 in 21 minutes, while Brandin Podziemski scored just eight points in 22 minutes, concerning numbers for the Warriors’ so-called “future stars”. Moving forward, the young players and rotation pieces need to step up in back-to-back games if they want to find consistency. Because without Curry, where do the Warriors truly stand?

With a grueling 82-game schedule, it’s concerning that the Warriors already appear fatigued, especially with a second back-to-back looming against the Grizzlies and Clippers this week.

Looking Ahead to Game 4

The Warriors return to Chase Center next to face the Grizzlies, looking to bounce back from their defeat in Portland.

Overall, Golden State should feel encouraged by a strong opening week. Beating two championship contenders and seeing strong performances from Curry and Kuminga sent a clear statement. Maybe ESPN was right about predicting 56 wins in the season. But mistakes from the past must be corrected for the team to grow, and one question still remains: how long can the franchise continue to rely on their legendary point guard when times get tough?