Golden State Warriors vs LA Lakers Opening Night Preview: It starts NOW!

Warriors (0-0) vs Lakers (1-0)

TV: CSN Bay Area + NBA TV

Radio: KNBR 680

Tip-Off: 7:30pm

Venue: Roaracle Arena

Blog Buddy: Silver Screen and Roll

In 974 out of the past 976 NBA seasons (or something like that) the Lakers have had a better record than both the Warriors and Clippers. Times are changing (we'll ignore the Lakers fluke opening night win against the Clippers). The Lakers dynasty is crumbling and even Superman doesn't want to save it. The golden state now belongs to longtime Pacific Division doormats the Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers.

Now I know it might seem like I'm putting on the Captain Obvious cape, but for anyone who witnessed The Dirty Dozen and the WE BELIEVE 2 WE SUCK this is quite a big deal. When was the last time you could confidently predict in October that the Warriors and Clippers would both finish far ahead of the Lakers?

It all looks good on paper, but now it's time to get things started off right with a win in Oakland tonight.

5 Keys to the Dubs Getting the W

1) Bring the Lakers bench back to down to earth

Somehow the Lakers bench dropped 76 points against the Clippers in LA last night. That simply can not happen again.

2) Keep Pau Gasol off the glass

The days of the big bad Lakers front line are over. Gone are Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. Gasol is alone on the interior. The W will be much easier to get if Andrew Bogut and David Lee can hold Gasol to under 9 rebounds.

3) Give Nick Young a green light to shoot

Last night Young shot 3 for 10. Let's see if the Warriors can help encourage Young to have a 6 for 20 or even 9 for 30 evening.

4) Attack the Lakers starting backcourt

I wouldn't be surprised if Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Andre Iguodala each had 20 point nights against Steve Nash, Steve Blake, and Young. This is about as easy it gets in the NBA.

5) Defend the 3pt line

With Andrew Bogut and Jermaine O'Neal down low the Warriors perimeter players can take some chances and press the 3pt line. They can't let the Lakers shoot 48% from downtown like they did against the Clips.

Start Four: Warriors vs Lakers

In case you missed it, we're doing a Golden State Warriors focused fantasy league on Start Four: Golden State of Mind Fantasy Basketball League on Start Four - SIGN UP for Golden State Warriors fantasy hoops!

Make sure to join the Golden State of Mind fantasy basketball group with your GSOM screen name if you haven't already.

Here's my 4 for tonight's game:

1. Stephen Curry: Worth every one of those 11 points against the Lakers backcourt defenders in my book.
2. Jermaine O'Neal: Boards and blocks off the bench.
3. Toney Douglas: I'm running out of points...
4. Kent Bazemore: and now I have no more points!

Did I just pick Steph and the Warriors bench? Here's hoping for a big explosion from Curry.

Make your picks for tonight's game on the Golden State of Mind Group on Start Four!

Predictions

• Stephen Curry delights with 25 points and 8 assists, but I still don't finish 1st with my Start Four lineup in the Golden State of Mind Group tonight.
• Xavier Henry does not have back-to-back 20 point outings.
• Andre Iguodala gets a warm welcome from the Roaracle crowd which leads to his jersey number reflected on the score board...
• Warriors by 9.