Opening Night for the Golden State Warriors was a comedy of errors. The Los Angeles Clippers came in like streetsweepers, mechanically brooming the Dubs out of the way. The score wasn’t even as close as the 141-122 box score might suggest, and it was filled with boneheaded miscues and widespread confusion for a young team figuring out NBA life on the fly.
Jordan Poole is really trying to get the bench involved… #Shaqtin pic.twitter.com/Kcnwn1bSnU
— Shaqtin' a Fool (@shaqtin) October 25, 2019
At this point, I want to compassionately offer an out for the bandwagon members of Dub Nation who are wrinkling their nose in disgust at what they witnessed last night. I know they have high expectations after joy riding for several Finals trips in a row, the reward for hooking their thirsty allegiances to the Bay’s team after Kobe retired and LeBron kept losing in the Finals.
Last night wasn’t much fun to watch, and there’s going to be a ton more of those “learning experiences” this season as the Dubs assimilate several new faces while Klay Thompson rehabs. That’s why I’m giving you the opportunity to move on, guilt-free, and latch on to another hot up-and-comer while the season is still young.
Thank you for your time, it was great having random people suddenly going crazy for the team that I grew up watching in my hometown.
Now, for the members of Dub Nation who are here for the long haul, let’s go back down memory lane. Way, waaay back in time to 2009. Remember Steph’s first game?
The #7 pick of the 2009 draft was making his debut in the old Roaracle arena versus the Houston Rockets. He finished with 14 points, 7 assists, 4 steals, and missed the only three-pointer he took that night. Can you believe the greatest shooter of all time only attempted one shot from downtown his first game?
Down three points in crunchtime, Curry snagged an offensive rebound. Instead of swinging the ball to a wide open Monta Ellis (then the team’s best player) in the corner for a game tying attempt, Curry shot a layup at the buzzer. Ballgame: Rockets 108, Warriors 107.
An irked Monta threw his arms up in exasperation and the crowd groaned in disbelief.
The enduring image from that night, burned into my brain, is that of a frustrated and embarrassed Curry gnawing on his mouthpiece, pounding the basketball into the hardwood under the basket. As both teams slowly filed off the court, Curry stood alone, his eyes locked in a “damn, I blew that” thousand-yard squint.
That young man would go on to become battle-hardened assassin, a killer who has to be double-teamed as soon as he steps off of the team bus. His growth and maturation over the next ten years rendered that Opening Night gaffe a tiny footnote in the grand epic that is his career.
If the Warriors and their fanbase are patient with the new youngsters, there’s a strong chance that 2019’s Opening Night fiasco will fade away under the shining light of the new breed’s potential.
Montrelz Harrell s’envole. pic.twitter.com/SHIth8wnCb
— Jordanowski (@Jorda_NBA) October 25, 2019
But until then, thank goodness marijuana is legal in California. We’re gonna need it to keep from freaking out every time a defensive miscommunication leaves an opponent flying in for a Space Jam dunk. As Klay implored Dub Nation before tip-off, we all just gotta “stick with it”.
it ain’t a Poole party without a SPLASH pic.twitter.com/xPwc04W98I
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) October 25, 2019
D’Angelo Russell with all 10 of the Warriors points pic.twitter.com/YTIu6pjkmM
— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) October 25, 2019
Eric Paschall looked composed in his rookie debut pic.twitter.com/LaztnYTYgt
— r/Warriors (@GSWReddit) October 25, 2019
Poll
Which new Warriors debut was most wondrous? (damn there’s a lot of names here)
This poll is closed
-
40%
D’Angelo Russell
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7%
Jordan Poole
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41%
Eric Paschall
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2%
Marquese Chriss
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5%
Glenn Robinson III
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2%
Omari Spellman
-
0%
Ky Bowman