After lazing through the majority of the season, all signs point towards the Golden State Warriors being as locked in and focused right now as they have ever been. The version of the team that showed up Tuesday night and buried the Denver Nuggets was exactly the sort of spectacle that everyone foresaw when we added DeMarcus Cousins to an already stacked roster.

This game is the front end of a back-to-back, with the team heading home on Friday to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers — a game that is also our annual GSOM Night. But first up, they’ve got to handle a short-handed Lakers team with a chip on their shoulder.

Game Details

WHO: Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers

WHEN: Thursday, April 4; 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Staples Center — Los Angeles, CA

WATCH: TNT

RADIO: 95.7 The Game

Blog Buddy: Silver Screen and Roll

The LoLakers

It’s been a rough season in Tinseltown. After grabbing one of the greatest players of all time in free agency, the Lakers struck out again and again... and then again. No, Paul George would not be coming to join forces with LeBron. In fact, the free agent pool for the Lakers was so dry that the team dusted off guys like Rajon Rondo and Lance Stevenson. This is despite LeBron James’ assurance that it would be easier to recruit top tier free agents in LA as compared to Cleveland.

Well... it wasn’t easier. In fact, the closest they came was a mid-season swing and a miss of Superstar Anthony Davis that did more harm than good. Ostracized and feeling the effects of his age, James is now sitting on the sidelines as his team sputters their way towards missing the playoffs.

This team is now in full tank mode, shutting players down left and right. Here’s Silver Screen and Roll, discussing the recent news that Kyle Kuzma is likely done for the year:

Kuzma has missed the Lakers’ last two games with left foot peroneal tendinitis, and according to head coach Luke Walton, he may soon join LeBron James, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and Lonzo Ball among the list of players the team has shut down for the year.

Dubs rising

On the opposite end of the spectrum of excellence, we’ve got the Golden State Warriors. Though it’s been far from smooth, the team seems perfectly poised to do something no team has done in the NBA since the 1960’s — make it to a million straight Finals.

DeMarcus Cousins has steadily improved and is now looking like he will deserve whatever large contract he’s going to get in the offseason. Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson have already looked like that all year. And now, the greatest shooter of all time, Stephen Curry, just fixed his vision by wearing contacts.

Some rest for the veterans

As predicted, the Warriors will be taking the opportunity to get key personnel some rest as the regular season winds to a close. Note that Bogut resting tonight likely means DeMarcus Cousins will be held out of Fridays contest.

Prediction

This should be a relatively easy win against whatever’s left of the Lakers. Expect Kerr to go deep into his rotations.