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The NBA officially released its 2020-21 schedule and we now know when we will get to see Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors back on the court. The Dubs will open up their season with a four-game road trip before returning to the Bay Area for a seven-game homestand.
The Western Conference is absolutely loaded this season. There will be 12 teams battling for the eight playoff spots (10, including the play-in tournament), so getting off to a hot start is paramount for a Golden State squad that hasn’t played a regular season game since March.
Here is a breakdown of their first 37 games by month and my predictions on how the Dubs will do:
December (four games): @ Nets, @ Bucks, @ Bulls, @ Pistons
The Warriors’ first two games are as tough as they can get, but Kevin Durant will be knocking off the rust in their opener.
The lone loss comes against the Bucks on Christmas Day.
Prediction: 3-1
January (17 games): back-to-back games vs. Trail Blazers, vs. Kings, a pair of games against vs. Clippers, vs. Raptors, vs. Pacers, @ Nuggets, @ Suns, @ Lakers, vs. Spurs, vs. Knicks, @ Jazz, two games vs. Timberwolves, @ Suns, vs. Pistons
Playing 17 games in 31 days isn’t ideal, but every team in the league will be playing a condensed schedule. The good news is that 12 of them will be at the Chase Center.
The six losses: vs.Portland, vs. Clippers, @ Nuggets, @ Lakers, @ Suns, @ Jazz
Record after January: 15-6
February (15 games): vs. Celtics, two games @ Mavericks, two games @ Spurs, vs. Magic, vs. Nets, vs. Cavs, vs. Heat, @ Magic, @ Hornets, @ Knicks, @ Pacers, vs. Hornets, @ Lakers
Eight-of-the-14-games will be on the road, but the Eastern Conference swing involves some easy opponents.
The five losses: vs. Celtics, @ Mavericks, vs. Nets, vs. Heat, @ Pacers (on a back-to-back)
Record after February: 25-11
March (one game): vs. Trail Blazers
Record after March: 26-11
What do you think Golden State’s record will be going into the second half of the season.
On to some links:
If the Houston Rockets begin a fire sale, should the Warriors target P.J. Tucker? NBC Bay Area’s Brian Witt says Tucker would be the ideal fit for the DPE.
There will be a ton of pressure on Andrew Wiggins to step up without Klay Thompson this season. Fansided’s Tony Pesta says the former No. 1 overall pick has to earn his keep.
Speaking of Wiggins, will he or Kelly Oubre Jr. take advantage of playing alongside Curry? The Athletic’s Ethan Strauss breaks down why he thinks Oubre will shine next to Steph.