3 questions for Golden State Warriors entering opening night of the 2021-22 NBA season

The Golden State Warriors made a splash in the 2021-22 NBA preseason, and are looking like one of the best teams in the West. They face the LA Lakers on opening night in what should be an incredibly entertaining game, with LeBron James and Stephen Curry locking horns.

The Warriors are entering the 2021-22 NBA season as one of the top four contenders to win the championship. Many analysts scoffed at the odds, but the Warriors went unbeaten in the preseason (5-0) to demonstrate their title credentials.

However, it is quite evident that a lot of factors need to go in their favor for the Warriors to win the title ahead of other star-studded superteams like the Brooklyn Nets and the LA Lakers.

For starters, one cannot assume that Klay Thompson would be back to his All-Star self. It is also not known if the young players like James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody can contribute at a high level.

The Golden State Warriors begin their championship quest with a game at the Staples Center on opening night against the LA Lakers. On that note, here' a look a three major questions for the team ahead of the marquee matchup.

---

#1 Can Jordan Poole replicate his preseason performances for the Golden State Warriors?

Jordan Poole of the Golden State Warriors against Portland

Jordan Poole is a lock for the starting shooting guard spot until Klay Thompson is back. Poole won the hearts of Bay Area fans last season, and is now a legitimate scoring threat in the backcourt.

He averaged 21.8 points per game in the preseason, the fifth highest in the league; and was atop that list after three games. He dropped 30 points in the Warriors' preseason opener against the Portland Trail Blazers. Poole then registered 28 points against the LA Lakers two games later.

The Golden State Warriors are going to need a lot of big games from Jordan Poole this season, especially against the LA Lakers on opening night. That's because he is expected to be their trump card. If he can bring that same level of intensity and efficiency on opening night, it would take a lot of pressure off Stephen Curry.

---

Also Check Out: Complete NBA TV Schedule for 2021-22 Season

#2 How will the Golden State Warriors contain the LA Lakers' Big 3?

LeBron James of the LA Lakers drives past Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.

The Golden State Warriors now have to stop the LA Lakers' new formidable Big 3 - LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.

The key to stopping Westbrook has always been the same for most teams. as he isn't a threat from the perimeter. The defenders sag off him and clog the paint to take away his driving lane, forcing him to become a playmaker and not a scorer. Russell Westbrook totaled 23 turnovers in five preseason games for the LA Lakers, six more than the next player on the list (Ja Morant - 17).

Meanwhile, Anthony Davis would need to be forced out to the perimeter to guard Curry. That's because the latter always wins that battle, so it would neutralise Davis at the defensive end. At the offensive end, Draymond Green, Nemanja Bjelica and Andre Iguodala will need to constantly guard Davis, taking turns, as he needs to see bodies every time he is on the floor.

And lastly, LeBron James poses a serious threat to the Golden State Warriors. He needs to be given the same attention as Davis, so the Warriors will need to constantly switch to the other end of the floor as James will hunt Curry in defense.

Russell Westbrook isn't a screener, which bodes well for Curry, but James' playmaking skill is the real threat, as he finds cutters and shooters with ease. The Golden State Warriors will need to stick to their assignments and switches to avoid any mismatches.

---

#3 Can Draymond Green provide a scoring punch?

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors

As great a playmaker and defender Draymond Green is, his scoring has gone downhill lately. His unwillingness to take shots was a major issue with the Golden State Warriors last season. He missed a open layup that would have been the game-winner in the 2021 NBA play-in tournament against the Memphis Grizzlies, and the fanbase erupted at his lack of scoring ability.

Scoring is certainly not everything that makes a great basketball player. Draymond Green's intangibles and 'swiss-army-knife'-like performances have been excellent for the Warriors over the years. However, when it is evident that Curry needs help offensively, Green cannot be relied on. He used to be a decent scorer back in his early days, but is now largely a playmaking, rebounding and defending player.

The Golden State Warriors identified Green's need to score more after the play-in loss. GM Bob Myers and coach Steve Kerr acknowledged that Draymond Green needs to be better at scoring.

Green himself acknowledged that he needs to go back to being a better scorer, and on opening night, he will need to showcase that attribute. The Golden State Warriors are still without Klay Thompson, so Curry, Poole and the rest of the crew will need all the help they can possibly get.

Recommended Video

Guess the Lakers players!