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NBA: 5 big takeaways from the 2020-21 opening week

By Joe Filsinger

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 22: LeBron James #23 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers pose with their rings during the 2020 NBA championship ring ceremony before their opening night game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on December 22, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 22: LeBron James #23 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers pose with their rings during the 2020 NBA championship ring ceremony before their opening night game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on December 22, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

3. The Golden State Warriors are Heading Back to the Lottery

The Golden State Warriors were a miraculous game-winner away from starting their season with three straight losses, and it’s hard to envision things getting much better anytime soon.

There are, of course, a lot of things to take into consideration regarding the Warriors’ rocky start.    Training camp was shortened. They’ve played two Eastern Conference contenders, the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. Draymond Green has yet to play a game. Kelly Oubre Jr. is likely to improve from his 7-40 from the field and 0-17 from 3 start.

Steph Curry, though, appears to have shaken off the rust in a vintage performance against the Chicago Bulls Sunday night. He notched 36 points and six assists on the way to a last-second victory.

Surprisingly, it was Damion Lee, not Curry, that hit the game-winning 3. However, it is clear in the video that an uncalled five-second inbound violation saved the Warriors from another loss.

If the Warriors want to be back in the playoffs, a lot of things have to get better, and quickly. In a shortened 72-game season, there isn’t nearly as much time to right the ship — especially in the Western Conference. Steph Curry is going to have to consistently perform as he did on Sunday. Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre have to fill the void left by Klay Thompson on both ends of the floor. Draymond Green needs to be back and producing, not in and out of the lineup like he was all last year. Rookie James Wiseman has been solid so far, but they will still need another role player or two to take a leap.

Even if everything were to go right, where does this place a Warriors team missing its second-best player in the warzone that is the Western Conference? The Clippers lost by 51 on Sunday, yet the Warriors still maintain a league-worst point differential of -21, along with allowing the most opposing points-per-game — giving up an average of 130 so far.

Monday, the Warriors received more bad news — backup center Marquese Chriss will miss the rest of the season with a broken leg. While this isn’t a huge loss considering the Warriors’ solid big rotation, it certainly doesn’t help to lose another proven player on a roster that lacks experience.

The Warriors, to this point, just don’t appear to have the depth or personnel to be a playoff team in the West. They might make the play-in games and I wouldn’t bet against them in a situation like that, but this season may end up more similar to last year than initially expected.

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