The top five can’t-miss games of the Warriors’ 2016-17 regular season.
While the 2016-17 NBA schedule was announced just minutes ago, the fact of the matter is that the NBA calendar now runs year round. It was less than two months ago that the Warriors fell to the Cavs in the final minute of Game 7 of the Finals, and in the 54 days since then, the league has undergone the Draft, free agency and Summer League. Each of those events is a precursor to the real thing – that being, the regular season, which we now know will begin for the Warriors on October 25th. Based solely off the developments of the offseason, there are countless games to look forward to, but some jump off the page more than others. With that, here are my five can’t-miss games of the Warriors’ 2016-17 regular season (in chronological order):
The Warriors tip off the 2016-17 campaign against a fellow Western Conference contender in the San Antonio Spurs. Opening Night will feature a matchup of seven All-Stars from a year ago, a list that includes the Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, and the Spurs’ LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol and Kawhi Leonard. Outside of All-Star Weekend, it doesn’t get much more star-studded than that. Add in the fact that Durant will be making his Warriors’ regular season debut, plus Golden State’s David West and San Antonio’s David Lee facing off against their former teams, and this is one Opening Night you won’t want to miss.
Speaking of games against former teammates, there will be several reunions to be had when the Warriors host the Mavericks for the first time. On the Warriors’ side, Zaza Pachulia will do battle against Dallas after nearly getting voted in as an All-Star as a member of the Mavericks last season. On the other side of the coin, Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut will return to Oracle Arena for the first time after joining the Mavericks in the offseason. Pleasantries will surely be abound both before and after the game, but when that ball goes up in the air, expect that friendliness to go out the window.
You knew it was coming. Exactly one year after Golden State hosted Cleveland on Christmas Day after defeating them in the Finals the year before, the Cavaliers get to return the favor this time around. The Dubs will travel to Cleveland for an 11:30 a.m. tip (Pacific time), meaning Warriors fans can follow up their gift giving with the premium matchup of the NBA’s Christmas Day slate.
The Warriors return to the site of one of their most dramatic and important postseason wins in franchise history, playing in Oklahoma City for the first time since Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals. That game evened up the series at three games apiece after Golden State had dropped three of the first four, setting up a deciding Game 7, which the Warriors won to clinch their second consecutive Finals appearance. Additionally, Kevin Durant returns as a visitor, for the first time, to the place he called home for eight years.
Who knows if history will be on the line this time, but on both occasions the Warriors encountered the Celtics last season, Boston pushed Golden State to their limits. Their first matchup, in Boston on December 11th, 2015, required two overtimes before the Warriors escaped with a 124-119 victory, their NBA record-setting 24th victory to begin the season. Their second encounter didn’t work out as well for the Dubs, as the Celtics defeated Golden State 109-106 at Oracle, snapping their NBA record 54-game home winning streak. While the Warriors added Kevin Durant, Boston made their own splash by landing Al Horford in free agency, and both teams enter the new season with their sights set on a deep playoff run.
