This is not a list of the best games of the week -- although some of them are -- or a schedule full of weird games only League Pass nerds would ever watch, even though a few of them are represented here as well. This is merely a list of the games we plan to focus on this week.
This week will teach us a lot about the Warriors
With so many games, the savvy NBA consumer needs to plot out their week in advance. This week, we’ll be paying attention to the Warriors’ difficult schedule and six other intriguing matchups
Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
(All games are local and League Pass broadcasts, unless noted).
TEAM WE’RE WATCHING THIS WEEK: Golden State
The Warriors showed some early-season mettle by beating the Blazers in Portland on the second night of a back-to-back, but this is where we start to gain an understanding of how good they might be under Steve Kerr. They have a home game against the Clippers on Wednesday and back-to-back road tilts at Houston and Phoenix over the weekend.
MONDAY: New Orleans at Memphis (8 p.m. ET)
It's mystifying why Anthony Davis is not on a national broadcast at least once a month. It's as if the NBA wants to keep him a cult figure to create some kind of organic buzz for a player who has to be seen to be believed. After his brilliant summer run with Team USA, Davis has not disappointed with 57 points, 32 rebounds and 12 blocks in his first two games playing next to Omer Asik. He and Asik will have a big test with the Grizzlies' massive front line in what will be a fascinating contrast of styles and experience between two regional rivals. But yes, let's watch the Lakers lose by 20 some more.
TUESDAY: Houston at Miami (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
It's funny how we view players. Before he joined the Heat, Chris Bosh routinely averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds with the Raptors. Those were great, All-Star-caliber numbers, and he carried the Raps to back-to-back postseason appearances. Yet people thought they were soft stats. Then, Bosh went to Miami and solidified Miami's small lineups with his defense and outside shooting, yet people wanted to know why his numbers were down.
Good for Bosh that he doesn't care about perceptions. It's no wonder the Rockets made an all-out push to sign him this summer.
WEDNESDAY: Clippers at Golden State (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Klay Thompson signed a max contract extension just before last week's deadline, making official what we've already known for some time. The Warriors see him a crucial piece of their core, so much so that they backed away from trade talks for Kevin Love. Thompson's first week of work under new coach Steve Kerr was revealing: fewer ISOs, more shots in rhythm. We can debate who's better between him and Love, but maybe Thompson is better for Golden State.
This matchup needs no hype. With Oklahoma City scrambling, these two teams represent the biggest threat to knock off the Spurs in the West. Something tells me they'll have to get by each other before getting a crack at San Antonio.
THURSDAY: Dallas at Portland (10:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
With Tyson Chandler back to patrol the paint and Chandler Parsons on the wing, maybe Dallas will be this year's Portland. The similarities between the two teams are obvious: Great offenses featuring big forwards that can make shots from anywhere on the court, each surrounded by shooters and ably led by two top strategists who once worked together. Of course, if the Mavs are able to rise, then someone has to fall, and many preseason prognostications had the Blazers taking a stumble. This is a good early-season test for both teams.
FRIDAY: Washington at Toronto (7:30 p.m. ET)
It's been a decent start for last year's Eastern Conference surprises. The Raps' offense is clicking and the Wizards are getting nice contributions from players like Garrett Temple and Otto Porter in Bradley Beal's absence. It's imperative that both teams get off and running this season. Neither has much experience with success and both have a habit of starting slowly in recent years. The East is wide open, so open that anyone can convince themselves they're in the running for a top seed. These are two teams that actually have legitimate aspirations.
SATURDAY: Boston at Chicago (8 p.m. ET)
Now that the euphoria from the C's sharp debut win over the Nets has subsided, they are left with the reality of a brutal November schedule that includes 11 games against playoff teams and one against the Cavaliers. The Celtics were a pleasant surprise in last season's first month, but that was done against a mostly soft schedule. Second-year coach Brad Stevens has said this year's team is more advanced, but that may not show up in the win-loss column.
SUNDAY: Utah at Detroit (6 p.m. ET)
The Pistons and Jazz will both be able to provide an answer to an eternal NBA question: Just how much is good coaching worth? While Stan Van Gundy made a few changes here and there, Detroit's roster is still an unwieldy collection of talented players who may not fit well under any circumstances. The Jazz, meanwhile, are relying on even more young players than they did last year, but many league observers believe Quin Snyder will be a massive upgrade over Ty Corbin. For now, we'll call both teams intriguing.
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