Rumors of a prolific Warriors team were not greatly exaggerated.
Much fanfare surrounded the upstart Warriors, who further tightened their grip on the Bay Area’s hearts with a playoff run last season that has created a ton of optimism around this season’s edition.
They added veteran swingman Andre Igoudala. David Lee is healthy, unlike during last season’s playoffs. Youngsters and budding superstars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson will continue to develop (and dominate).
But with all the speculation and praise lavished upon the team, they had yet to actually put ball to hardwood. That is, until last week.
So far, so good.
Their season opener was historically good. They set a franchise record for the most lopsided season-opening win, and did it against the hated Los Angeles Lakers. The Warriors’ 125-94 victory eclipsed their previous biggest margin of victory set in 1967 of 28 points. Thompson paced the effort with a 38-point output.
Golden State endured a setback in Los Angeles in a defeat to the Clippers but rebounded in resounding fashion on Saturday, waxing semi-local rival Sacramento 98-87.
The Warriors led the visiting Kings by as many as 27 points and their starters outscored the Kings’ starters 75-22. Sharpshooters Thompson and Curry led the charge, with 27 and 22 points, respectively.
“I don’t think they ‘get it going.’ That’s who they are,” Warriors coach Mark JacksontoldThe San Francisco Chronicle. “I’m very fortunate to be on the sideline, with a front-row seat to watch those two guys shoot the basketball.”
It was also a homecoming of sorts for former Warriors assistant coach Mike Malone, who is now the head coach in Sacramento.
All things considered, it's looking good for Dubs fans.
This one’s for all the…roses?
It’s become somewhat of a recurrent theme in the Pac-12, the winner of Stanford-Oregon battle gets the inside track in the Pac-12 and the prizes that come for winning the conference.
Last year the Cardinal popped Oregon’s national championship aspirations with a hard-fought overtime victory in Eugene. As a result, Stanford went on to win the conference and, as a result, a trip to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl.
Just like last year, No. 6 Stanford enters the heavyweight battle already with a loss under its belt while No. 2 Oregon has rampaged through college football and has a national championship on the mind.
This time around, Stanford plays host to the prolific Ducks on a Thursday-night, prime-time time slot. The winner, more than likely, will go on to chase the Rose Bowl…or even bigger things.
Avert your eyes, lovers of defense.
The Raiders probably aren’t going to want to watch the game film from Sunday’s debacle against Philadelphia. With a chance to go to .500 and riding the momentum from a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, Oakland was shredded to pieces by Nick Foles, a second-year quarterback who wouldn’t have even played had Michael Vick been healthy.
Instead, the former Arizona standout threw for seven (!) touchdowns in a 49-20 blowout win over the Raiders.
“I don’t think Nick Foles ever seen anything on film that would give him any indication that he’d throw for seven touchdowns,” safety Charles WoodsontoldBleacher Report. “Nobody thought today that he’d come in and have this kind of day.”
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