Could Warriors, Lakers finally become rivalry?
In the office of Eric “Sleepy” Floyd’s Charlotte, N. C., home, surrounded by framed pictures from his high school and college years, is a photo from the game that came to define his NBA career.
Helping to stave off elimination by the Lakers in Game 4 of the 1987 Western Conference semifinals, Floyd scored 51 points as he willed the Warriors to a 129121 win. Thirtythree years later, he rarely goes more than a week without hearing about that outburst — not just because of its significance to his career, but because it’s perhaps Golden State’s biggest highlight against its instate neighbor.
The Warriors and Lakers have yet to be considered rivals, and the reason is simple: The two teams haven’t been good at the same time. This past season, when injuries left Golden State to follow up five straight Finals appearances with a leagueworst record of 1550, a lengthy Los Angeles rebuild culminated in the franchise’s first NBA title in 10 years.
With the Lakers set to bring back the vast majority of their roster, the onus is now on the Warriors to vault back into contention and finally awaken this longdormant rivalry. Many throughout the league wonder, however, whether the returns of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson from injury will be enough to place Golden State among the Western
Conference’s top two or three teams.
To ensure the competitive balance required of any potential rivalry with the Lakers, the Warriors must maximize their offseason assets: The Nos. 2, 48 and 51 picks in November’s draft; the $ 17.2 million tradedplayer exception acquired in the Andre Iguodala deal with Memphis; the $ 6 million taxpayer midlevel exception; and minimum contracts.
According to league sources, Golden State’s biggest priorities are upgrading its wing depth, adding another center ( likely through free agency) and bringing in another proven perimeter defender or two. Though some might assume that the Warriors intend to match the Lakers’ size, Golden State doesn’t necessarily see that as a need, instead preferring to stick with the uptempo, smallball style that was a driving force behind its recent dynasty.
The focus for the Warriors as it relates to Los Angeles is finding defenders capable of making life difficult on LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Draymond Green is currently Golden State’s best option against both, but he can’t guard two perennial AllStars at the same time.
Thompson also has had some success defending James, but his offensive responsibilities and smaller stature — James outweighs Thompson by 35 pounds — could make it tough for him to defend the fourtime MVP for the bulk of a playoff game. The problem for the Warriors: There is no obvious solution in the draft or free agency.
Florida State’s Devin Vassell and Auburn’s Isaac Okoro are both defensiveoriented wings who’ve been linked to the Warriors as possibilities in the lottery, but no rookie can be expected to contend with James’ strength, size and basketball IQ. The Heat’s Jae Crowder — a versatile defender who spent time guarding James in the Finals — could be available at the midlevel exception, though his middling offense raises questions about whether he would warrant big minutes.
One intriguing option is Oklahoma City’s Andre Roberson, who, before missing 21⁄ years with a devastating knee injury, was a 2017 secondteam AllDefensive selection. But he is a major offensive liability, and he might not have regained the lateral quickness and balance necessary to keep pace with someone of James’ caliber.
The Warriors haven’t decided whether to use their tradedplayer exception. Even if they do pursue that path, they likely would have to settle for an overpriced elder statesman well past his prime.
Regardless of whether the Warriors can slow down James and Davis in a potential playoff series, they should have enough offense to make the matchup compelling. This would be big news for the league’s lagging TV ratings. Shortly after James signed with the Lakers in summer 2018, the NBA’s schedulemakers began trumpeting Los AngelesGolden State as the next great heavyweight matchup.
Two seasons ago, even though the Lakers were lotterybound, they faced the Warriors in the league’s two marquee showcases: Christmas Day and MLK Jr. Day. And who could fault the NBA? This matchup boasts several of the best players in the world, two major media markets, and the natural disdain between the Bay Area and Southern California.
For decades, the league office bemoaned the fact that the Lakers and Warriors weren’t thriving at the same time. Outside of Floyd’s memorable game, the highlights have been limited to the Warriors’ sweep of the Lakers in the 1967 West semifinals and Los Angeles’ Game 7 win over Golden State in the 1977 West semifinals.
As Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant made the Lakers nearannual contenders in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Warriors toiled toward the bottom of the conference standings. From 2014 to 2019, when Golden State went a combined 32288 and won three NBA titles, Los Angeles failed to get within striking distance of a .500 record.
Such contrasting fortunes figure to change next season. Finally, after more than three decades, Floyd’s days of being the man behind the Warriors’ biggest moment against the Lakers might be numbered.