And like that the NBA season is back! We start the 2025-26 season where we left off with the OKC Thunder hosting the Rockets, but our attention is with the later game where Luka Doncic\u2019s Lakers face the Warriors.<\/p>\n
Golden State finished last season on fire, reaching the second-round of the playoffs before a Steph Curry injury changed their fortunes. As for the Lakers, they\u2019re now in the Luka era, but they\u2019ll need to start the 2025-26 season without LeBron James which is a big test for a roster which lacks depth.<\/p>\n
Jimmy Butler\u2019s addition to Golden State prior to last season\u2019s trade period completely transformed the Warriors, finishing the 2024-25 season with a 23-7 record when Butler plays.<\/p>\n
As for the Lakers, they enter the season without LeBron – obviously an important piece to their team, but it also means the likes of Gabe Vincent, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia need to have an impact. Although in LA, I think it will be too much of an ask.<\/p>\n
Averaged 14.9 points per game from his last 34 games of the regular season for Golden State, hitting 10+ points in 25 of those 34 games.<\/p>\n
Part of that end of season form for BPod was 28 points in his last game against the Lakers in April and with the Lakers still having defensive deficiencies in their back-court, the combo guard should get plenty of good looks.<\/p>\n
Was a changed man without LeBron last season. Austin Reaves averaged 27.9 points per game in nine games without LBJ last season, hitting 20+ in seven of the nine games.<\/p>\n
Reaves was the main guy in a handful of these games, but in five of the nine games he played second fiddle to Luka, he still managed to average 25 a game.<\/p>\n