In the blink of an eye, the 2021 NBA season is already upon us. As we celebrate the league’s 75th season of existence, it wouldn’t be a true opening night if the Golden State Warriors weren’t on the slate. Fans will be treated to a Western Conference matchup Tuesday night between the Warriors and Lakers, arguably two of the leading contenders in the conference.

Golden State and Los Angeles met twice in the preseason, with the Warriors securing the win in both outings. But the regular season is a different story, and Golden State must have a sound strategy to implement in order to pick up a statement win on opening night.

Ahead of Tuesday’s game, these three factors will be key for Golden State to leave Staples Center with their first win of the season.

Keep the Lakers honest on the perimeter

The Lakers had by far the “splashiest” offseason by signing marquee names like Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony, but such moves also come with question marks. Aside from the obvious “old age” jokes, a key weakness for this Los Angeles roster is their shooting. By moving Anthony Davis to the five and re-signing Dwight Howard, it’s clear the Lakers’ formula for success is taking advantage of their size.

Golden State might not hold the advantage in the paint, but they can look to keep the Lakers honest on the perimeter, forcing them to make their money outside as opposed to getting easy looks closer to the basket. Second chance opportunities will be crucial as the Warriors can’t afford Davis or Howard to get easy putback baskets. It’s known that Davis prefers to play outside the paint, so if Golden State can force him farther from the basket, that in of itself can work to the Warriors’ benefit.

Get Wiggins comfortable early on

It’s a given that Golden State must let Stephen Curry cook, and Jordan Poole’s scoring will be vital especially as Curry rests on the bench. But the last time the Lakers and Warriors met outside the preseason, it came by way of the play-in game last season, and Andrew Wiggins made an impact on both ends of the floor.

After going 5-of-10 from the floor and 2-for-5 from deep in the preseason opener, Wiggins has shot just 8-for-28 from the field since.

It’s known that Wiggins is still getting back into conditioning, and perhaps resuming his chemistry with his teammates is part of the process, but Golden State can’t afford the same struggles come Tuesday night. Even with Poole ready to take on more of the scoring load, Wiggins must still display the two-way impact we saw last season, as he is a critical part of Golden State’s aspirations to return as a contender.

Force turnovers, and take advantage accordingly

LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, and more make for a noteworthy lineup on names alone. But the truth of the matter is that this roster is still getting accustomed to one another, and as they work to build chemistry, it leaves an ample opportunity for the Warriors to take advantage.

Golden State won the turnover battle in both of their preseason games against the Lakers (27 forced turnovers in the first game, 20 in the second). It’s not a surprise given this Lakers lineup is getting used to one another, and when you force Russell Westbrook to make split decisions, your defense can reap the benefits more often than not.

If the Warriors can continue the Lakers’ turnover habit, then it gives Golden State valuable scoring opportunities in transition. With the Warriors’ capability to shoot from deep, that is a winning recipe.

(Photo credit: Harry How / Getty Images)