Things are kicking into full gear ahead of the Warriors’ season debut against the Lakers tonight at the Staples Center down in LA. Warriors reporter Nick Friedell went on ESPN’s NBA Today show with Malika Andrews and relayed a quote from Draymond Green earlier this morning, straight out of the team’s practice at the Staples Center, about the team’s season-long expectations:

“We have the pieces in place, but it’s gonna take a long time to make those pieces work this season… We’re a long way off, and this team has to grow together” Green said at practice, per Friedell.

Green is obviously one of the veterans on the roster this season, entering his 10th season as a Warrior, and is the locker room’s most vocal leader. His game IQ is undoubtedly one of the highest around the league, as he’s shown through his analysis via guest appearances on the NBA on TNT, so when he says something, it’s certainly worth listening to. Green laying out the expectations for the squad is something people need to hear, even if they may not want to reckon with the fact that there probably won’t be another 24-0 start like there was in the 15-16 season.

The Warriors, looking revitalized with new free agency signings, revelations of younger players like Jordan Poole, and the potential comeback story of the year in Klay Thompson, gelled together like pieces in a puzzle during the preseason to the tune of a perfect record. That being said, the preseason isn’t always the greatest gauge, as the two teams in the NBA Finals last year (the Suns and Bucks) didn’t win a single preseason game. Setting the bar lower and tempering the sky-high expectations many have for Golden State is a veteran move from Green, who understands that there is still plenty of caution surrounding the team to kick things off.

It’s obvious from watching them play that the new-look Dubs are having fun out there. They’re back to a style of basketball that’s won them three championships, an ultra-spacing offense predicated on lights-out shooting and defensive grit until the final buzzer. The question remains, however, just how quickly they can pick up the old habits they need while ditching the ones they don’t.

(Photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)