Programming note: Raptors-Warriors coverage starts Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and streaming live right here
OAKLAND – The Warriors are coming up on what amounts to mid-term exams, and there are few indicators as to how they will do.
As owners of the best record in the NBA, they proved little in winning their last two games, taking apart the Timberwolves and 76ers – teams that share the distinction of being the worst in their respective conferences.
As such, those games didn't exactly prepare the Warriors for what's ahead. The first test comes with the Raptors, who own the best record in the Eastern Conference, visiting Oracle Arena on Friday.
At stake is more than pride, more than the Warriors undefeated record (9-0) against Eastern Conference teams. This is about which team reigns supreme two months into the NBA season.
"This is one of those games where it's definitely going to be a playoff-type atmosphere," forward Draymond Green said Thursday. "It's the best in both conferences right now. It doesn't matter what conference you're from. It's going to be a playoff-type atmosphere."
That's exactly what rookie coach Steve Kerr wants. Though the Warriors (25-5) bounced back from losses to the Lakers and Clippers in Los Angeles last week, how accurate can he measure that bounce based on beating Minnesota and Philadelphia?
"Coming off those two losses in L.A., we needed to get a couple wins," Kerr said. "We needed to find our rhythm a little bit. I thought we did.
"To me, our best moments this year have come when we were threatened and tested. That's when our team really seems to thrive. And I'm sure we're going to have that type of feeling tomorrow because we all know how good Toronto is."
The Raptors (24-8) have split the first four games of their six-game road trip, losing at Chicago last week and at Portland, in overtime, Tuesday night. Three of their losses have come against Western Conference teams (Lakers, Mavericks, Trail Blazers).
This, then, is every bit as much a test for Toronto as it is for the Warriors.
"They are pretty good; we know that," Green said. "We know it's going to be challenge, a tough challenge.
"But we're 25-5 for a reason."
The Warriors and the Raptors have come a long way and done it relatively quickly. The Warriors endured four consecutive losing seasons before returning to the playoffs two years ago. The Raptors experienced five consecutive losing seasons before turning it around with a 48-34 record last season.
"Two teams that really started from the bottom," Green said, a nod to hip-hop star Drake, a Toronto native and noted Raptors fan. "We're at the top now.
"It's a big game. You always try to look at it and say every game is the same. You want to say that, but it's just not true. This is a big game. We have to know that coming in."
