The Warriors touted the short travel as a benefit to playing the Kings in the first round.
But now, after needing all seven games to finally knock off Sacramento, the schedule may be one of the most important factors going into the second round series against the Lakers.
After playing the final three games of the first round series with only one day of rest between days, the Warriors will continue on the every-other-day pace for the entire second round.
The schedule wasn’t enough to slow down Steph Curry, who scored an NBA Game 7 record 50 points to help the Warriors beat the Kings 120-100 on Sunday afternoon. But could it be a factor right away in the next round?
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Game 1 could provide the moment that truly tests the Warriors. The Lakers took care of their first round series on Friday night, meaning they got to sit at home, rest and recuperate while the Warriors and Kings battled out on Sunday afternoon in Game 7.
While the Lakers have completely changed their supporting cast during the season, 38-year-old LeBron James surely is appreciating the extra rest ahead of a fifth postseason series against Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and the Warriors.
The Lakers are only getting that rest because of the missed opportunity for Golden State to clinch their series against Sacramento in Game 6. Had the Warriors won on Friday, they would have played Game 1 on Sunday and Game 2 on Tuesday, then received three full days off before the series picked up again on Saturday in LA.
Will the accelerated schedule be a factor in Game 1? Or could it continue to be a factor throughout the series? Only time will tell.
WARRIORS-LAKERS SCHEDULE
Game 1: Tuesday, May 2 in San Francisco — 7 p.m. on TNT
Game 2: Thursday, May 4 in San Francisco — 6 p.m. on ESPN
Game 3: Saturday, May 6 in Los Angeles — 5:30 p.m. on ABC
Game 4: Monday, May 8 in Los Angeles — 7 p.m. on TNT
Game 5*: Wednesday, May 10 in San Francisco — Time TBD on TNT
Game 6*: Friday, May 12 in Los Angeles — Time TBD on ESPN
Game 7*: Sunday, May 14 in San Francisco — Time and Channel TBD
(Games marked * are if necessary)