SAN FRANCISCO – Coach Steve Kerr used the word “daunting” Tuesday in describing the Warriors’ upcoming schedule, a clearer acknowledgment of what his team will be playing against, as opposed to how he referred to their slate of games, which begin Wednesday night. against the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder, following Golden State’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets the night before.

“The schedule is the schedule,” Kerr said Monday after the Warriors’ 128-120 loss. “I don’t look ahead. There are all kinds of difficult games. A few weeks ago, OKC, Boston and Cleveland were watching us. It is what it is.

“You just play. We have to play better. Nothing else matters.”

All true statements. Kerr, his coaching staff and players can only play one match at a time.

The past, which in the Warriors’ case consists of two straight games where they lost a nearly 20-point lead in the third quarter only to lose to tight rebuilding teams, is the past. The future will be written soon enough. And they’ve already faced an intimidating stretch of games this season on a five-game road trip that ended against the Celtics, Thunder and Cavaliers.

The Warriors went 2-1 in their toughest test at the start of the season. Up to that point they had beaten the competition at the lowest level. Those road wins against the Celtics and Thunder opened eyes around the league.

Only now are the Warriors staring at a month-long slate of games that could reveal whether the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts. Golden State opens the gates for a gauntlet. By the end of the calendar year, it should be pretty clear how many contenders these Warriors could be – whether they’re doing well, or whether an upset is in the offing.

“What’s disappointing is that the last two games have been very winnable,” Kerr said after the Warriors practice on Tuesday. “Great leads, on the road in San Antonio and at home last night. Those are games that we have to close, and obviously we face a difficult schedule.

“So it’s disappointing, but it’s 82 games and we’re going to have to deal with all kinds of things – whether it’s a tough schedule, injuries like we have now, or people dropping out. Doesn’t matter. No one cares.”

The Thunder are just the beginning. Then it’s on the road for games in Phoenix and Denver. The Suns are 9-1 against Kevin Durant this season, and while the Nuggets have been good but not great, Nikola Jokic has been great, averaging a triple-double of 29.7 points, 13.4 rebounds and 10.9 assists per match.

Coming home won’t be an easy welcome as the Warriors have a three-game homestand against the Houston Rockets, winners in eight of their last 10 games, and then two in a row against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

A short series of home games will be followed by a flight to Memphis to theoretically play Ja Morant for the first time since Jan. 25, 2023, and then a game in Minnesota for the Warriors’ third date with the Timberwolves in two weeks. They come for their first of two games against the Indiana Pacers this season, and then a Christmas game at Chase Center against the Los Angeles Lakers, the fifth time the Warriors have played against LeBron James on Christmas.

The year ends with another visit to Intuit Dome and home games against the Suns and Cavs.

That includes 23 games in which the Warriors’ opponents have a current combined record of 136-91, a winning percentage of 59.1. The only Western Conference team with a sub-.500 record in those games are the Timberwolves at 8-9. The only Eastern Conference team they will face is the 8-10 Pacers, a team that can turn it around quickly.

There’s something missing in that math too. This does not include the NBA Cup.

While they’re busy taking down their shields and fending off some of the best teams in the West, the Warriors will compete in the NBA Cup, having already qualified for at least the quarterfinals.

“It is our ability, and the ability of every team, to win games in the midst of difficult periods,” Kerr said. “To play the bad parts, not to go too deep. You trust that over the course of the 82, if you have a good team, you’re committed and you play with energy, your record is going to be pretty good.”

One game at a time. Not looking at the schedule for too long is the only way the Warriors can get back on track and keep themselves healthy. What lies ahead could tell the story of what the season will ultimately be, good or bad.

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