PHOENIX -- The Golden State Warriors had a feeling this would be the path they would have to travel down.They wanted to believe their collective talent would be too overpowering for opponents in the midst of what is expected to be a difficult transitional period. However, they knew deep down that they would be vulnerable throughout the early stages of the regular season, and that has been the case.In trying to incorporate superstar Kevin Durant into the fold, the Warriors were abused by the?San Antonio Spurs?at Oracle Arena in a 29-point rout on opening night. Golden State followed it up with back-to-back road wins over the injury-plagued New Orleans Pelicans and the rebuilding Phoenix Suns, neither victory coming easy.The whispers of maybe they wont be that good are minuscule for the time being, but the players are certainly cognitive of the external chatter.?Stephen Curry,?the two-time MVP, explained that this trying process and the outside critiquing were bound to happen.Preseason is one thing, but then you get to the regular season, and its kind of like were supposed to be 100 percent dialed in and blowing people out every night. We understand thats not going to happen, Curry told ESPN after Fridays season-opening loss. It sucked that we didnt win our first game [against San Antonio], but we dont buy into the noise, really, because theres so much to accomplish. There was no need to get crazy after one game.Right now, the Warriors are three games in and it hasnt been the prettiest of sights.One of the most prolific 3-point shooting teams in NBA history, the Warriors are shooting 27 percent from beyond the arc, placing them among the bottom 10 teams in the league. The run-and-gun, free-flowing offense the Warriors have used to obliterate the opposition has been absent thus far.Instead, the offensive attack has been infested with hesitancy, doubt and lack of trust. Coach Steve Kerr acknowledged Sunday that there has been frustration over how slowly the team is gelling.Players also sense the difference in how this season is being covered, though many expected the narrative to shift from admiration to detestation after Durant chose to partner with?All-Stars Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.We cant control that, Curry said to ESPN. Its kind of a hard thing to get at, because were not the ones writing stories. We definitely have fun and play a certain style whether you like it or not. Thats who we are, but I guess it took until this summer, this offseason for some negative stuff to be written about us. But if youre winning, and youre winning championships and doing what youre supposed to be doing, the scrutiny usually is for a good reason, and thats what it is.The expectations are astronomical. This team is being viewed as an 82-game All-Star tour that should annihilate whoever sets foot on the hardwood, although thats unrealistic to expect. A team that won an NBA-record 73 games a year ago has somehow seen the stakes elevated even higher. That could cause immense pressure if one allows it to creep in.At the end of the day, were all human beings, Andre Iguodala told ESPN of criticism from media and fans. We try not to listen to the chatter, but it can have an effect on you if thats all you hear when were outside in public. They want to paint you as whatever theyre saying about what type of team we are. They want to hate us, but Ive said from the beginning, the way we play, people enjoy watching us play, so its going to be hard for them to not like us.Only time will tell if this is true.But in the meantime, Iguodala said that they have to stop being so tense. We forget to just relax, play basketball, play with some energy and have fun. When we do that, were going to get our flow. Were going to get wins.Just how long the struggles will persist before the Warriors start producing those jaw-dropping victories weve grown accustomed to seeing is anybodys guess. I have no idea how long it will take, Kerr said Tommy Pham Rays Jersey . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. 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Trevor Richards Rays Jersey .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. ATLANTA -- Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was in the lineup after having a cancerous mole surgically removed from his upper back three days ago.He received test results Friday that abnormal cells were present, but Freeman returned from the All-Star break saying hes cancer-free following the procedure.The Atlanta fan favorite and two-time All-Star said he regularly gets checkups after his mother died of skin cancer in 2000.They said that with your family history, just take it out, so thats what I did, he said. There were cancerous cells, so I got it just in time.Freeman, in the third season of an eight-year, $135 million contract, knows how important he is to the Braves, but the recent scare gave him a bigger perspective on his life and career.My mom took care of herself, he said, and it still happened.Freeman has a few stitches in his back, but his doctor said theres no risk in playing. The stitches will come out in 10-14 days.They said I couldnt do anything for 48 hours, Freeman said. Thats why I wasnt at the workout yesterday.During the last six weeks, Freeman has shown no signs of wearing down on the field. He leads thhe major leagues since June 1 with 25 extra-base hits.dddddddddddd Hes hitting .286 this season with 34 RBI and a team-high 16 homers.Freeman feels slight irritation from the incision when he swings a bat, but it wasnt enough to make him ask for a day off.Its not hurting, he said. Hopefully I dont get hit by a pitch or anything like that, but I feel fine.Freeman said his mother, Rosemary Freeman, was stricken through a cancerous mole, similar to the one they took off her son. She had red hair, fair skin and freckles, even more so than Freddie.People with those physical traits are often susceptible to abnormal skin growths.We have skin cancer people come (during the season), and doctors come and check it, Freeman said. They said the moles not circular. Thats when you have to go have a look, and mine was jagged.Despite the news, Freeman was in good spirits in the clubhouse. As he shared the information with four reporters, he was upbeat and laughing.Other than that, he said, I had a good All-Star break. ' ' '