Warriors Workshop Webisode 1: Writers Reminisce About #WeBelieve
4. Which team would you like the Warriors to play in the 1st round of the playoffs? Which team would rather have the Warriors avoid in the 1st round?
"Carlos Murillo: I think everyone potential first round matchup provides some problems for the Warriors. I don’t think I’d want them to play Denver. Jokic is an absolute beast and that three-point barrage from last game still gives me nightmares. Dallas would be fun (Curry vs. Curry, Harrison Barnes, We Believe 10 year anniversary, etc.). Ideally, Sacramento would get into that eighth spot. Of course, that’d mean they were playing good basketball, but they don’t have the personnel to really challenge the Warriors in a seven game series."
Charles Rahrig V: I would love for Golden State to match up with the Denver Nuggets in the first round. It’s a series where they can really push the tempo and force Denver to keep pace with them. We know Denver had that big night against Golden State, but it’s their best matchup. The team I would like to see them avoid is the Portland Trail Blazers. There’s just something about Portland that makes it feel like any series with them is a struggle, even if it only goes four or five games.
"Segun Giwa: I would like to see GSW play the Pelicans in the first round. Boogie Cousins vs. Draymond in the playoffs? Must see television!"
Eric He: I’d like to see the Warriors play the Nuggets in the first round since they lack the firepower to really compete. The Warriors need a quick, four-game series so they can be well-rested for the later rounds. I definitely do not want to see a Warriors-Trail Blazers matchup. Portland gave the Warriors a couple of scares last postseason and have two dynamic players in Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. The last thing the Warriors need is to eke out a 6 or 7-game series as early as the first round.
"Michael Shultz: The easiest matchups for the Warriors in the first round would be either the Sacramento Kings or the Portland Trail Blazers. I would love for them to face the Kings because of the lack of travel and the Kings do not have any star power. The Trail Blazers do not pose a problem for the Warriors because they are guard-centric, led by Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. The two teams that would be the most difficult matchups would be the Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies. The Thunder scare me a little bit because of Russell Westbrook. The Grizzlies pose a problem because they play a different style of basketball than any other team in the league."
Derek Tahara: There are no easy matchups in the West playoffs, even in the first round, but if I had to choose it would have to be Dallas or Portland. Dallas would be cool because it would be a Seth vs. Steph matchup and Matt Barnes would play against the Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs again (but he’s on the number one team). Portland would be a great matchup for the Warriors because of last year’s playoff series and it’s fun seeing the backcourts go back and forth. Denver has been playing great as of late and I think a matchup with the Thunder (if they do drop, but not likely) would be emotional and a physically tolling one for the Warriors with the Thunder interior of Adams, Kanter and Gibson banging and bruising inside.
"Ryan Viera: I would love to see Warriors vs. Thunder in round one personally. It would probably be a big distraction, but the KD vs. Russ storyline would make for an exciting first round. I also wouldn’t mind seeing Dallas in round one. Would be a fairly easy series, and Curry vs. Curry could be fun now that Seth has found his groove in the NBA."