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The Golden State Warriors should fear dropping to the two seed

By Nathan Beighle

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 15: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets look on during the game on January 15, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 15: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets look on during the game on January 15, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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In past seasons, it was fine to drop. However, this year, the Golden State Warriors will desperately want to make sure they end the season atop the West.

If the Golden State Warriors aren’t able to secure the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, their path to a fifth straight NBA Finals will become significantly more difficult. They are currently tied at the top of the West with the Denver Nuggets.

The Warriors, following the All-Star break, have just not been locked in. They’re 7-6 since the break and have lost the two-game lead they had on Denver. The Nuggets have been 8-4 since the break.

After their win over Minnesota, they have a 0.5-game lead yet should continue to press forward to gain some certainty. They’ll want to be the number-one seed because of the difficulty of the route they’d have to take if they were the No. 2.

For starters, if they feel to two, they’d have to take on the Utah Jazz, not the LA Clippers, in the first round of the playoffs. That’s already a significant increase in difficulty given the stardom combined with the formidable defense of Utah.

However, it goes deeper than just the first round. In the second round, the Warriors, if they were the two seed, would have to take on the Rockets, assuming the Rockets defeat the Thunder. Playing Houston in the second round would not be ideal.

The Warriors would have Utah then Houston then most likely Denver. That’s an extremely difficult journey, a journey much harder than their quest if they were the top seed. The Warriors would get LAC then Portland or San Antonio then most likely the Rockets.

While in year’s past, they’ve seemingly not cared about their seed; this year should be different. Their team is aging, they’re getting worn down after four straight years of over or almost over 100 games played.

They’d be 5-6 against their opponents if they were the one seed. They’d actually have a slightly better record at 5-5 against the teams that they’d play if they were the second seed.

The difference is so small that the Dubs should want to claim whichever seed they view has the easier route. On top of potentially facing Denver without home court advantage, the Warriors would likely be more confident with two home games to start each series.

Next. Analyzing the Dubs three potential first-round matchups. dark

At the end of the day, if they drop the second seed, it might not be overly detrimental to their success. However, they’ll ideally make the regular season a priority and win the majority of their remaining games.

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