The Golden State Warriors may struggle to reach the 2020 playoffs

The Golden State Warriors should still make the playoffs in 2020, but it certainly won’t be easy with Klay out the majority of the season.

Let me preface this article by saying this: I think the Golden State Warriors a top-5 team in the West if Klay Thompson is healthy. However, he’s not, tearing his ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals.

With Thompson being out, the Warriors replaced his offensive production with a young, 23-year-old All-Star named D’Angelo Russell. Russell took his game to the next level last season, averaging 20-plus points and 7-plus assists per game.

They also lost Kevin Durant though.

That being said, in a normal year, Russell, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green would easily thrive, making the playoffs with ease. But, this season, it may be a bit different with other teams really stepping up and becoming contenders this offseason.

The Lakers, who acquired Anthony Davis to team with LeBron James, are a contender. The Clippers who now have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are one. Teams like Portland and Denver made lowkey moves like acquiring Hassan Whiteside and Jerami Grant to improve ever so subtly.

Dallas re-signed Kristaps Porzingis and have Luka Doncic for a second season. The Spurs are…. the Spurs. Then you also have the Rockets who are typically dominant in the regular season. Combine all those with the Utah Jazz who added two of the league’s most underrated stars as well.

Just a few of them have an MVP that’s the same caliber of Stephen Curry which is a major advantage for Golden State. However, after five straight Finals appearances, players like Green and Curry have relaxed during the regular season.

Now, they’ll have to fight to the playoffs. There’s no denying that they can do it, but it won’t be easy. The Warriors need to have that mentality going into the regular season to keep all the mid-season drama at bay.