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FiveThirtyEight projects Golden State Warriors to miss playoffs

By Nathan Beighle

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a three-point basket against the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center on October 06, 2021 in San Francisco, California. 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. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a three-point basket against the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center on October 06, 2021 in San Francisco, California. 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. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors played in five straight NBA Finals.

Following Klay Thompson‘s injury and Kevin Durant’s departure, they’ve missed the postseason in two straight seasons, losing two straight play-in tournament games to the Grizzlies and Lakers last season.

There’s no denying the Golden State Warriors aren’t who they once were, but this roster should undoubtedly be a playoff-caliber team.

The Golden State Warriors seemingly reloaded this offseason, adding Otto Porter Jr., Andre Iguodala, Nemanja Bjelica and two lottery picks to their already-stacked roster.

Will that and the hopeful return of five-time All-Star guard Klay Thompson be enough to make the playoffs? Not according to FiveThirtyEight. The popular, data-driven site projected the Dubs to finish 11th in the West.

The Jazz are projected to top the conference with the Suns, Nuggets, and Mavericks rounding out the top four. The Lakers sit 9th which at least puts them in the play-in tournament. The Warriors projection would be right outside any postseason action.

It would be hard to imagine Golden State finishing worse than they did a season ago. They ended as the West’s No. 8 seed. The only real reason they should drop is if two-time MVP Stephen Curry sees his play take a slight decline.

Curry, who was the league’s scoring leader, led the Warriors for the last few months of the season, taking his game to a new level. It was the second season of his career averaging more than 30 points.

If Curry declines at all, it could spell trouble. The Warriors failed to add a third true superstar, so they’ll be backing on third-year guard Jordan Poole to take a marginal leap into stardom, which, from preseason action, certainly seems possible.

Porter Jr. has also looked excellent in preseason play. The Warriors have all the signs of a contender, but if they can consistently put it all together is another story. On top of that, to make any real noise, they’ll need Thompson back at near 100 percent.

It’s also important to note former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman may not start the season healthy. If his rehab forces him to miss more time than expected, the Warriors may struggle to find much help from their center.

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That’s a major question mark as the season is set to commence next week. As it stands now, the Warriors seem like a playoff team, but with Curry aging, it doesn’t seem too improbably that this team struggles.

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