Can Golden State Warriors still make it out the West?
By Tony Pesta
It is getting harder and harder to see the light at the end of the tunnel but the Golden State Warriors should still have hope that they can make it out of the Western Conference this season.
There are many obstacles in the way but the Golden State Warriors have as good a chance as anyone to make it to the NBA Finals this season.
What is it going to take to get them over the hump? Well, aside from the obvious health factor — it will come down to how much firepower the big three and key reserves will be able to provide.
Take a look at the NBA’s top seed this season, the Phoenix Suns. Led by a dynamic backcourt of All-NBA caliber guards and completed by an all-around collection of versatile wings and a dominant paint presence in Deandre Ayton, Phoenix has built a flawless roster capable of adapting to any situation.
For this reason, it is hard to imagine this current form of the Dubs taking down a near-invincible team in the Suns — let alone the other contenders in the Western Conference.
However, the Warriors are packing a punch that can’t be matched by anyone else in the league. Draymond Green, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are one lucky stretch away from reclaiming the throne.
Imagine a scenario in which Curry returns shortly before the postseason, with the Dubs drawing a favorable first round matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. This trial run to get the big three back into the swing of things against a lesser opponent could set them up for a volcanic eruption in the second round.
We’ve seen Curry toss himself back into the mix before. Remember in 2016, when Curry missed four straight games only to return and break an NBA Playoff record for points in overtime against the Portland Trail Blazers?
Getting his groove back won’t be so easy as Curry has been struggling all season. Despite this, the big three have a long enough track record to suggest that it will only take a few things going their way to strike fear in the rest of the Western Conference.
In conclusion, yes, the Warriors can still win the West.