Predicting Golden State Warriors’ playoff seeding in a stacked Western Conference

The Western Conference is as deep as it’s ever been. Steadfast contenders such as the Golden State Warriors will continue to occupy the top seeds, but young and hungry challengers lurk in the shadows, looking to make some noise of their own.

Amid all the impending chaos, where will the Golden State Warriors find themselves come playoff time?

Last year’s Warriors secured their fourth title in the last eight seasons, but they did so as the third seed in the West. After a blazing hot 18-2 start to the season, the Warriors sat atop the conference, but the Dubs would lose control of the 1-seed following a series of unfortunate injuries.

Draymond Green was sidelined for over two months due to a lingering back injury, and a severe ankle sprain caused Steph Curry to miss time as well.

The Warriors’ big three aren’t exactly spring chickens, and injuries could play just as big of a factor this season. Stephen Curry turns 35 this season while both Green and Klay Thompson will turn 33.  One tweak of an ankle or strain of a muscle could be enough for the Golden State coaching staff to employ a cautious approach in handling their cornerstone pieces.

A few missed games here and there may appear trivial in a vacuum, but those games will eventually start to add up – especially in a loaded West.

The number of true contenders in this year’s Western Conference is unparalleled.

For context, the Portland Trailblazers have surrounded six-time All-Star Damian Lillard with arguably his best supporting cast to date – Anfernee Simons, Josh Hart, Jeramy Grant, and Jusuf Nurkic. That same Blazers team could very well be fighting for a play-in spot come April.

During the 2021-22 campaign, injuries loomed like a dark cloud over the Western Conference, and many teams had their title hopes crushed from the beginning of the year. Teams like the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers played every game with a built-in disadvantage, which forged a path for young squads like the Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks to emerge as unlikely contenders.

This season, as the Nuggets and Clippers return to full strength, the Mavs and Grizzlies intend to cement their status as contenders. The Phoenix Suns aim for another top-seeded finish, while groups like the New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves are poised for breakout seasons of their own. Even the Los Angeles Lakers, who’ve endured a miserable last couple of seasons, look to get back to their winning ways.

To intensify the situation, the Warriors just won another title, meaning that every team in the league will look to make a statement when matched up against the defending champs. This will make for some hard-fought battles this season.

Factoring in the age of their nucleus, the strength of the Western Conference, and the giant target on their back, a 1-seeded finish is an unlikely outcome for this year’s Warriors. Steve Kerr and crew will presumably want to preserve the team’s health and energy during the regular season to ensure that come playoff time, they are geared up and ready for war.

That said, the Warriors will undoubtedly want to lock up home-court advantage, so expect the Dubs to finish anywhere between seeds 2 to 4 this season.