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Western Conference standings show no need for panic at the Golden State Warriors

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 26: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors talks with Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of the game at Chase Center on November 26, 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 - NOVEMBER 26: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors talks with Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of the game at Chase Center on November 26, 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 have had an underwhelming start to the season with a 6-8 record, but standings suggest there’s no reason to panic for the Western Conference’s 12th placed team.

The NBA is in an ultra-competitive state to start the season, particularly when evaluating the state of the West. There’s an immense amount of talent across the league, and the dispersed nature has led to some surprising results.

Is there any Western Conference team that project as having major fear-factor for the Golden State Warriors and their experienced core?

Nearly 15 games through the season, there’s just 2.5 games between the fourth-place Phoenix Suns and the Warriors in 12th. Even above that pack, two of the top three positions are held by a team most expected to be around the play-in mark — the Portland Trail Blazers — and a team many thought would be tanking — the Utah Jazz.

They’re intersected in the top three by the Denver Nuggets, a team the Warriors beat comfortably in the first-round of the playoffs but have since welcomed the return of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. They’re one of a few young teams seeking to stake their claim, with the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans also in the mix.

The Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies could again see each other in the playoffs. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies could again see each other in the playoffs. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) /

Of course, there’s a double-edged factor to the league’s current parity. The talent makes for competitive games night-to-night — the Warriors first ‘easy’ win didn’t come till Monday’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs. That equates to competitive standings and therefore a genuine battle just to make the playoffs.

At some point Golden State will need to make a run that has them firstly out of the play-in picture, and then ideally into home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs. But while the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics have separated themselves in the East, there appears no clear dominant team in the West. Which of these teams is actually scaring the Warriors, particularly in a playoff series where experience matters and it becomes more like a chess matchup?

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The Warriors don’t need to be at 2017-18 level of play — a period of time where they were head and shoulders above almost every NBA team. They just need to be better than the teams in front of them, and right now, despite their issues, the Western Conference looks wide open and available for Golden State to eventually assert their authority again.

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