Ten days ago the Golden State Warriors were tenth in the Western Conference and on the precipice of falling outside a play-in spot. Fast-forward to now and the reigning champions are all of a sudden fifth in the West and rising.
That’s what a three-game winning-streak can do for you in a ridiculous logjam of teams. The Warriors have moved two games above .500 at 26-24, and while that’s far away from where they expected or wanted to be, fifth-place in the conference is still a reasonable position to be in with 32 games remaining.
After overcoming the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, the Golden State Warriors face another crucial matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
The Warriors are only a game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the fourth-seed, and two games behind the Sacramento Kings in third. Yet while Golden State are looking ahead, they have to be mighty careful of those in their rearview mirror.
The Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns are each 27-25, with the Minnesota Timberwolves half a game further behind. The Utah Jazz continue to compete at a far great level than people expected, holding an exact .500 record. The New Orleans Pelicans also share a 26-26 record, having spiralled down the standings with 14 losses in their last 17 games. The Portland Trail Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder each hold 24-26 records, while a LeBron James led Los Angeles Lakers remain a threat for the postseason at 24-28.
There is four games between ten teams placed fourth through 13th in the West, providing a enthralling sprint to the postseason that’s largely unprecedented in NBA history. Not only is every game crucial for Golden State, but the importance is amplified in matchups against opposing teams in the conference congestion.
A win against the Thunder was a good start, particularly given the Warriors had to arrest a wave of OKC momentum over the final 18 minutes. It’s the first of a plethora of games that will determine where Golden State ends up this season. The next stop is a trip to Minnesota against a Timberwolves team that, like the Warriors, are looking to gain momentum after a disappointing start to the season.
Golden State will again enter the contest with a full plethora of players minus veteran Andre Iguodala. With the team back at practically full health, their destiny is now well and truly in the own hands.
That will extend to the remainder of the season — 21 of their final 32 games come against Western teams sitting between those fourth and 13th positions. These games are an examination of how good the Warriors are, and ultimately if they’re capable of repeating as NBA champions.