3 Issues the Golden State Warriors must address post All-Star break
By Abhay Bethur
The Golden State Warriors need to tread water till Stephen Curry returns.
Two-time MVP Stephen Curry injured his leg against the Dallas Mavericks at the start of the month, and we’ll likely know more about his timetable over the coming days. However, it’s safe to say the Warriors likely won’t be going on an unbeaten run between now and when their best player returns.
Their goal should be to try and hover around where they are right now — within a game of the sixth seed. That allows them to keep within striking distance and hope that if Curry comes back with about 20 games left, they can make a last minute blitz to avoid the play-in tournament.
The play-in should be worrying for any team — it’s a random one-off game where another team could get hot from distance and everything could collapse. Golden State know all too well about it’s danger, having lost two straight play-in games to be eliminated ahead of the 2021 postseason.
Being one game back from the sixth seed, and hopefully no more than two games once Curry returns, there’s optimism that they can feasibly make a run to avoid the play-in. If things crater and they start losing game after game, missing the play in entirely remains a distinct possibility. Needing Curry back simply to help them to the play-in as a ninth or tenth seed would be a disaster, and therefore it’s crucial they tread water till he returns.
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As players return from the All-Star break, teams are gearing up to get ready to make a final push before the playoffs arrive. Watching the playoff races in the Western Conference will be a fascinating watch given the logjam in the standings.