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Next six games may come to define the Golden State Warriors season

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a basket with Klay Thompson #11 in the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Chase Center on February 13, 2023 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a basket with Klay Thompson #11 in the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Chase Center on February 13, 2023 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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It’s now or never for the Golden State Warriors as they prepare for the final 24 games following the All-Star break. Most have presumed the reigning champions will make a run that separates them from the .500 mark, but time is quickly running out for them to make that happen.

At 29-29 and ninth in the Western Conference, the Warriors’ season has been plagued by poor losses to lesser opposition, disastrous performances on the road, and a general unpredictability that makes it hard to gauge what will happen next.

With or without their two-time MVP Stephen Curry, the next six games may come to define the Golden State Warriors season.

One eye will undoubtedly be on Stephen Curry as he ramps up his recovery from a lower leg injury suffered earlier this month. But in the meantime, Golden State must forge ahead with a crucial six-game stretch.

They open their post All-Star push against the Lakers in Los Angeles on Thursday. It’s been hard to read both teams this season, making this matchup even more difficult to predict. The Warriors went in as heavy favorites to their last clash at Chase Center just ten days ago, yet a LeBron James-less Lakers ran out with a 109-103 win. They may be favoured this time around to repeat the dose, particularly if James plays and given it’ll be on their home floor at Crypto.com Arena. Still, any loss to a team below .500 would be disappointing for a Warriors team who’s made a habit of it this season.

Frustrations mounted for the Golden State Warriors in their last matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 11. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Frustrations mounted for the Golden State Warriors in their last matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 11. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Golden State then face the visiting Houston Rockets on the second night of a back-to-back. Surely, despite their struggles against some poor teams, the Warriors pencil that in as a win. More importantly, it starts a five-game homestand which, given their struggles on the road, will be vitally important to the fate of Golden State’s season.

The last four of those five will be the big ones — matchups with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, and New Orleans Pelicans. They’re four teams that sit with the Warriors in the Western Conference logjam. The Clippers are 2.5 games ahead, the Pelicans and Timberwolves half a game ahead, and the Trail Blazers one game behind. At this point it’s just as much about handing the other team a loss as it is getting a win for yourself.

What’s Golden State’s record in those four games. Even at 2-2 would be less than ideal but at least manageable, anything less than that would be a disaster, and 3-1 feels like the most realistic goal. Can they go 5-1 or at least 4-2 over the six total games?

Next. The landscape for each of the Golden State Warriors’ Free Agents at the All-Star brea. dark

Taking advantage of their home floor will be crucial, and it’s something to hold cautious confidence in given their 22-7 record at Chase Center this season. If they can have a solid six-game stretch, then that sets them up well to attack some road games with Curry likely to be back as the spearhead.

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