Alright, a bunch of folks have been asking me, pinging me, “Hey, what’s the deal, will the Warriors actually make the playoffs in 2024?” It’s a hot topic, for sure. So, I figured I’d share how I went about chewing on this one, my own little process to get a feel for it.
First thing I did, I just sat back and really thought about the core guys. You know, Steph, Klay, and Draymond. Steph’s still got that magic, no doubt. He can pull a rabbit out of a hat any given night. But let’s be real, the man isn’t getting any younger, and he’s carrying a heavy load. Then there’s Klay. I love Klay, everyone does. But watching him this season, it’s been a bit up and down. He’s still capable of those big games, but the consistency? That’s the question mark for me. It’s tough, getting older in this league.
And Draymond. Oh, Draymond. He’s the heart and soul, the defensive anchor, all that. But then there are the… let’s call them ‘distractions.’ The technicals, the suspensions. That stuff hurts the team, plain and simple. It’s not just about missing him on the court; it’s about the team’s rhythm, their focus. I found myself looking back at past seasons, how these things played out. It’s a pattern, you know?
Next, I looked beyond the big three. Who else is stepping up? You’ve got some younger guys, some new faces. Are they gelling? Are they consistently bringing what’s needed every single night? That’s a big ask in this league. I spent some time just watching clips, not just highlights, but how they move, how they react under pressure. It’s often the little things that tell you more.
Then, and this is a huge factor, I had to look at the Western Conference. Man, oh man. It’s an absolute dogfight out there. Seems like every team got better, loaded up. There are no easy nights. You can’t just pencil in wins anymore, not even against teams that used to be bottom-feeders. I actually jotted down the top ten teams in the West, just to see it on paper, and it’s daunting. Trying to figure out where the Warriors slot into that mess, it’s like a puzzle with too many pieces.
This whole process, it reminds me of when I used to try and predict the weather back on the farm, before all these fancy apps. You’d look at the sky, feel the wind, check the way the cows were acting. You’d gather all these little signs, these feelings, and then make your best guess. Sometimes you were right, sometimes you were way off, but it was about observing and piecing things together from what you knew and what you saw.
So, after all that mulling and looking, where do I land on the Warriors making the playoffs? If I’m being honest, it’s looking really tough. I mean, really, really tough. Can they? Sure, with Steph, anything is possible. They’ve got that championship DNA somewhere in there. But will they? My gut tells me it’s going to be a serious uphill climb. They’ll be scratching and clawing for a play-in spot, most likely.
It’s not what fans want to hear, I get it. But that’s just what my own little exercise here has led me to believe. It’s a different league now, and time catches up to everyone. We’ll see how it plays out, but I’m bracing for a fight to the very end for them, and even then, it might not be enough. That’s just my two cents, from my little corner of observation.
