Here’s a question that, not too long ago, would have sounded blasphemous: Are the Golden State Warriors going to make the playoffs?
The late 2010s dynasty that rallied for one last title in 2022 now finds itself in the dust that’s settled after its long parade.
Stephen Curry is still playing at a superstar level, but his supporting cast has thinned in the twilight of his career. Desperate to maximize his fleeting championship window, the Warriors splurged on All-Star forward Jimmy Butler at last season’s trade deadline — only to see him suffer a season-ending ACL tear in January, leaving the franchise in deeper limbo.
At the All-Star Break, and with 27 games to go, the Warriors (29–26) occupy the eighth seed in the cutthroat Western Conference — firmly planted in the play-in race alongside the Suns (32–23, 7th West), Portland Trail Blazers (27–29, 9th), and Los Angeles Clippers (26–28, 10th).
DraftKings Sportsbook lists Golden State at -150 to reach the postseason and +120 to get an early vacation.
The Dubs became famous for proving doubters wrong; let’s break down whether they can do it again — or if this is finally the year the magic runs out.
Will the Warriors make the playoffs?
The Warriors are on the ropes after Jimmy Butler — who averaged 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game while serving as a key defensive anchor — suffered an ACL tear on Jan. 19. The team has dropped seven of 11 games since, posting the NBA’s third-worst offensive rating during that span.
Of course, it hasn’t helped that Stephen Curry, named an All-Star starter at 37 years old, has also been sidelined since Jan. 30 with a knee injury. He’s expected back soon, but he’ll return to a supporting cast so depleted that it feels like Leonardo DiCaprio starring in a Tubi original.
Golden State shipped off Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield at the trade deadline for former NBA champion Kristaps Porzingis, who has played just 17 games this season and is currently out with an Achilles injury. He’s expected to make his team debut sometime after the All-Star break. Aside from Porzingis, who contributes 17.1 points and 5.1 rebounds, the team’s next leading scorer is Brandin Podziemski at 12 points a night.
While this current iteration of Golden State is unlikely to climb the standings and claim an automatic playoff bid, the teams situated on the play-in bubble — Memphis and Dallas — aren’t serious contenders after selling at the deadline. Thus, the Warriors should remain in the play-in race with the Suns, Trail Blazers, and Clippers.
Fortunately, they have a fairly smooth road ahead, ranking 16th in the league in terms of remaining strength of schedule. But while the Phoenix’s schedule grades as the ninth-hardest, both the Clippers and Trail Blazers rank in the NBA’s top-three easiest home stretches. Already on Golden State’s tail, Portland and LA could put some serious pressure on the Dubs down the stretch.
The Warriors look destined for a ninth or tenth seed in the West, meaning they’d have to win back-to-back games to secure a playoff berth — a daunting task for an already beleaguered roster.
The Porzingis gamble could pay off — he brings championship experience, after all. But at the All-Star break, with so many variables still in play, it feels like Golden State has finally reached the end of an era.
