The Golden State Warriors are determined to finish in the top six in the Western Conference and avoid the play-in tournament. Currently sitting in sixth place, the team is only a few percentage points behind the Phoenix Suns in fifth but are a half-game behind the LA Clippers in fourth. The Warriors’ strategy is to focus on winning each game and putting themselves in a great position for seeding. Coach Steve Kerr has urged the team to approach each remaining game as though it were a playoff game, and players like Draymond Green have echoed the message. Golden State’s recent victories over the Dallas Mavericks and the Philadelphia 76ers have put them in a favorable position to make the playoffs.
With only seven games left in the regular season, the Warriors have four games at home and three on the road, and they are under added pressure to take advantage of their four-game homestand. They will face teams that are trying to make the play-in tournament or even better, the playoffs. Jordan Poole has emphasized the importance of winning their remaining home games, while Stephen Curry says that it all leads to a sense of urgency to win the next game because of what’s at stake in the short and long term.
