Are the Golden State Warriors capable of a late-season surge in 2023?
The Golden State Warriors have been one of the most disappointing teams in the 2022-23 NBA season. After beating the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals and winning their fourth title in the past eight years, the Dubs are only 26-24.
At the moment, the Warriors are in fifth spot in the Western Conference. However, they needed a three-game win streak to move up in the standings as they were under .500 last week.
The Dubs will need to have a late-season surge if they want to confirm a playoff spot. However, they may not be capable of doing so.
Golden State Warriors have been disappointing so far
Even after winning three straight games, the Dubs are only in fifth spot in the West. This is very disappointing for the defending champions, which is why a lot of fans don't believe they will repeat as champions this season.
The Warriors are unique as they have the third-best home record in the conference. When playing in San Francisco, Steph Curry and his squad have won 19 and lost only six games.
While their home record is great, the Warriors have struggled mightily on the road. In 25 away games, the Dubs have recorded only seven wins, which is quite shocking.
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The Warriors used to be defensive juggernauts, which was one of their biggest strengths. This season, however, only four teams have allowed more points per game than them.
Will Warriors have a late-season surge?
Despite being two games above .500, the Golden State Warriors are dangerously close to falling out of the playoff picture. They are only two games ahead of the OKC Thunder, who are in 10th spot in the conference.
Besides the Thunder, the Portland Trail Blazers and LA Lakers are also very close to moving up in the standings and entering the playoff picture. Due to this, the Warriors will have to do a better job and continue their win streak.
One positive thing about the Warriors is their health situation. The only player on their injury report is Andre Iguodala, who isn't a big part of their regular-season rotation. Everyone else is healthy, which is why we can expect the Dubs to extend their win streak.
They have the 12th-toughest schedule for the rest of the season and will have to play against the Denver Nuggets twice and the LA Clippers three times. Fortunately, they also have two games left against the Houston Rockets, the team with the worst record in the league.
The Golden State Warriors will also have three games against the Lakers, Thunder and Trail Blazers. Winning these games will be crucial for their playoff push as they will be able to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.
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The Dubs have only five back-to-back games left to play this season, and with a healthy roster, they could have a late-season surge and possibly finish with one of the top four records in the West.