What the 25-26 Warriors Proved to Themselves After Three Consecutive Close Games
The Golden State Warriors played three games this past week, and the competition presented a difficult task. All three of the teams they faced would currently be in the playoffs, while two of them are arguably the two favorites to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals. Golden State didn’t hang their heads over the loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, which was a result of a bad half. They impressively took down the Houston Rockets in overtime, 115-113, on March 5th, as well as playing a tight game in a 104-97 loss against the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder on March 7th. Despite that meltdown, they remained competitive in the absence of Stephen Curry, who remains sidelined for another few days.
Steve Kerr’s team played well in Houston, with role players like De’Anthony Melton again stepping up and hitting timely shots. Their game in H-town didn’t serve as a standalone, and that’s what is most encouraging. The Warriors could’ve looked at their matchup in OKC as an automatic loss, especially after going down and staying behind in the entire first half. However, during the third quarter, Golden State controlled their game and punched back, bringing the game close during crunch time. If it wasn’t for the antics of the reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kerr’s group was a few shots behind, stealing a victory from the champion’s mouth.
The main takeaway I got from this week was that Golden State showed fight. They proved to the fans, their competition, but most importantly to themselves, that they have not given up on this season. In the midst of a rollercoaster season, where injuries and age have become major concerns, the Warriors remain in a position to compete in the playoffs. They may have a hard ceiling, but they are well-positioned to grab the seventh seed and potentially win another playoff series.
Looking ahead, how can the Warriors use a pair of mental wins to actually climb up the standings? Time has begun to run out for the Warriors to achieve their realistic goal, getting to the sixth seed and out of the Play-In Tournament. This busy week consists of two home and two away games, starting with Utah on Monday, and the 2022 NBA Champions need to go at least ¾ to keep pace with their target. They will need help from the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets to start slipping, but morally speaking, Golden State can use these last three games as proof that a streak against good competition is viable.
