Golden State Warriors: Breaking Down Why They Won’t Make the Playoffs

Stephen Curry has done well, but it might not be enough. (Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com).

The Golden State Warriors set off on the right foot this year and as a result, they started the season 22-10. However, now, things are headed downhill for the Warriors.

Golden State started the season off with a bang and brought hope back to the Bay Area, but they are falling apart and might even miss the playoffs. The Warriors have gone 14-19 in their last 33 games and even if they do make the playoffs, they will be a low seed playing on the road against the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder or Los Angeles Clippers, all great teams.

They obliterated the New York Knicks on Monday, March 11, winning 92-63 and punishing the Knicks on defense. However, judging a team by one game in basketball is always a mistake. For example, on Wednesday, Jan. 2, the Warriors destroyed the Clippers 115-94. Three days later, the Clippers had the upper hand, running away with a shocking 115-89 victory.

The Warriors are 7-12 in their last 19 games and that includes a six-game losing streak. The Houston Rockets, the current seventh seed, beat Golden State three times in that span and two of those wins came by the Bay at Oracle Arena. The Warriors are falling apart and they couldn’t have picked a worse time to do so.

In 2007, when the Warriors made the playoffs for the last time, the Bay Area went ballistic. Bay Area fans have been known to go all-out for their team in the postseason and it’s safe to say the Warriors will have a jolt of energy in the crowd for their home games. However, being an eighth seed will take some of the energy and hope out of that crowd.

You could say that the Warriors were an eighth seed in 2007 and that the crowd will be involved anyways, but they had already won a game on the road then, something that’s not likely to happen this year. The Warriors are just 15-20 on the road, and they are 1-9 in their last 10 road games. One of those games came against Houston and another one came against the Utah Jazz, another team fighting for a playoff spot.

The Jazz are 2.5 games behind the Warriors and currently in ninth place in the West and they are fighting with the Los Angeles Lakers for the eighth seed. While it’s been a bumpy ride for the Lakers, they are finally winning games and it appears as if they are headed for the postseason. Los Angeles has won six of its last eight games and they are 2-0 against the Warriors. The two teams play two more times this year and the Lakers appear to have the upper hand in those games, or they did until Kobe Bryant went down with an ankle injury on Wednesday, March 13, in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Houston certainly has the upper hand against Golden State and it appears as if the Rockets, owners of a 3.2-point differential, are headed past the Warriors. Golden State has a -0.3-point differential and they are 23rd in points allowed. Houston has the NBA’s highest-scoring offense and a true star in James Harden and unless the Rockets slow down, they will soar past Golden State.

Utah and Los Angeles can do the exact same thing. Bryant, Dwight Howard and Steve Nash are finally starting to click and the result should be a berth in the playoffs. No one can imagine a postseason without the Lakers and Kobe and company are determined to make sure it doesn’t go down that way. The Jazz are determined as well, and while they are in more trouble, they can still seize a playoff berth.

Al Jefferson is a star and Paul Millsap is a great compliment. Lack of depth is certainly a concern in Salt Lake City and the backcourt isn’t anything to marvel at. However, the Jazz are able to sneak into the playoffs, even though they have been struggling lately. Winning on the road hasn’t been easy for them, as they are 10-24 away from home. However, Utah has 10 of its last 17 games at home, where they are 23-8.

Golden State has a good amount of home games to close the season, but they also have a tough road. Golden State has two games against the Spurs, one against the Thunder, two against the Lakers, one against the Rockets, one against the Jazz and one against the Bulls. Sacramento has given the Warriors trouble this year and Golden State has to deal with them again.

Recently, Utah endured a tough road trip chock full of heartbreaking losses, but they are competing with good teams. They have beaten the Thunder, Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets and other teams and they have winnable games coming up. Utah’s played solid, competitive basketball all year and it will result in wins down the stretch.

On the other hand, the Warriors are young and incredibly inexperienced and they are tanking and falling apart. Even home games are giving the Warriors trouble, as they lost back-to-back home games to Houston and the Milwaukee Bucks, both mediocre teams. Golden State has also been inconsistent and streaky, which is never a good sign for a young team down the stretch.

Why? Because they are bound to crumble at any time.

This season has worked out well for the Warriors, as they’ve gotten some breaks and played very good basketball. However, they aren’t in a great position right now and things aren’t going their way. If the Warriors can get going and win consistently, they will be fine and make the playoffs. However, right now, things aren’t going their way.

And if they don’t step it up, it will continue that way as Golden State watches the playoffs from home.