We’re going into the final weeks of the regular season, and we’re no closer to discovering who these Golden State Warriors really are.
After all, this is a team whose coach claim that a 3-1 East Coast trip that ended with a loss by roughly 823 points was “great” and be right.
These Dubs are an enigma, a constantly evolving puzzle. The truth of this team remains as elusive as Andrew Wiggins in the spring.
So let’s make things simple. Let’s establish a new paradigm for success for Golden State:
Just beat the Lakers.
The fans, the media, and the team need to renounce all worry about the macro implications of winning or losing Wednesday’s game against the Bucks or Thursday’s with the Bulls.
There’s no reason for anyone to concern themselves with how the Suns and Pelicans are playing, either.
There is only one thing that matters for the remainder of the season: beating the Lakers.
Yes, beat them on March 16 and April 9. But more importantly, make sure you’re ahead of them in the standings when the regular season ends.
Perhaps in shooting for the Lakers, the Warriors can push for the No. 7 or No. 8 spot in the play-in tournament. That stuff will take care of itself.
But all that matters is taking care of the team in purple. (I refuse to call it by its trademark name).
Is this lowering the bar that once used to be placed at the “title or bust” level?
Absolutely.
But it’s also a realistic expectation — a gettable goal in a season that feels, even at its peak, to be rudderless.
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Barring catastrophe, the Warriors will play postseason basketball. Going into Tuesday night’s games, Golden State has a five-game lead on the Jazz for the No. 10 seed and the final play-in tournament spot.
But the Dubs would need to win 16 of their final 22 games to reach 48 victories and reasonably expect to make the “real” playoffs with a top-six seed in the Western Conference.
I don’t think the most ardent Dubs optimist sees that coming, even against the second-easiest schedule in the Western Conference down the stretch.
So the play-in tournament it is.
And, in all likelihood, given the Mavericks’ current play and the Kings’ two-game lead on the Warriors, the Dubs will be in a one-game 9-versus-10 showdown with the Lakers.
That sound you hear is NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s drool hitting his desk in Manhattan.
While the Warriors’ fate seems mightily close to being decided, where that one-game, win-or-go-home showdown will be played is still up in the air.
If the Warriors can achieve only one thing this season, they should ensure that game is in San Francisco.
Any accomplishment beyond that — be it a regular-season success or a playoff run — is gravy.
There are certainly worse coattails to ride than a great rivalry’s.
Caring about one team and one team only for the remainder of the season is simple, elegant, and might be exactly what the Dubs need—a narrowed focus.
While the Warriors and Lakers have countless rivalries these days—such are the perks of success—they must acknowledge they have a special place of hate for each other. At least the fans in this part of the Golden State have it.
Rivalries are what makes sports great.
Comparison might be the thief of joy, but it’s the lifeblood of these games we love.
And frankly, the NBA doesn’t have enough true team rivalries.
No, instead, there are a million other sidequests happening, small and large: Jayson Tatum vs. true stardom, Luka Dončić vs. passing, Nikola Jokic vs. jumping and sweating, the Knicks vs. the modern game.
The Warriors and Lakers are no different. They have Steph vs. time, Draymond vs. his breathing exercises, Klay vs. his legs; LeBron vs. humility, D’Angelo Russell vs. the concept of defense, and Anthony Davis vs. consistency.
It makes for interesting ESPN fodder, seeing as the network long ago forgot that teams, not singular stars, play the games.
Wouldn’t it be better to channel all that frivolous, angsty energy that defines the NBA today into a singular goal — beating a singular opponent in a singular game?
The Warriors have a chance to do just that.
And wouldn’t it be better for the Dubs to exit this season with the possibility of accomplishing something instead of failing to win everything?
Narrow the focus. Lower the bar. Then exceed it.
Just be better than the Lakers. It’s a worthy and achievable endeavor.
And perhaps, in achieving that modest goal, the Warriors will achieve a bit more than expected this season.