SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 14: (R-L) Stephen Curry #30, Klay Thompson #11 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors congratulate one another after they beat the Washington Wizards at Chase Center on March 14, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
At the start of the season, the Golden State Warriors were the hottest team in the NBA. They were dominating opposing squads left and right and were neck and neck with the Phoenix Suns at the top of the standings.
When both Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are in the lineup, the team is 29-7 this year. Unfortunately, that means they are 18-16 when one or both of them does not play.
3 teams the Golden State Warriors don’t want to see in the playoffs
During a year plagued by injuries and the unknown, that’s definitely not ideal. And that’s exactly what we’re seeing happen down the stretch of the season.
Just recently, Curry went down with a foot injury in a game against the Boston Celtics. Marcus Smart collided with him whilst diving for a loose ball, and Curry did not return to the game.
Initially, it was stated that Curry would be out indefinitely, but as more information has come out, it was revealed that the star point guard will be re-evaluated in two weeks’ time.
Luckily for them, this means he should (in theory) be ready by the time the playoffs roll around. This would give them a healthy starting group for the postseason.
But even with a fully healthy lineup, the Warriors are far from invincible. There are plenty of teams all throughout the Western Conference who are prepared to go to battle with Golden State.
So with just a few short weeks until the playoffs, which teams should the Warriors be most afraid of? Who should Golden State not want to see in the postseason this year?
Golden State</a> Warriors were the hottest team in the NBA. They were dominating opposing squads left and right and were neck and neck with the Phoenix Suns at the top of the standings.</p>
<p>When both Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are in the lineup, the team is 29-7 this year. Unfortunately, that means they are 18-16 when one or both of them does not play.</p>
<h2>3 teams the Golden State Warriors don’t want to see in the playoffs</h2>
<p>During a year plagued by injuries and the unknown, that’s definitely not ideal. And that’s exactly what we’re seeing happen down the stretch of the season.</p>
<p>Just recently, Curry went down with a foot injury in a game against the Boston Celtics. Marcus Smart collided with him whilst diving for a loose ball, and Curry did not return to the game.</p>
<p>Initially, it was stated that Curry would be out indefinitely, but as more information has come out, it was revealed that the star point guard <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/golden-state-warriors-dont-want-playoffs/"https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/stephen-curry-injury-update-warriors-star-to-be-re-evaluated-in-two-weeks-after-spraining-ligament-in-foot/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will be re-evaluated in two weeks’ time</a>.</p>
<p>Luckily for them, this means he should (in theory) be ready by the time the playoffs roll around. This would give them a healthy starting group for the postseason.</p>
<p>But even with a fully healthy lineup, the Warriors are far from invincible. There are plenty of teams all throughout the Western Conference who are prepared to go to battle with Golden State.</p>
<p>So with just a few short weeks until the playoffs, which teams should the Warriors be most afraid of? Who should Golden State not want to see in the postseason this year?</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/golden-state-warriors-dont-want-playoffs/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Team #1 </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-443293" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/golden-state-warriors-dont-want-playoffs/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2208,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1380404825.jpeg" alt="Golden State Warriors" width="3200" height="2208" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1380404825.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1380404825-768x530.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">DALLAS, TX – MARCH 3: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks goes to the basket against Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors in the second half at American Airlines Center on March 3, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3 teams the Golden State Warriors don’t want to see in the playoffs: Dallas Mavericks</h2>
<p>In four meetings this season, the Golden State Warriors are 1-3 against the Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks. And although Draymond Green wasn’t present in three of those games, the sentiment still stands.</p>
<p>To be honest, the Mavericks are a team that no one should want to come across in the playoffs, with the biggest reason why being how great they can be on both sides of the floor.</p>
<p>Since the start of 2022, the Mavs are the second-best defensive team in the NBA behind only the Boston Celtics. They may not have a ton of elite defensive weapons, but they play great team defense and are able to slow down even the best of players.</p>
<p>And then when you look at the offensive side of the floor, Dallas has one of the best players in the league – Doncic. He’s able to control the game as both a scorer and a passer.</p>
<p>In his first two postseasons, Doncic has averaged over 30 points a night. And last year, he also tallied 10.7 assists to go along with it. Plus, the fact that he’s yet to win a playoff series has to be weighing on him.</p>
<p>With how hot the Mavs have been since the start of the new year, expect them to be primed and ready to go come playoff time. No matter how great Golden State’s defense is, it’s almost impossible to stop Doncic.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/golden-state-warriors-dont-want-playoffs/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Team #2 </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-443294" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/golden-state-warriors-dont-want-playoffs/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2089,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1345436684.jpeg" alt="Golden State Warriors" width="3200" height="2089" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1345436684.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1345436684-768x501.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 06: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets stands next to Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during their game at Chase Center on October 06, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3 teams the Golden State Warriors don’t want to see in the playoffs: Denver Nuggets</h2>
<p>The Golden State Warriors have faced off against the Denver Nuggets four times this season and have gone 1-3 – the same record they have against the Dallas Mavericks.</p>
<p>But unlike the Mavs, Green wasn’t unavailable for three – he was unavailable for all four games. That alone makes one wonder how the Warriors truly stack up against the Nuggets, but regardless, Golden State should want to avoid Denver at all costs.</p>
<p>Aside from the fact that they’ve been playing much better on the defensive side of the ball this season, Denver may be home to the most dangerous individual matchup from the Warriors’ perspective.</p>
<p>Nikola Jokic is arguably the MVP of the league (again) this season, and the fact that the Warriors don’t have an adequate player to match up against him should be concerning.</p>
<p>As great of a defender as Green is (and he’s one of the best of all-time), Jokic is just too big for him to handle on his own. This isn’t to say that Green can’t stop him from scoring. He probably can. But Jokic is such an elite passer that he’s good enough to make the right read.</p>
<p>In addition, there are rumblings that the Nuggets could get back Jamal Murray and/or Michael Porter Jr. in time for the playoffs. All of that combined spells potential disaster for Golden State.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/golden-state-warriors-dont-want-playoffs/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Team #3 </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-443295" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/golden-state-warriors-dont-want-playoffs/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1368106530.jpeg" alt="Golden State Warriors" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1368106530.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1368106530-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JANUARY 16: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket while Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors defends in the third quarter of the game at Target Center on January 16, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Warriors 119-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3 teams the Golden State Warriors don’t want to see in the playoffs: Minnesota Timberwolves</h2>
<p>This one may come as a surprise to most people, as when you hear the name Minnesota Timberwolves, it probably doesn’t strike fear in many people’s hearts.</p>
<p>So far this year, the Golden State Warriors are 2-2 against the T-Wolves, and Draymond Green appeared in only one of those games (which the Warriors won).</p>
<p>However, on paper, the Timberwolves are a nightmare matchup for the Warriors to deal with. There are potential mismatches and nuisances all over the court.</p>
<p>First and foremost, just like the Warriors probably don’t have anyone who can adequately matchup with Jokic, the same can be said for Karl-Anthony Towns. He’s one of the most unique big men in the league and looks ready to show what he’s got in the playoffs.</p>
<p>Past that, Stephen Curry would not have a very fun time being guarded by Patrick Beverley in a seven-game series. When you say the word ‘nuisance,” Beverley has to be one of the first players NBA fans think of.</p>
<p>Even if the Warriors won this series (which they would almost certainly be favored in), there’s no doubt that they would be both mentally and physically exhausted afterward.</p>
<p>Minnesota is 9-1 in the month of March and it looks like they’re going to enter the postseason red-hot. Combine that with the other factors mentioned, and it’s not an ideal matchup for Golden State.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Jordan Poole ready to step up in wake of Stephen Curry injury" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/19/jordan-poole-stephen-curry-injury/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/golden-state-warriors-dont-want-playoffs/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/19/jordan-poole-stephen-curry-injury/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Jordan Poole ready to step up in wake of Stephen Curry injury </a> </div>
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