The defending champions Warriors and Clippers are fighting for a spot in the top six in the division to enter the playoffs, and under the play-off rules, only the top six in the division can go straight to the playoffs, and the seventh to tenth places must play the playoffs. And if you deliberately lose in order to pick a playoff opponent, want to be ranked sixth in the West and avoid the Suns, who are fourth in the West, it is estimated that it is difficult, and it will be especially dangerous to do so, because the Lakers and Pelicans maintain a winning streak, and they may surpass the record ranking of the Warriors and Clippers. Therefore, now the Warriors, Clippers and other teams, no one dares to lose. Two straight wins for the Warriors, good news! Curry is the only one, and the defending champion faces the strongest challenge.
First, the Warriors beat the Spurs and Pelicans to get a small two-game winning streak, while the Warriors are 5-1 in their last six games, and the team is in very good shape. US media NBA reporter released statistics that in the last 6 games, the Warriors' offensive efficiency is fourth in the league and defensive efficiency is sixth in the league, which is very good. It's a bit of a return to last season's good offensive and defensive form. Recently, the likes of Curry, Klay Thompson and Dream Green have played steadily, and even Jordan Poole, who has had ups and downs this season, has been playing more and more steadily and better recently.
Second, the Golden State Warriors won and welcomed the good news. The Warriors' ranking rivals, the Clippers, suffered two consecutive back-to-back losses, so the Warriors overtook the Clippers with a 41-37 record and moved up to fifth place in the West. The Clippers, on the other hand, went 41-38 and fell to sixth place in the West. The Warriors are 1.5 wins away from the fourth Suns in the West, and it is difficult to surpass the Suns, because Durant's comeback, the Suns are in good shape, four straight wins, the Suns will definitely try to maintain the winning streak and lock up the fourth playoff spot in the West. The Warriors and Clippers, on the other hand, can only compete for playoff spots fifth and sixth in the West.
Third, the Warriors can't intentionally lose and avoid the Suns, because doing so could potentially put themselves in a play-off. The Clippers have been cornered, and in next week's finale, the Clippers and Lakers have a life-and-death battle to fight, and if the Lakers' future winning streak ends, it is likely to overtake the Clippers and move up to sixth place in the West. Therefore, if the Warriors deliberately lose, avoid the fourth Suns in the West, it is not reliable, it is not an ideal plan, and now in the last few regular season games, no one dares to lose indiscriminately, and if you don't really want to play the play-offs, it's very risky, it's not worth it. Moreover, every year in the playoffs, the team that deliberately loses and picks the opponent has no benefit, and it is easy for the playoffs to be eaten back.
Fourth, the Warriors are good, and Wiggins is expected to return. NBA reporters officially reported that Wiggins and his wife have returned to the Bay Area, and Cole revealed that Wiggins has been maintaining basketball training. NBA expert reporters predict that Wiggins is likely to make a comeback in the playoffs, that the Warriors need him to compete for championships, and that he will not put his teammates in an awkward situation. Wiggins is averaging 17.2 points + 5.0 rebounds + 2.3 assists + 1.2 steals + 0.8 blocks per game this season, and his offensive and defensive role is huge, especially in the playoffs, and his return is very important for the Warriors' playoff journey.
Fifth, this season, Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole all shot 200 three-pointers, the only trio in NBA history. At the same time, Curry averaged 11.4 three-point shots per game this season (first in the league), 4.9 three-pointers per game, and shot 43.2% from three-point range (the highest three-point shooting rate of any player who averaged at least 5 three-point shots per game). He shot the most, and his three-point shooting percentage was the highest in the league, and Curry's three-point ability was indeed the only one in the league. Curry has exceeded 250 three-point shooting in nine times in his career, the most in history. Curry has made at least 8+ three-pointers per game in 75 times in his career, the first in history.
Sixth, the defending champion Warriors face the strongest challenge. The Warriors now have only four games left in the regular season against the Nuggets, Thunder, Kings, and Trail Blazers. Although the Nuggets and Kings have secured playoff spots early, they will certainly not let the water go, and they both want to beat the defending champions and prove their prowess. In the last game, the Nuggets' core teams such as Jokic and Murray were all rotated, which was specifically to save physical strength to play the defending champion Warriors. Therefore, the battle of the Warriors against the Nuggets must be a vicious battle, and the Warriors will resolutely not lose!