The Golden State Warriors had their behinds handed to them by the Toronto Raptors to the tune of a 130-77 drubbing on Friday night. Yes, their two stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green didn't play. But there is no reason for any team to get obliterated by 53 points in an NBA game. With this embarrassing thrashing, cries for the Warriors to just mail in the season grew louder than ever. Golden State won't win the championship anyway. That's been determined even prior to the start of the season when Klay Thompson tore his Achilles.

The advantages of calling in the season at this point may be more logical for a team that isn't even close to the title hunt. While they still technically have a chance to make the playoffs via the play-in, the Warriors are just a couple of games from the 13th seed. By dropping further in the standings, they would get a better pick to go along with the possibility of landing the high draft pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves, which could give them two high-lottery selections in the loaded 2021 NBA draft.

They could use these picks to select promising studs for the future or utilize them in a trade package to go for a more established star to join their trio of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and the returning Klay Thompson. Furthermore, Curry and Green could just sit out the rest of the way and enter the 2021-22 campaign with fresher legs and minds as they go for their real champion run.

Nevertheless, the Warriors have made it known all season long they don't intend to tank and that they still have aspirations to make the postseason despite having no real title chances. With where they currently stand, the question is, is it really worth it to go for it at this point? As someone who has followed the Dubs for the entire season, I say the Dubs should still go for the playoff push. Here are some reasons why.

Experience is everything

As many NBA players have said, there's nothing like the playoffs. For a young team like Golden State save for their three stars Curry, Thompson, and Green, making the postseason will be a huge step in the development of their young studs.

Golden State's prized rookie James Wiseman as well as their two sophomores in Eric Paschall and Jordan Poole will definitely benefit from the experience, no matter how short or long it may be. Heck, this will also even give Andrew Wiggins, who the Warriors are banking on to be a great supplementary piece for their championship core, the experience he needs to play in high-stakes games. The 2014 no. 1 overall pick only has one postseason series under his belt with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018.

The triumvirate of Curry, Green, and Thompson already knows what it takes to reach the mountaintop together. However, those three are getting up there in age. The Warriors can't solely bank on them to carry the team next year and will certainly need these young guys to contribute in a huge way. Getting their feet wet into the playoff bloodbath will give them the much-needed experience as they go on their legitimate run for the 2020-21 season when they get their club back in full strength.

Making the playoffs is a win

Doesn't it just look better to see on the record books that you made the playoffs? More importantly, won't it boost the team's morale heading into the next season if they end the campaign playing for something, regardless of how it finishes? At least they tried, right?

Obviously, just making the playoffs is nowhere near the heights the Warriors reached during their five-year dominance from 2015 to 2019. For a team that's still looking to win a championship, though, striving for these small goals is important. This could be their stepping stone as they welcome Klay Thompson back into the fold.

Losing is never good. Intentionally doing so is another story. It won't be good for the coaching staff, for the locker room, and just about the entire organization. Most importantly, it won't be good for Stephen Curry.

Rewarding Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry has gone on record that he wants to make the playoffs. He's aware they don't have the personnel at this point to go on a championship run this season, especially with his fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson on the shelf. Still, it's obvious he's made it a goal to lead this team to a postseason berth.

Curry's heroic efforts this season is the main reason why Golden State is even competing for a play-in spot at this point. The Warriors are now 1-7 this season without the 2-time MVP, which includes the embarrassing 53-point blowout to the Raptors. It's clear that the difference for the Dubs when they have and don't have Curry is night, as he's obviously doing a lot to keep this team afloat.

It's only right for the Warriors to shoot for the playoffs as a way of rewarding Curry for his efforts this season. Imagine informing Curry, who has given his all for the Dubs this year, that you are going to take the tank route the rest of the way. That won't be a good look and will only add to his frustrations, which he has hinted on at some points this year. The last thing the Warriors want heading into what could be an all-in 2021-22 campaign is an unhappy and unsettled Stephen Curry.