The Golden State Warriors have more work to do before clinching a spot in the playoffs. If the defending champs beat the tanking Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, though, they'll have survived a wild, up-and-down regular season to avoid the play-in tournament, finishing fifth or sixth in the Western Conference.
The LA Clippers will decide Golden State's seed from there. As long as Ty Lue's team takes care of business Saturday against the Blazers and beats the resting Phoenix Suns 24 hours later, the Dubs will be locked into sixth, due for a first-round matchup with the Sacramento Kings that Klay Thompson says would be “amazing.”
The Dubs took care of business in Sacramento. What does their blowout win mean for the postseason?
(@ArmstrongWinter)https://t.co/uegRT4VNQK
— Warriors Nation (@WarriorNationCP) April 8, 2023
The four-time champion was asked his thoughts on that prospective I-80 battle between the Warriors and Kings after his team blew out a short-handed Sacramento squad on Friday night.
“That'd be amazing…That'd be special for Northern California,” Thompson said. “They've got great fans, we've got great fans. Mike B's got them boys playing together and hard. That'd be really cool just for Northern California, which is a basketball hotbed at the moment. It would be nice for the travel; that would be really nice.”
His comments echo previous remarks from both Steph Curry and Draymond Green about a first-round clash with Sacramento being Golden State's preference. It's not just the Kings' lack of postseason experience and subpar, scheme-limited defense that makes them the Warriors' favored opponent, or even the playoff alternative of an epic meeting with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns.
The Warriors' dream postseason seeding scenario is still in play, even after Sunday's ugly loss to the short-handed Nuggets.
(via @armstrongwinter)https://t.co/ZANG2KPfCG
— Warriors Nation (@WarriorNationCP) April 3, 2023
It's just a two-hour drive between San Francisco and Sacramento, keeping the Warriors' legs extra fresh due to no need for air travel. Dub Nation would no doubt turn at least certain portions of seating at Golden One Center into Warriors cheering sections, chipping away the Kings' home-court advantage.
Needless to say, keep a close eye on Sunday's action. It's only a matter of hours until we know for sure Golden State's postseason path will look like.
Follow Us
Subscribe