In today’s Dub Hub:
- Draymond Green admits he’s “not that excited” about the Play-In Tournament as Warriors are officially locked into the 10th seed.
- NBA reveals Play-In Tournament schedule, Warriors to play next Wednesday against the Clippers or Blazers.
- NBA determines Kings’ coach Doug Christie made ‘no intentional effort’ to lose the game vs. Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors are officially locked into the 10th seed in the Western Conference, meaning they’ll have to win two road games in the Play-In Tournament to secure a spot in the playoffs.
It’s not where the team expected to be entering the season, but injuries derailed those plans, and now, their playoff hopes come down to a win-or-go-home two-game stretch.
However, despite the stakes, Draymond Green isn’t exactly excited by the opportunity. While he embraces the challenge, Green made it clear
after Tuesday’s win over the Sacramento Kings that the Play-In doesn’t carry the same intensity as a traditional playoff series.
Green expanded on this perspective, pointing to the original purpose of the Play-In which was to incentivize teams to keep competing late in the season. But in this year’s Western Conference, the top 10 in the standings have largely been locked in for weeks now, with little pressure from outside teams due to what he claims is tanking.
Regardless of how it feels, the stakes remain clear.
The Warriors will need to win twice on the road to advance and earn a first-round matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, or else, their season comes to an early end once again.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, April 9th:
Warriors News:
What NBA players, coaches and execs are saying about tanking | ESPN
In ESPN’s conversations with dozens of players, coaches and front office executives, a consistent theme emerged: Nobody likes it — “I hate it,” Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said — but not many deny it is often the most prudent team-building path when stuck near the bottom. Different seasons and different drafts will generate different forms, but everyone agrees it’ll continue until the NBA figures out either the proper rules or punishments to curb it.
“These teams are doing the whole gamut: sitting guys in the fourth, playing analytically bad lineups, drawing up plays for bad shots,” one Western Conference general manager said. “The creativity is impressive and I don’t blame them. It’s the best strategy to get better. Look at all the most promising teams in the league: Thunder, Spurs, Pistons, Rockets, Hornets. Years of being bad and building up on high picks. It’s painful but worthwhile.”
Steph Curry reveals secret to four-point play success in Warriors’ win vs. Kings | NBC Sports Bay Area
After the win, Curry broke down exactly how he’s able to convert those difficult, contact-heavy shots.
“You have to obviously focus in on the rim,” Curry said on NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Warriors Postgame Live.” “Sometimes there could be contact or whatnot — I do fall a lot — but those two were just timing, confidence, let it go, absorb the contact and have fun with it.”
That simple formula — focus, timing and confidence — has helped Curry turn chaotic moments into highlight plays throughout his career.
Warriors first Play-In game scheduled for next Wednesday
NBA News:
Starting 5: OKC clinches No. 1 seed, Denver wins 10th straight, Cade returns | NBA
Top Dogs: With the win, the Thunder secure the West’s top seed and the league’s best record, a feat they’ve now pulled off in back-to-back seasons
“It’s extremely important,” said Holmgren on securing the No. 1 seed. “Just knowing that in the event of a Game 7, it’s always gonna be at home. You can’t underestimate how valuable that is … now, we got more to do.”
Seeking 65: At 64-16, OKC is one win shy of the franchise’s first-ever back-to-back 65+ win seasons
NBA determines Kings’ late foul was an error and not tanking
In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:
Warriors Reacts Survey: Do you want Steve Kerr to come back?
The Warriors coach is about to see his contract expire, and there haven’t been any reports of working on a new contract. Even though there’s occasionally been some tension between Kerr and owner Joe Lacob, the simple fact is that Kerr has an open invite to coach the Warriors for as long as Curry is on the roster. Curry very openly does not want to play for any other coach … but of course, it takes two to tango, and Kerr will have to make the decision.
So we’re asking Warriors fans: do you want to see Kerr return next year? Or would you prefer he call it quits, and the organization can bring in a new face?
Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
