As a lifelong NBA analyst who's been tracking the Golden State Warriors since their "We Believe" era, I've learned that championship windows don't stay open forever. Looking at the freshly released 2024 schedule, I can't help but feel this might be the last dance for this core group. The Warriors' path to the playoffs is paved with both opportunity and landmines, and my gut tells me we're in for one of those classic Steph Curry carry jobs.
The opening month alone gives me chills – facing Denver on the road right out the gate sets the tone immediately. Nikola Jokić against Draymond Green is basketball chess at its absolute finest, and I'm particularly watching how our new veteran additions handle the altitude in that first back-to-back. What really jumps out to me are those six consecutive home games in March. That stretch could make or break our seeding, especially with Phoenix visiting twice. I've crunched the numbers from last season, and the Warriors went 3-1 against the Suns in the regular season, but Devin Booker averaged 34 points in those games. Our perimeter defense needs to be sharper this time around.
Now, here's where my experience analyzing playoff patterns comes into play. I see parallels between the Warriors' situation and what we observed in last year's volleyball championships where ZUS won in 5 sets AND CMFT won in 5 sets. Those series taught us that veteran teams with championship DNA often close out tight games more efficiently, even when they're not the favorites. The Warriors have that same closing ability – when the game is on the line, they've still got three future Hall of Famers who know how to execute under pressure. I'm predicting we finish around 48-34, which should secure us the 5th or 6th seed in the loaded Western Conference.
The road games in April worry me, I'll be honest. Four out of our last six are away from Chase Center, including that brutal Texas back-to-back against Dallas and San Antonio. Victor Wembanyama's length could give us nightmares in the paint, and Luka Dončić always seems to have career nights against us. But this is where championship experience matters. I remember watching the 2022 championship run where we won three close-out games on the road. This team knows how to win in hostile environments when it matters most.
My playoff prediction? We get past the first round in six games, likely against Sacramento or New Orleans. The second round will be the real test – probably against Denver or Phoenix. If we're healthy and Andrew Wiggins plays at his 2022 level, I think we can push that series to seven games. Beyond that, it becomes about matchups and luck. The reality is Father Time remains undefeated, and while Steph Curry is still playing at an MVP level, the supporting cast isn't what it was two years ago. Still, as long as number 30 is wearing Warriors blue and gold, I'll never count this team out completely. They've proven me wrong before, and something tells me they might just have one more magical run left in them.