3. Golden State Warriors
The defending champion Golden State Warriors are looking for some late-season magic to help jump-start them into the playoffs but I simply don’t see it. It would be quite the move if the Warriors could just flip the switch heading into the playoffs but that is something that, historically, is extremely difficult to do in the NBA.
They’ve been decimated by injuries and unavailability all season long and that is still plaguing the team up until now. The hope is that Stephen Curry is able to return this week and that could potentially give the team the spark it needs heading into the last few weeks of the regular season.
I suppose the Warriors are still the defending champions until they lose in the playoffs. But this team is far from the one that many feared heading into the postseason a year ago. They’ve been disappointing considering they were the favorites to win the title this season. So far, they’ve been everything but a favorite this season.