The Golden State Warriors Missing The Playoffs Again Is a Blip Not A Trend

Soak it up now, NBA. The western conference, to be more exact. After a five-year run of dominance over the association, the Golden State Warriors have now missed the playoffs altogether in consecutive seasons for the first time in a long time. The 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons are the last time the Warriors missed the post-season in back-to-back years.

Mark Jackson was head coach the last time these Warriors missed the playoffs, and Draymond Green had not even been drafted by the team just yet. The core group [Green, Stephen Curry & Klay Thompson] of this Warriors team isn’t used to missing the playoffs.

CURRY’S BRILLIANCE

The rest of the league should be concerned, though. This trend of the ‘dubs’ missing out on the post-season is not likely to continue past this season. Given health, among other circumstances, when this team returns for the 2021-22 season, the western conference should be on high alert. The way things went down this season for the Warriors will be a thing of the past. The first couple months of the 2020-21 season where the team struggled to find their rhythm should be a thing of the past. But once they, and more importantly, Curry found his mojo, all bets were off, and a magical regular season run was on and popping.

Although the Warriors came up short this year, Curry proved the naysayers wrong. While he did not carry this group to a title, Curry did prove he could handle the load of being the only superstar on a competitive team. Green is a star in his own right but isn’t exactly a threat to drop buckets on opposing teams too often. So, the scoring load was primarily on Curry all season long.

Not only did Curry deliver to the tune of 32ppg along with his second scoring title, but he is also one of three finalists for the NBA’s MVP award. All of this after missing all but a handful (five) of games during the 2019-20 season. While Curry probably won’t win the MVP award this season, he should win Comeback Player of the Year. If that were an actual NBA award, Curry would have it in the bag. There’s something for Adam Silver to ponder.
Then next season could be Thompson returning from the Achilles injury to win it. Back-to-back years of Warriors’ players winning the Comeback Player award. Wouldn’t that be something?

Let us hope Klay [Thompson] is 100-percent healed up and well enough to start the season in October. If Thompson is ready to go in October and is even 85-percent of what he was before the Achilles and ACL injuries, then the rest of the western conference is in trouble. With the splash brothers back in full effect and Green in the best shape of his career, this group is primed and ready to make a run at their fourth title.

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THE FUTURE

Also, don’t forget about 2020 first-round pick James Wiseman who missed the last 33 games of his rookie season with a meniscus injury. Wiseman’s surgery to repair the meniscus in April was a success, and he is expected back in time for next season. Then you add the emergence of other young players like Jordan Poole and Juan Toscano-Anderson this Warriors team could be dangerous next season with Thompson back in the starting lineup. Andrew Wiggins also pleasantly surprised many with how well he played in his first full season as a Warrior.

The Warriors are also looking at two lottery picks in the draft this year, although there is a good chance the team could package one or both picks, opting for a more proven player instead of taking another young prospect. Maybe a player like Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans. Think about Ingram teaming up with Curry, Thompson, and Green. Either way, the Warriors look to be in good shape going into next season.

So, this is a warning to the league and especially the western conference. The Warriors team that trotted onto the court for most of the ‘20-21 season is not the team you will be facing in ‘21-22. You can take that to [Las] Vegas and bet on it.

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