Why The Warriors Can’t Afford A “Slipup”

March 13, 2012; Sacramento, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) and power forward David Lee (10) on the bench during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Power Balance Pavilion. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Sacramento Kings 115-89. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Warriors have played 24 games this season. At first glance, it may seem like it hasn’t been very long, but when you think about it, that’s more than 1/4 of the season.

This means that the Warriors are on track and headed in the right direction. All seems to be going well as Mark Jackson is coaching defense, as well as how to beat the defending champions.. While the Warriors are having fun and winning at the same time, they can’t afford a slipup. In this case, losing one game at a 2:1 ratio is something the Warriors can live with. Losing two or three in a row isn’t. If you look at it, the Warriors could be 3rd place, maybe even 2nd in the Eastern Conference. They would be only behind the Heat and the Knicks.

Those stats are good, but unfortunately for the fans and a gauranteed playoff berth, the Warriors are in the wild west. While they are in 5th place, they’re still at the danger of falling to the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Jazz, Lakers, Rockets and even the Trail Blazers. On the other side, the Warriors are within grabbing distance of the Grizzlies, who are only 1.5 games ahead of them.

The Warriors are looking really good and have some easy games coming up. Around the time of December and January, the Warriors will really have to push for a run. If they get enough games ahead of the 6th seed, they won’t have to worry about dropping. They’ll have to worry about catching the team in front of them, but as most fans have said, that we will all be happy with a playoff berth.

Still, to think that six teams could catch them and take them down and out of the playoff race is a scary thought. If the Warriors slip even once, it could be deadly. They can’t afford to go on a losing streak. I think by this team Stephen Curry and David Lee have seen that and are going hard, as Lee has won the Western Conference Player of the Week award. If the Warriors can go hard and stay in 5th, either way they have a good shot at beating the Clippers and the Grizzlies in the playoffs. It’s because the Warriors’ home crowd is the best in the NBA.

If Stephen Curry, David Lee, and Klay Thompson can keep the Warriors winning, they will be deadly on the road and in the playoffs. A solid goal, until Christmas, for the Warriors, is to go 3-1, which would put them at a record of 19-9, which looks really good. This will put the Warriors on top of things, and maybe if they can shut out Kobe and beat the Lakers, 4-0. This would put them at 20-8. That’s doable, especially because the Warriors are playing the Hornets, the Kings and the Bobcats.