After losing rather inexplicably to the Minnesota Timberwolves at home on Tuesday, the Golden State Warriors have little room for error in their quest for the best regular season record of all time.
The Warriors are currently 69-9, meaning they would have to win their remaining four games in order to beat the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls record of 72-10. After losing two of their last three games – both at home where they were previously undefeated – and looking like a shell of what they have been for much of the season as of late, though, some are starting to wonder if the record is worth the trouble of exhausting the players heading into the playoffs.
It starts with their main superstar Stephen Curry.
After shooting no worse than 49.5 percent from the field in any month, Curry’s shooting went down to 47.1 percent in the month of March. He is shooting 50.2 percent on the season and is in danger of missing out on the much-coveted 50-40-90 club. His movements on the floor have been slower and sloppier in recent games than he had been all season long. It couldn’t have been clearer when he turned the ball over a season-high nine times against the Boston Celtics on April Fool’s Day. Just a cruel joke? He has averaged five turnovers in his last six games.
Draymond Green, their second most important player, has played no less than 35 minutes in the last 11 games. Klay Thompson has been on a similar boat, playing less than 35 minutes just once in his last eight games. At some point, it’s not unreasonable to question whether fatigue will be a factor down the line while trying to collect as many wins as they can, but part of the struggle may also have something to do with the fact that they are simply getting bored of the regular season games. That’s understandable, but also clearly a problem when they’re chasing after history.
Watching from afar, Magic Johnson believes it’s time for the Warriors to think of the bigger picture:
With OKC resting Westbrook & Durant, I think it’s time for the Warriors to rest some of their stars, like the other playoff teams are doing.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 7, 2016
Right now the Golden State Warriors look like they are mentally fatigued and that’s why I said they should rest their stars.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 7, 2016
While the sentiment is understandable, the stakes are obviously different. The Oklahoma City Thunder are solidified in their position as the third seed in the West. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were rested on Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers, and that’s a reasonable move to make at this point of the season. Also of note is the fact that a Blazers win means they will be that much closer to moving past the depleted Memphis Grizzlies in the standings, who are just half a game up over the Blazers in the loss column. Should that happen, the Thunder would end up facing the Grizzlies instead of the feisty Blazers in the first round of the playoffs. By resting their guys on Wednesday, the Thunder won no matter how you looked at the situation.
As for the Warriors, are they “mentally fatigued”, as Johnson says they are? No one knows for sure, but they certainly have looked more tired (or disinterested) in recent weeks. Still, it’s tough to turn down a chance to make history with just four games remaining. Here’s what it boils down to: after having lost to the Timberwolves, they will play four games in eight days, followed by two days of rest before the playoffs begin. Not to read too far into the future, but they will likely make quick work of whoever becomes their first-round opponent as well, which will also give them extra time to rest. All in all, the schedule and what’s to follow doesn’t sound too bad.
That said, Golden State could still rest its players. If they lose once in the next three games, that is.
Jim Park is a blogger and Tweet of the Night author of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.