2024 Western Play-In Preview

The NBA's left side gets to work Tuesday night

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Prediction: 49-33, tied for No. 2 in the West
Actual: 46-36, No. 10 in the West

What went wrong: Draymond.

We could say I overrated the Warriors, underrated the West, or I could reference the 8-8 record the Warriors turned in during DG’s 16-game suspension, a penalty levied when Green took his arm and whapped a guy. Of course, Golden State was 10-13 at the time of Green’s removal, this was always a teetering outfit, Draymond was always gonna whap a guy.

The West is merciless, Andrew Wiggins mostly took a year off, Klay’s vision doubled in November, the No. 8 offense worked well enough but the Warriors never crunched midrange waves, something to set them apart.