The Golden Era | A Golden State Warriors Dynasty (NBA 2K20)

[marshdaddy]

Warriors.jpeg

January Update


Rhadi Staley

So far, so good. As we head into January sitting at 10-3, I like where we are standing. Among the leaders in the Western Conference is always good, but it's even better with the production we've gotten from this somewhat new-look group.

James Wiseman is a vertical threat we haven't had before, and it's opened up a more diverse offensive attack. We're running more pick-and-roll than in previous years, and Wiseman has been a devastating lob threat. With his ability to dominate the glass and anchor our defense, he could be the piece that pushes us over the top.

Jonathan Kuminga has looked great as well. He's developing a playmaking game and continued to look better as a three-point threat. If that continues, he will surely be the missing piece to our future. Already a stout defender who could be a small-ball five, Kuminga's flexibility on both ends of the floor will be a difference maker for us.


December Games Played
Davis triple-double leads Lakers over Warriors

Golden State Warriors (1-1) at Los Angeles Lakers (1-1)
Dec 6, 2026 1 2 3 4 Final Golden State 21 21 36 39 117 Los Angeles 33 33 27 36 129 Top Performers Golden State Warriors Jonathan Kuminga - 33 PTS, 9 REB, 4 AST, 8-16 3PT Klay Thompson - 24 PTS, 2 REB, 6-9 3PT Los Angeles Lakers Colin Sexton - 31 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL Anthony Davis - 23 PTS, 15 REB, 10 AST, 3 STL, 4 BLK	Team Stats Comparison GSW LAL FG Made-Att 46/97 46/97 3PT Made-Att 20/47 22/38 FT Made-Att 12/12 21/24 Rebounds 59 51 Assists 30 24 Turnovers 14 5 Steals 2 13 Blocks 5 6

Golden State stifles Kings’ offense in blowout

Golden State Warriors (9-3) at Sacramento Kings (3-10)
Jan 1, 1 2 3 4 Final Golden State 45 26 28 24 123 Sacramento 27 8 12 34 81 Top Performers Golden State Warriors Jonathan Kuminga - 30 PTS, 12 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL James Wiseman - 24 PTS, 25 REB, 2 AST Sacramento Kings Markus Howard - 22 PTS, 2 AST Spiro Giannou - 10 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST	Team Stats Comparison GSW SAC FG Made-Att 52/97 39/101 3PT Made-Att 16/38 17/49 FT Made-Att 6/11 0/0 Rebounds 71 52 Assists 36 23 Turnovers 7 8 Steals 9 2 Blocks 3 0

League Storylines
Timbewolves chasing history with hot start
Minnesota has ripped off 14 consecutive wins to begin the NBA season, tying the Dallas Mavericks (2002-03) and Boston Celtics (1957-58) as the third best start to a season in NBA history. The Wolves play the Kings (3-11) on January 2 with a chance to tie the Houston Rockets (1993-94) and Washington Capitols (1948-49) as the second-best start.

Edwards thriving in Charlotte; Hornets struggling
Edwards appears to have unlocked another level offensively for the 4-11 Hornets, sitting second in the NBA with 34.2 points per game, and adding 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Despite his success and that of Joshua Christopher (17.9 / 4.3 / 3.9), Nico Harrington continues to struggle. The fourth overall pick in 2024 has appeared in just two games, shooting a combined 6-for-21 with just one assist.

Justice lifting Raptors
Jaylen Justice, the rookie top overall pick, is living up to his billing. Averaging 24.9 points (7th in NBA) and 6.1 rebounds (2nd among point guards), Justice has the Raptors in the thick of the playoff race. The rookie already has a pair of 40+ point scoring games, and has guided the Raptors to three wins in their last four games after a slow start to the season.



Notable Injuries
Chicago: Kostas Antetokounmpo, pinched nerve in back, 2-4 weeks

Cleveland: Jason Sanders, right knee tendinitis, 2-4 weeks; Theo Maledon, torn elbow ligament, 8-10 weeks
Losing Maledon isn’t good, as he was averaging 12.2 points in his second year in Cleveland, but the loss of Sanders could derail the season. Cleveland had hoped to compete, and the former top overall pick was averaging 24.2/6.4/4.0 and hitting a career-best 41.3% of his shots from deep.


Boston: Marcus Smart, broken right ankle, 4-6 weeks

Memphis: Antoine Shaw (R), broken right ankle, 4-6 weeks

Miami: Lonzo Ball, high right ankle sprain, 2-4 weeks

Sacramento: Dusan Cvetkovic, right hand fracture, 1-2 weeks
Cvetkovic might be the King’s best player, and his absence has played a large role in their early-season struggles

Los Angeles Lakers: Sterling Gaines, sprained left elbow, 2-4 weeks; Nicolas Claxton, dislocated left elbow, 1-2 weeks
The Lakers’ center depth is depleted, which means Anthony Davis will likely have to play more at center.

Orlando: Gideon Delk, right humerus fracture, 6-8 weeks; Emmanuel Mudiay, fractured right arm, 2-4 weeks
Guard depth is depleted for the East-leading Magic, but so long as Tre Hunter and Jalen Green are healthy, Orlando is contender.

New Orleans: Brandon Ingram, severe right ankle sprain, 6-8 weeks; Jaxson Hayes, broken right ankle, 1-2 months; Zion Williamson, suspension
The Pelicans had weathered the storm of Zion’s 25-game suspension, but the loss of Ingram and Hayes makes the storm even worse. Fox will be heavily relied upon to keep the reigning-NBA champions afloat.

San Antonio: Daishen Nix, broken right kneecap, 2-4 months
The loss of Nix dampens what has so far been a great start to the season for the Spurs.

Oklahoma City: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, high right ankle sprain, 4-6 weeks


Standings

NBA Standings - Updated: Jan 1, 2027
EAST PLAYOFF RACE	W	L	GB
1 Orlando	10	4	--
2 Milwaukee	9	5	1.0
3 Detroit	9	5	1.0
4 Indiana	8	6	2.0
5 Miami	7	5	2.0
6 Atlanta	7	6	2.5
7 Boston	6	8	4.0
8 New York	6	8	4.0
Cleveland	6	9	0.5
Chicago	6	9	0.5
Toronto	5	9	1.0
Philadelphia	5	9	1.0
Charlotte	4	11	2.5
Brooklyn	3	10	2.5
Washington	2	11	3.5
WEST PLAYOFF RACE	W	L	GB
1 Minnesota	14	0	--
2 San Antonio	12	2	2.0
3 Golden State	10	3	3.5
4 Denver	10	5	4.5
5 Memphis	9	5	5.0
6 Oklahoma City	8	5	5.5
7 New Orleans	8	6	5.0
8 Houston	8	7	6.5
Dallas	8	7	--
Los Angeles Lakers	7	6	--
Utah	7	8	1.0
Phoenix	6	8	1.5
Los Angeles Clippers	5	10	3.0
Sacramento	3	11	4.5
Portland	2	12	5.5

[marshdaddy]

The Ringer.png

Warriors lose Rolle to torn calf

Anthony Nojkic
January 31st, 2027

The Warriors announced that Jevon Rolle is expected to miss 6-8 weeks with a torn right calf muscle, suffered during the Warriors 117-87 win over the Charlotte Hornets on January 30th. Rolle suffered the injury with four minutes to play in the first quarter.

The injury is a setback to the Warriors and Rolle, who had been an early favorite for the Sixth Man of the Year award, averaging 17.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists off the bench for Golden State. It will also test the Warriors’ depth at the point guard position. Aside from Rolle and Stephen Curry, the Warriors only other NBA point guard on their roster is Mychel Mulder, who has appeared in just three games since returning to Golden State.

Keon Granger (pinched nerve in back) and Miles Bramos (back spasms) are both expected to be at full health, as Bramos has been playing through the injury, and will be turned to fill in the void left by Rolle.


NBA Storylines
Expansion rumors gaining speed
Rumors of potential expansion have continued to gain momentum in league circles, according to league sources. Potential ownership groups have emerged in multiple markets, those with knowledge of the situation tell The Ringer, with the NBA’s Board of Governors expected to discuss the matter at their February meeting.

While specific cities remain unconfirmed, league sources have said Seattle and Vancouver are among the cities that may be considered for potential expansion, along with Las Vegas and Kansas City. Seattle is expected to be chosen, if the Board of Governors votes to expand, though there is an expectation that two teams would be chosen for expansion.

Cavs send Jarrett Allen to Oklahoma City
The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Desmond Bane from the Thunder, along with a 2031 first round pick, in exchange for Jarrett Allen. For Cleveland, adding Bane is insurance to Jason Sanders, who is still recovering from right knee tendonitis and provides better depth. After signing Usman Garuba, the move also paves the way for Cameron Sullivan (7th overall in 2025) to start.

For the Thunder, Allen should slide in as DeAndre Ayton’s backup, an elite bigman pairing. After drafting Tomas Bajza 3rd overall, clearing out Bane should provide the Slovenian an opportunity to prove he belongs and likely re-inserts Kevin Durant into the starting lineup.

Zion Williamson returns from suspension
Zion Williamson made his long awaited return to the New Orleans Pelicans after serving a 25-game suspension. Williamson returned on January 26, scoring 35 points with 14 rebounds in 38 minutes. In the four games that Williamson played in January, he averaged 30.8 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists as the Pelicans went 3-1.

Standings

NBA Standings - Updated: Feb 1, 2027
EAST PLAYOFF RACE	W	L	GB
1 Orlando	20	9	--
2 Detroit	20	9	--
3 Atlanta	17	12	3.0
4 Milwaukee	17	12	3.0
5 Cleveland	15	14	4.0
6 Boston	15	15	5.5
7 Philadelphia	14	14	5.5
8 Indiana	14	15	6.0
Miami	13	14	6.0
Charlotte	15	17	0.5
New York	13	15	0.5
Chicago	9	22	6.0
Washington	7	21	6.5
Brooklyn	5	20	7.0
Toronto	6	22	7.5
WEST PLAYOFF RACE	W	L	GB
1 Golden State	23	5	--
2 San Antonio	21	7	2.0
3 Minnesota	21	7	2.0
4 Memphis	19	10	4.5
5 Dallas	17	10	5.5
6 Oklahoma City	17	10	5.5
7 Los Angeles Lakers	17	11	6.0
8 Denver	15	12	7.5
New Orleans	16	14	0.5
Houston	12	16	3.5
Utah	12	17	4.0
Los Angeles Clippers	12	18	4.5
Phoenix	11	18	5.0
Sacramento	10	19	6.0
Portland	5	23	10.5

Notable Injuries
Milwaukee: Bradley Beal, severe right ankle sprain, 4-6 weeks; Michael Porter Jr. broken right hand, 2-4 weeks
Losing both Beal and MPJ could be a season-altering loss for a Bucks team looking to compete in the East.

Cleveland: Theo Maledon, torn right elbow ligament, 2-4 weeks

Memphis: Jaren Jackson Jr., right knee tendinitis, 2-4 weeks
Ja Morant will be leaned upon heavily in order for the Grizzlies to keep pace in a competitive and crowded West

Los Angeles Lakers: Anthony Davis, lower left leg stress fracture, 6-8 weeks; Everett Quinn, dislocated right elbow, 4-6 weeks
Davis is the motor behind the Lakers’ engine, and without him, it’ll be on Colin Sexton and Dejounte Murray to keep the wheels from falling off.

Dallas: Kira Lewis Jr., dislocated right patella, 4-6 months

Denver: Isaiah Todd, broken vertebrae, 2-4 months

New Orleans: Brandon Ingram, severe right ankle sprain, 1-2 weeks; Jaxson Hayes, broken right ankle, 4-6 months
Zion is back, but will his return be enough to outlast the Ingram injury? The Pelicans sit two games back, but have seen teams ahead of them suffer injuries of their own.

San Antonio: Zach LaVine, fracture right leg, 2-4 months; Daishen Nix, broken right kneecap, 1-2 months
The loss of Nix was a tough pill, but now without LaVine, the Spurs hopes may be dashed. Cole Anthony and Sasha Kasparov will have to prove they can keep the team alive.

Phoenix: Javon Shumpert, dislocated right patella, 2-4 months

Oklahoma City: Ibraham Mobley, strained left achilles, 1-2 weeks; Kevin Durant, hyperextended left shoulder, 4-6 weeks
After dealing away Desmond Bane, the Thunder were betting on Durant’s health. That hasn’t come to fruition, though Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is expected back from his high ankle sprain at the beginning of February.

In the meantime, Cade Cunningham is an early favorite for MVP, averaging 36.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 9.8 assists.

Golden State: Jevon Rolle, torn right calf, 6-8 weeks

[georgiafan]

Sounds like it may be time to add another PG to the bench

[marshdaddy]

The Athletic.png

Trade rumors ahead of the deadline and Warriors corner

Ryen Simons
March 21, 2027

Before we jump into the Trade Deadline buzz, let's jump into the revolving door around the Warriors point guard position. Since losing Jevon Rolle to a torn calf at the end January, and since have struggled to find consistency in the 28 minutes he vacated.

The Warriors promptly lost their first five games in February, and have been a middle of the road team since. They started by giving minutes to Mychel Mulder, who at 32 is best served as a spot shooter and not a playmaker like Rolle.

They next went to Steven Navarro, a shooting threat as a two-way point guard who has yet to make much noise in the NBA. He didn't light it up either, which prompted the Warriors to sign Haden Best to a pair of 10-day contracts.

Best doesn't have the shooting capabilities of either Navarro or Mulder, but his athleticism and ability to get into the paint is more in-line with what Rolle brings to the table. Best has played well enough and earned a minimum contract for the remainder of the season, and lead to the release of Mulder. Rolle returns in the next few weeks, but Best may have played his way onto the Warriors roster next season after a tumultuous start to his career since being drafted 24th overall by the Mavericks in 2022.

Trade Deadline
With the trade deadline five days away, trade rumors are swirling, as well as a few finalized trades that are already shaping the stretch run of the NBA season. Let’s start with the latest deals.

Quote:

Anthony Nojkic @NojRinger The Dallas Mavericks are acquiring Myles Turner from the Nets in exchange for James Harden and a top-three protected first in the upcoming draft.

The Mavericks are beefing up their center rotation by adding Turner, who is in the final year of his contract. Turner has already proven once before he can be a key cog on an NBA championship team, having won a pair of rings with the Warriors. A stretch five who is among the league’s best in blocking shot, Turner fits in nicely for Dallas.

Quote:

Anthony Nojkic @NojRinger Sources: The Orlando Magic are acquiring Kareem Livingston in a three-team trade with the Rockets that sends Killian Hayes to Houston along with Orlando’s 2027 1st round pick.

The Magic are taking a swing on Livingston, the former third overall pick who has yet to blossom in the NBA, but for the low price of an unprotected first in the upcoming draft. Livingston is a good playmaker and slasher, who has yet to find a perimeter jump shot. That shouldn’t matter much next to Jalen Green and Tre Hunter, though.

Quote:

Anthony Nojkick @NojRinger The Oklahoma City Thunder have acquired Jarrett Allen from the Cleveland Cavaliers for Desmond Bane and a 2031 1st

The Thunder are upping their center depth behind DeAndre Ayton, and are doing it with a great option in Allen. The move also opens space for Tomas Bajza, the third overall pick last year, to get playing time behind Kevin Durant at the three.
Update: Jarrett Allen suffered a torn right calf muscle in February and is expected to be out for another 4-6 weeks

Trade Rumors
Golden State Warriors - Devin Vassell
The Warriors have done a decent job in purging their overcrowded wing positions. Last year, they dealt away Anthony Edwards and Darius Stith in separate deals, and after signing Kyle Guy to a minimum contract, dealt him to the Pelicans for shooting guard Tavas Marciulionis, the 30th pick in the 2026 NBA draft, and swap rights in the upcoming draft. Now, they might be looking to clear things up further.

According to sources, the Warriors have been entertaining deals for Devin Vassell. The talented 3-and-D wing is in his third year with the Warriors and is shooting 42.1% from deep in 17.1 minutes per game. Despite the good numbers, Vassell’s contract is up after the season and is reportedly asking for around $8-9 million a year, which is on par with what he is making currently.

So why haven’t the Warriors extended him? Well, money mostly. The Warriors have the league’s largest payroll at $224 million, which ends up bringing with it a luxury tax of potentially $246 million, bringing the total cost of the roster to nearly half a billion dollars. Despite seeing impressive financial gains last year (a reported $92 million) the Warriors did lose more than $100 million during the 2024-25 season.

It makes sense, then, that the Warriors would be looking to potentially shed some salary, and thus money especially with guys like second-year pro Miles Bramos shooting 47.2% from deep and Keon Granger hitting 37.7%, both of whom are also on expiring contracts.

Basically, the Warriors are choosing between either running things out with Vassell and in all likelihood losing him during the summer for nothing, or cutting ties now to not only save a few dollars, but open up minutes for other players.

Names Worth Watching
Jusuf Nurkic. Portland
The Blazers are the league’s worst team and are clearly looking to unload. The 32 year old Nurkic would make sense to be on the move.

Jaheim Briggs, Houston
The 23-year-old just signed in Houston, but if the Rockets feel they can get better value, he may be available.

Fred VanVleet, Toronto
The Raptors are building around Jaylen Justice, so moving VanVleet to a contender makes sense.

Caleb Love, Indiana
Love has looked good next to Brighton Reed, but the 24-year-old is playing out of position as an undersized two. The Pacers did just draft C.J. McCoy fifth overall.

Kelly Oubre, Utah
Oubre is on an expiring deal, and while he makes sense to stay in Utah, for the right price it could work for Utah to move him.

Obi Toppin, Atlanta
Toppin has bounced around the NBA throughout his career, and after a short stint in Atlanta, he could be gone yet again. Finding a team to take him will be the hard part.

Paul George, L.A. Clippers
George would surely like to play for a contender at age 36, but his big contract makes it a harder move to complete.

Pick a SG, Milwaukee
The Bucks are overwhelmed with shooting guards behind Bradley Beal. Any one of them could be available.

[marshdaddy]

The Athletic.png

Trade Deadline recap and grades

Ryen Simons
March 26, 2027

While no blockbuster trades rocked the NBA landscape, that didn’t keep teams from being active. Fringe playoff teams in both conferences made moves to improve depth and add veterans, while one NBA contender made a surprising shake-up. Let’s get to it.

Quote:

Anthony Nojkic @NojRinger Golden State and Houston have reached an agreement that will send Jaheim Briggs, Royce O’Neal and a 2028 protected first to Golden State in exchange for Devin Vassell and Greg Brown.

The Warriors had reportedly long been trying to deal Vassell to escape the financial burden of a long-term contract, and in the process were able to also get off of Brown’s contract, as he is owed $17.33 million over the next two seasons. To do so, they get back Briggs, the seventh overall pick in 2023, who himself is in the first year of a three-year, $32.5 million deal, and a top-five protected first round pick next year (side note: the Warriors now have four first round picks, theirs included, in the next two drafts).

Losing Vassell isn’t terrible considering the wing depth the Warriors have, though Greg Brown had played well as a stretch four and occasionally being able to play the five. Without them, there will certainly be more minutes for both Miles Bramos and Keon Granger, and Briggs offers some upside as the future starting shooting guard with Klay Thompson being 37.

The Rockets continue their rebuild, and gain a 26-year-old Vassell and 24-year-old Brown who may factor into their long-term plans.

Grades:
Warriors: B+
Their luxury tax bill will still be huge, even in saving around $4 million this year, but it solves the drama of Vassell’s extension. Brown was owed just a touch less than what Briggs will be making, but in clearing another contract, the Warriors open minutes for Bramos and Granger.

Rockets: A
Houston is fighting for the playoffs, and effectively swapped a 23-year-old former lottery pick already on his second team (not a great sign) for a pair of reliable rotation pieces. Vassell and Brown might not be stars, but the Rockets have a compelling roster after years of turmoil.

Quote:

Anthony Nojkic @NojRinger The Milwaukee Bucks are acquiring Kelly Oubre from Milwaukee in exchange for Josh Green.

The Bucks and Jazz reached an agreement to swap Oubre and Green. For Milwaukee, Oubre could potentially slot into the starting lineup ahead of Khris Middleton, who is 35 years old, and clears up the crowded two-guard spot.

Utah, meanwhile, gets an upgrade at the two behind Donovan Mitchell, while also getting younger on the wing (Green is 26; Oubre 32).

Grades
Milwaukee: A-
They cleared the log jam of shooting guards and got a veteran presence on the wing, one who you could argue is better today than Khris Middleton.

Utah: B+
The Jazz still need wings, but Green is younger and while he is on an expiring contract, is an intriguing add now and long-term.

Quote:

Anthony Nojkic @NojRinger Sources: The Philadelphia 76ers have acquired Paul George from the Los Angeles Clippers.

The 76ers are making the playoff push with their young roster, and are adding George to get there. They are sending Malcolm Brogdon to the Clippers in the deal. The Sixers had $22 million in cap space room, so can easily fit George in.

The fit will be interesting, as they have Troy Brown Jr. and Jay Kingston on their roster, but it is another veteran voice in a locker room that may lack it. With an NBA title under his belt, he might be the ideal fit.

For the Clippers, the move does shed salary this year and next. Los Angeles now has $60 million in cap space next season, and a handful of talented players to build around. Mitchell Robinson and Emmanuel Barkley (6th overall in 2022) are under contract for four years, and the Clippers hope to re-sign Gary Trent Jr. Even if they sign Trent Jr., the Clippers will have cap space to chase free agents, as Luka Doncic, LaMelo Ball and Zion Williamson, among others, could be available.

Grades:
Clippers: B+
The Paul George-Kawhi Leonard era is officially over with. It returned one NBA title, which should be enough to deem it a win, but it still feels like it should’ve been more.

76ers: B-
The Sixers are floating around the playoffs with a very young group and are dealing one veteran for another. I liked Brogdon as the mentor to Sterling Weems, and George may still believe he’s the star of the show since he is still making $30 million next year. I could be wrong, but I’m worried this wasn’t necessary.

[marshdaddy]

NBC Sports Bay Area.png

Warriors overtake Spurs entering final month

Isaiah Charles
May 1, 2027

The Golden State Warriors used an attacking offense to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 128-116, taking a half-game lead over their Texas rival entering the league’s final month. Jevon Rolle led the Warriors with 24 points off the bench, his fifth-straight game with at least 20 points, Steph Curry had 22 points on 4-for-9 shooting from deep and Jonathan Kuminga tallied a 20-point, 16-rebound double-double.

The Warriors owned a 36-to-12 advantage on the free throw line, attacking the Spurs consistently despite being without James Wiseman, who missed his first game after suffering a stress fracture in his right foot. Golden State needed the extra offense, as without Wiseman they surrendered 19 offensive rebounds resulting in 24 second-chance points for the Spurs. Sasha Kasparov took full advantage, pulling in nine offensive rebounds en route to a 12-point, 15-rebound performance.

San Antonio Spurs (53-18) at Golden State Warriors (52-16)
May 1, 2027 1 2 3 4 Final San Antonio 29 27 28 32 116 Golden State 22 39 33 34 128 Top Performers San Antonio Spurs Cole Anthony - 19 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL Daishen Nix - 18 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST Golden State Warriors Jevon Rolle - 24 PTS, 3 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK Jonathan Kuminga - 20 PTS, 16 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 3 BLK	Team Stats Comparison SAS GSW FG Made-Att 47/106 44/83 3PT Made-Att 19/49 15/32 FT Made-Att 9/12 28/36 Rebounds 59 55 Assists 23 24 Turnovers 8 9 Steals 6 6 Blocks 6 7

League Storylines
Warriors once again looking towards the lottery
During last summer’s NBA Draft, the Warriors dealt away the 24th and 28th picks, along with Darius Stith, to the Milwaukee Bucks for the swap rights to the pick the Bucks owned via the Nuggets. The Warriors were betting that the Bucks or Nuggets would falter and miss the playoffs, giving them another lottery pick.

At the start of the season, that seemed unlikely, with the Nuggets and Bucks both competing atop each conference. Now, however, the tide has changed. The Nuggets site five games back of the eight seed in the West with 14 games to be played, and the Bucks clinging to a one-game edge in the East, and just four games up on the 11 seed. If either team continues to drop, the Warriors odds at yet another top pick may rise.

Timberwolves struggling to remain consistent
Since starting the season a blistering 15-0, the Timberwolves have been merely mediocre. Sitting at 41-28, having gone 26-28 since the start of the season, Minnesota has fallen to seventh in the West and are just 1.5 games up on the surprising Houston Rockets for the final playoff seed.

The Lakers (3.5 back from Houston) and Denver (5.0 games back) loom behind the Rockets, but might be far enough away that they’re unable to make a final push, but regardless, a sub-.500 season save for the starting 15 games doesn’t loom well for the Wolves.

Pelicans surviving rocky season
Sitting at 42-27, the Pelicans record is covering up what has been a tumultuous season. After losing Zion Williamson for the season’s first 25 games due to a suspension, New Orleans survived injuries to Brandon Ingram and Jaxson Hayes, and then a month-long injury to Williamson. Despite it all, De’Aaron Fox has answered the call, averaging 23.7 points, the most he’s averaged since arriving in New Orleans, and shooting a career-best 50.2% from the floor and 76.2% from the free throw line. The fact that the Pelicans are not only securely in the playoff race, but are competing for homecourt advantage in the first round is impressive for the reigning NBA champions.

Same song, different chorus in Charlotte
Anthony Edwards should be the favorite to win Most Improved Player for the second time in his career, a feat uncommonly accomplished but worth giving out, as Edwards has exploded in Charlotte, averaging 33.3 points per game, second in the NBA, with a PER of 31.9 (second in NBA) and a 33.8 efficiency (third in the NBA). Despite it all, the Hornets are 28-41 and sitting four games back of the Bucks with 13 games to play. The deficit is doable, but the fact that the Hornets are here again is disappointing.

Trading for Edwards was a bet that he would raise the floor and ceiling they felt that James Wiseman had set, but that bet has gone terribly. Yes, Edwards is putting up gaudy numbers in his first year in Charlotte, but judging him by the results of his team, it’s merely big numbers on a bad team.

Rockets surging in the West
The Houston Rockets have unexpectedly risen up the West since their trade-deadline deal with the Warriors. Since acquiring Devin Vassell and Greg Brown in exchange for Jaheim Briggs on March 19, the Rockets are 13-3 with two of those three losses coming in the last two games. The craziest part of it?

Neither Vassell or Brown is the reason. Vassell has yet to appear in a game since the trade, and Brown has appeared in just six games, never scoring more than nine points. Instead, it’s been the addition of Cam Thomas. The former second round pick in 2021 is averaging 12.9 points on 53.4 / 47 / 82.6 shooting splits with a 64% effective field goal percentage. All of those numbers are well above his career marks. Center Nefi Diop has also exploded, averaging 19 points and 9.2 rebounds in April.

Standings

NBA Standings - Updated: May 1, 2027
EAST PLAYOFF RACE	W	L	GB
1 Detroit	46	23	--
2 Orlando	46	24	0.5
3 New York	40	28	5.5
4 Atlanta	39	30	7.0
5 Cleveland	38	29	7.0
6 Boston	38	30	7.5
7 Miami	34	34	11.5
8 Milwaukee	32	37	14.0
Philadelphia	30	37	1.0
Indiana	30	39	2.0
Charlotte	28	41	4.0
Washington	25	43	6.5
Chicago	25	44	7.0
Toronto	24	44	7.5
Brooklyn	18	49	12.0
WEST PLAYOFF RACE	W	L	GB
1 Golden State	52	16	--
2 San Antonio	53	18	0.5
3 Memphis	49	21	4.0
4 Oklahoma City	43	25	9.0
5 New Orleans	42	27	10.5
6 Dallas	41	26	10.5
7 Minnesota	41	28	11.5
8 Houston	39	29	13.0
Los Angeles Lakers	35	32	3.5
Denver	34	34	5.0
Utah	32	38	8.0
Los Angeles Clippers	23	46	16.5
Phoenix	21	47	18.0
Sacramento	20	48	19.0
Portland	9	60	30.5

[georgiafan]

looks like your gamble on the draft pick could pay off

that's a exciting trio in NO

[marshdaddy]

NBC Sports Bay Area.png

Warriors fall to Suns in season finale, clinch two-seed

Isaiah Charles
May 29th, 2027

The Golden State Warriors sputter into the playoffs, having gone 4-6 in their final 10 games and clinching the two-seed in the Western Conference. For a team that for much of the season spoke at length about wanting to enter healthy and not atop the standings, the ending to the season fit their approach.

Ben Simmons was the lone starter to play against Phoenix, a 110-87 loss, as Stephen Curry (rest), Jonathan Kuminga (rest), Klay Thompson (bruised knee), and James Wiseman (right foot stress fracture) were all in street clothes. While Thompson and Wiseman are both expected to play in the Warriors’ first round series against the Mavericks, time will tell if it was worth abandoning the top overall seed in favor of a matchup with the Mavericks and either Memphis or Minnesota should they advance.

It culminates a stretch in which the Warriors lost big to title contenders Orlando (141-128), Dallas (136-84) and Detroit (117-109), while also slipping up against teams that missed the playoffs completely like Phoenix and the Clippers (120-113). A win surely would’ve served as momentum, but the Warriors may be hoping that a fully healthy roster is all they need.

I can’t find the option to view the calendar in 2k21 and I didn’t do the box scores before advancing, so no boxes for these

Let’s get to our first round previews, starting with the Warriors. Full standings are below for what was an extremely competitive playoff race. (Reminder all first round series are five games. Conference Semifinals and beyond are seven.)


Western Conference

(2) Golden State Warriors (60-22) vs (7) Dallas Mavericks (48-34)

Dallas is facing their own injury issues, as Luka Doncic is still out with a high ankle sprain he suffered in mid-May against the Warriors, while Jae’sean Tate (right leg stress fracture; 72 games played) and Kira Lewis Jr. (dislocated right patella; 21 games played prior to the January injury) will also be missing. That means all the weight of the world falls on the shoulders of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Mavs lost six straight to enter the playoffs, falling from a potential top four seed to seventh.

Prediction: Warriors in five
Golden State is more healthy than Dallas and deeper. A rematch of last year’s first round matchup is bad news for Dallas.

(1) San Antonio Spurs (61-21) vs (8) Houston Rockets (44-38)
Here are a pair of feel good stories. On one hand, the Rockets were struggling just to stay above water, now they are back in the playoffs as their rebuild continues. On the other, the Spurs navigated major injuries to Zach LaVine, Cole Anthony and Daishen Nix and still won 61 games thanks to Sasha Kasparov (4th overall in 2022), a Defensive Player of the Year finalist and a favorite for Most Improved Player.

Prediction: Spurs in four
The Spurs are back healthy and playing some of their best basketball. The Rockets are the lone playoff team in the West without a reasonable argument that they could win it all.

(3) Memphis Grizzlies (58-24) vs (6) Minnesota Timberwolves(48-34)
The Wolves started red hot, going 15-0, before going a pedestrian 33-34 the rest of the way. Sample size tells us that’s who Minnesota really is: a .500 team that got hot. That streak was good enough to get them here, but is it good enough to keep them around? Ja Morant is elite, averaging 31.5 points and 11.0 assists a game, and the Grizz have been starting Brandon Clarke at the three for an over-sized front court with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Viktor Pressey (27th overall in 2022).

Prediction: Grizzlies in four
The Grizz are rolling all season, not just in December and are full of two-way studs. The Wolves are led by three offensive forces in D’Angelo Russell, Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns that have yet to prove they can play defense consistently (+2.7 point differential compared to Memphis’ 11.2).

(4) New Orleans Pelicans (52-30) vs (5) Oklahoma City Thunder (51-31)
Is it a good or a bad thing that this could easily be a Western Conference Finals matchup but we’re getting it in the first round. Props to the Pelicans for navigating Zion Williamson’s 25-game PED suspension and then injury, as well as injuries to Brandon Ingram and Jaxson Hayes and still manage to win 52 games.

And Oklahoma City is equally potent, with MVP-finalist Cade Cunningham surrounded by Shai Gilgeous Alexander and DeAndre Ayton.

Prediction: Pelicans in five
The reigning NBA champs will be tested, but Oklahoma City has yet to prove they can advance past the first round. I wouldn’t at all be mad to be wrong here.


Eastern Conference

(1) Detroit Pistons (57-25)vs (8) Indiana Pacers (37-45)
Detroit is embracing two approaches: ultra-big and ultra-shooting. LaMelo Ball and Desmond Cooper make up one of the league’s most explosive backcourts, and with Evan Mobley at the four and Nick Ricahrds at the five, they are massive underneath.

The Pacers feel much like the 2024-25 Pistons team that went 40-42, made the playoffs as the eight seed with a young core, got beat by a good Milwaukee team, but rebounded last year to win 55 games and come within a game of the NBA Finals. I’m not saying Indiana is going that way (Brighton Reed’s regression this season is concerning) but they’re making forward progress.

Prediction: Pistons in three
Detroit is just better, simple as that.

(2) Orlando Magic (53-29) vs (7) Miami Heat (41-41)
Jalen Green and Tre Hunter are the other young and elite backcourt in the East. A former MVP, Green’s shooting numbers dipped slightly, but remain elite (52.0% / 40.7% / 81.1%) and Hunter should be All-NBA after averaging 26.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 7.6 assists on 51.6-42.9-94.9 shooting splits.

The Heat started hot but have holes. They have great playmakers in Lonzo Ball and Bam Adebayo, great defenders in Jonathan Isaac and Adebayo and a great shooter in Tyler Herro. But they don’t have that one superstar you need to win it all.

Prediction: Magic in five
There are too many weapons for the Magic and too many concerns with the Heat for me to trust Miami to pull an upset.

(3) New York Knicks (52-30) vs (6) Cleveland Cavaliers (46-36)
What better encore for Jason Sanders than a rematch from a year ago. The 2023 first overall pick led the Cavs back to the playoffs last year only to get swept by the Knicks as New York marched to the NBA Finals. He’s back after another impressive season, scoring 24.9 points with 7.3 boards and 4.1 assists. This time, he’s flanked with improved talent, with Cameron Sullivan (7th overall in 2025) improving.

The Knicks are still potent, led by Trae Young and R.J. Barrett along with the addition of Marvin Bagley III making them better than a year ago.

Prediction: Knicks in five
The Cavs improved, but so too did New York. After getting demolished by Zion Williamson a year ago in the NBA Finals, they added Bagley to shore up their forward rotation. Now it’s time to see if that investment is worth it.

(4) Boston Celtics (48-34) vs (5) Atlanta Hawks (48-34)
It’s been a sudden and quick fall for Atlanta, after they made consecutive NBA Finals two years ago. But they’re still relevant, which is saying something. Kyrie Irving is showing signs of slowing down, so too is Pascal Siakam, though Brandon Boston and Saddiq Bey each upped their scoring totals by four points per game.

The Celtics are no strangers to scoring, led by Jayson Tatum, who again averaged over 30 points per game (31.0), and flanked by Jaylen Brown and Kawhi Leonard (who’s recovering from a left ankle sprain). With Robert Williams inside, the Celtics defense is scary.

Prediction: Celtics in five
If Kawhi comes back early in the series or misses no games at all, the Celtics defense at full-strength is demoralizing. If the Celtics can slow Kyrie, they should be able to walk out of this battle alive.


NBA Standings

NBA Standings - Updated: May 30, 2027
EAST PLAYOFF RACE	W	L	GB
1 Detroit	57	25	--
2 Orlando	53	29	4.0
3 New York	52	30	5.0
4 Atlanta	48	34	9.0
5 Boston	48	34	9.0
6 Cleveland	46	36	11.0
7 Miami	41	41	16.0
8 Indiana	37	45	20.0
Philadelphia	37	45	20.0
Milwaukee	37	45	20.0
Charlotte	34	48	23.0
Toronto	31	51	26.0
Chicago	30	52	27.0
Washington	28	54	29.0
Brooklyn	23	59	34.0
WEST PLAYOFF RACE	W	L	GB
1 San Antonio	61	21	--
2 Golden State	60	22	1.0
3 Memphis	58	24	3.0
4 New Orleans	52	30	9.0
5 Oklahoma City	51	31	10.0
6 Minnesota	48	34	13.0
7 Dallas	48	34	13.0
8 Houston	44	38	17.0
Los Angeles Lakers	43	39	18.0
Denver	38	44	23.0
Utah	37	45	24.0
Los Angeles Clippers	28	54	33.0
Phoenix	26	56	35.0
Sacramento	23	59	38.0
Portland	11	71	50.0

Worth Noting: The Bucks (37-45) and Nuggets (38-44) both missed the playoffs, which means the Warriors are guaranteed a lottery pick by way of the trade made during last year’s NBA Draft. The Warriors also own the Pelicans’ first round pick.