Dub Hub, Daily Warriors Links for 3/22/23: Steph Curry finds the challenge to finish the season strong both ‘inspiring and depressing’

Good Morning Dub Nation,

It’s been a roller coaster of a year for the Golden State Warriors, but with less than ten games remaining, the team enters the final stretch of the season as they fight to keep their playoff hopes alive. With a record of 37-36, the Warriors have a thin grasp on the sixth seed in the Western Conference standings. However, the challenge to will his team to the playoffs has inspired the competitive fire of four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry, while also serving as a reminder of their tumultuous struggles throughout the season.

The Warriors have faced their fair share of obstacles since winning the NBA Finals last season. Whether it was the offseason practice incident between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole, the early struggles of the bench unit, the numerous injuries to key players, the almost rescinded trade of Gary Payton II, the mysterious absence of Andrew Wiggins, or the historic dichotomy of their home and road records; the fact that Golden State has an opportunity to avoid the play-in game and possibly move as high as the fourth seed is nothing short of a miracle.

This speaks to the compact nature of the Western Conference standings this season. While the top three teams have solidified their place in the West, the remainder of the conference is jockeying for position as only three games separate the fourth-seeded Phoenix Suns (38-33) from the last play-in spot currently held by the Utah Jazz (35-36).

With the Warriors hoping to avoid falling any further in the standings, tonight’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks becomes that much more pivotal. Golden State leads Dallas by just half a game, but a victory on Wednesday night would give the Warriors a valuable tiebreaker which could play a huge factor by the end of the season.

The Warriors’ “Championship DNA” has proven to overcome the toughest of obstacles throughout this past decade. Facing adversity has previously helped the team build the toughness required for postseason play, so it will be interesting to see if this current iteration of the team has what it takes to surpass the latest challenge in front of them.

Here are the rest of today’s stories:

In case you missed it from Golden State of Mind:

• Karl-Anthony Towns set to return tonight vs. Hawks after missing 51 games
• In Andrew Wiggins’ absence, how competitive will Warriors be?
• Draymond Green, Kevon Looney probable vs. Mavs
• Andre Iguodala had successful surgery on his fractured left wrist
• Warriors end 11-game road losing streak with win against the Rockets

Other Warriors News:

• Warriors breaking road losing streak meaningless without beating Mavericks (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• Klay Thompson using Warriors’ last regular-season games as NBA playoff prep (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• Did Warriors put too much stock in Jordan Poole’s breakout season? (San Francisco Chronicle)
• J. Cole sits down with Bob Myers (Lead by Example)
• Draymond explains why Warriors need Wiggins & Payton II for NBA playoff push (Draymond Green Show)

NBA News:

• New York Knicks legend Willis Reed dies at 80 (ESPN)
• Grizzlies’ Ja Morant says he’s ‘not completely better’; coach expects guard will play Wednesday (The Athletic)
• De’Aaron Fox: “There were times when you wondered would you still be here?” (Hoops Hype)
• Jaylen Brown Is Trying to Find a Balance (The Ringer)
• The Mavericks three point shooting is the only thing keeping their season alive (SB Nation)