DEFCON DUB: What's your tier on the concern meter?

Welcome back to the dreaded play-in tournament Dub Nation; how ya feeling?

When the Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler in February, the grand plan certainly wasn't to end up watching Butler drop 30 points in an overtime loss that sentenced the team to the NBA's version of purgatory known as the play-in tournament. Yet here we are, standing on the precipice of what could be the most consequential 48 minutes of basketball in the Warriors' post-KD era.

Let's face it: the Warriors-Clippers game wasn't just an April regular season finale …it was Game 7 energy with Game 82 stakes. And the Warriors blinked.

The fallout? Instead of a guaranteed playoff spot and a week to rest aging legs, Golden State now has to face a feisty Grizzlies squad that's already sent the Warriors home in the play-in once before.

So exactly how worried should Dub Nation be? First of all, I am the Gold Blooded King, and the Gold Blooded King is incapable of worry so I can’t relate.

Actually that’s a lie: I’m worried about Ja Morant doing a drive-by on the Warriors team bus after we beat their asses in Chase Center tomorrow.

With a nerf gun, of course ;).

Poor taste jokes aside, let's break it down into three tiers of basketball anxiety, shall we?

TIER 1: NOT WORRIED AT ALL

If you're in this camp, you're pointing to the fact that the Warriors still have Stephen Curry (who dropped 36 points against the Clippers despite nursing a thumb injury) and Jimmy Butler (who played like the playoff version of himself with 30 points, 9 assists in 48 brutal minutes). There were stretches throughout the game where Butler looked like the bully we all knew he could be, getting to his spots with grit and determination to knock down tough turnarounds or slam home vicious dunks. Curry was scampering around the court, creating havoc, and drilling bombs. THAT’S what we dreamed of that ferocious duo’s potential.

Additionally, the Warriors' core has championship DNA. The Golden Empire is not dead by any means folks, and play-in Memphis isn't exactly the 2016 Cavaliers. Also yesterday Draymond Green hit 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, which is FANTASTIC!

The glass-half-full perspective also appreciates that Brandin Podziemski continues to evolve into exactly the kind of role player the Warriors' system thrives on. The sophomore guard's 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting against LA showed he's not afraid of the big moment. Podziemski also contributed 7 rebounds and 4 assists in 43 minutes – the kind of all-around game that suggests Steve Kerr might have a guy who can withstand the pressure of playoff intensity.

Plus, it's a single elimination game at Chase Center, with the best fans in the world, amirite? How worried can you really be? WARRIORS, ARISE AND BOLDLY GO FORTH!

TIER 2: MILDLY CONCERNED

Here's where most rational Warriors fans probably land. The Warriors are 0-3 all-time in play-in games, which isn't just a coincidence – it's evidence that this format is particularly cruel to veteran teams that need rhythm and continuity.

The Jonathan Kuminga situation has gone from perplexing to genuinely concerning. After missing significant time with an ankle injury, Kuminga returned looking like a potential third star, only to get DNP'd in the most important game of the season. Steve Kerr instead opted for 25 minutes of Gary Payton II, who played some feisty defense. The complete disappearance of their most athletic finisher and wing defender is a massive red flag.

Then there's the rebounding issue. The Warriors were absolutely pummeled on the glass by the Clippers (49-34), and now face a Grizzlies team that's even better at rebounding, ranking second in the NBA. A lot of the rebounds the Dubs lost on the defensive end really came down to physicality, size, and grit where the Warriors would literally have the ball in their grasp and some Clipper would swipe it away with a mighty paw. That’s not a good look for Playoff Golden State’s hopes.

TIER 3: COMPLETELY TERRIFIED

If you're here, you've seen enough to believe the Warriors might be in serious trouble. The evidence:

1. The Warriors completely wasted historically good performances from Curry and Butler against the Clippers. If 66 combined points from your two stars isn't enough to win, what happens when one of them has an off night?

2. The play-in format is absolutely brutal for this team. The Warriors are 0-3 all-time in these games, including a loss to these very same Grizzlies in 2021. One-game samples favor youth, athleticism, and chaos – none of which particularly describes this Warriors team.

3. The third scoring option remains the question mark. While Podziemski has been impressive, asking a sophomore to be your third-best player in an elimination game is a dangerous proposition. Remember when Klay Thompson was the third scorer behind Curry and Kevin Durant? Talk about an embarrassment of riches. In order for the Dubs to be a real problem, that third scorer has to be consistently solid. Otherwise the lack thereof becomes glaringly obvious in these moments. DO YOU BELIEVE IN PODZ?

4. Is it me or did Steph's thumb injury appear to affect his handle against the Clippers (8 turnovers)? With just one day between games, that's probably not improving. And I’m an armchair doctor: trust me.

5. Buddy Hield (2-6 from three) and the bench unit failed to provide the spacing the Warriors desperately need. If Buddy isn’t knocking down those triples, the question is what else is he giving you in his minutes (16 min played yesterday)?

6. Is it possible, per chance, that the Kuminga situation feels like it could be a festering wound in the locker room if the Warriors continue to bench one of their most talented young players? IDK.

The most alarming reality? The Warriors just played what amounted to their playoff game 0, with both their stars performing at an elite level, and they still lost. Now they face a Grizzlies team with nothing to lose and revenge on their mind.

If I'm being honest, I’m a We Believe guy. LET’S THROW THE BALL UP AND MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN, BABY! When a team has Steph Curry, you never count them out. But this Warriors team feels dangerously vulnerable in a format that's historically been their kryptonite. I detest the play-in tournament. We should rightfully be the 7th seed and getting a slight break before the playoffs!

Sadly, James Harden made sure those veteran legs wouldn't get their rest, scoring 12 of the Clippers' 13 points in overtime – a staggering 92% of their OT offense. The Beard got some measure of vengeance, sigh.

The bright side? Maybe a life-or-death game is exactly what this inconsistent team needs to finally lock in and play to their potential. Because if they don't, Tuesday night could be the last time we see this iteration of the Warriors in action.