Mavs and Warriors still jostling for playoff positioning

Down to the wire!

The Golden State Warriors only have nine games left in their regular season - a blissful end to what has been an extremely rocky ride. Well… has been, still is and will remain as a rocky ride. Draymond Green (wrist) and Kevon Looney (back) are both questionable for the Warriors. The Dallas Mavericks have problems of their own as both Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic were listed as questionable at time of writing.

This is going to be a big game in regards to the standings, and though none of these are “must-win” technically, these are the sorts of opportunities that will be looked at in the rearview mirror should the team's playoff journey go into a tailspin.

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GAME DETAILS

WHO: Golden State Warriors (37-36) at Dallas Mavericks (36-36)

WHEN: Wednesday, April 22nd, 2023 // 4:30pm (ish) PST

WATCH: NBCSBA: ESPN

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Finding a balance between overly invested, and being at peace

I watched my son’s basketball team get blown out this weekend. A 30 point smash of a defeat. It wasn’t close when the game started, and it only got worse from there. I realized that this is the last time I’ll ever coach my son. He’s in 5th grade now so if he does play additional sports, it would be with a real coach and not just some random dad like me.

We were never a dynasty. We love sports in this house, but I grew up getting yelled at about stuff so have taken a more “challenge by choice” approach to life when it comes to pushing my kids to partake in sports. But watching them get demolished in the closing game of the season and being able to smile through it all felt like the right choice. There was a big rebound here, or a crucial screen he set to free up one of our primary ball handlers - my kid and his buddies were a team; win or lose. And win or lose, I care a lot.

So watching a Warriors team that is struggling enough to remind me of how I picked Patrick Ewing’s Knicks as my second team in junior high because Golden State was so bad. The Warriors aren’t bad, but they aren’t exactly good either. And my problem is that win or lose, I care a lot.

Which can be frustrating.

So the Warriors are living on the edge right now. Trying their hardest but winning some and losing some. It can be heart melting for those of us that are perhaps a bit too heavily invested in this team.

It’s not like everything is going well. The interpersonal dynamics caught a case of the hiccups in preseason and then haven’t really recovered ever since. Andrew Wiggins being out for so long matters - as does the trade for Gary Payton II. And unlike me watching my son’s basketball team, this franchise has done a lot. Which makes it a bit harder to stomach the struggles.

Alex 👋 @Dubs408

Klay Thompson on the Bench counting his 4 Rings to Memphis

I cannot seem to not care. I just don’t have it in me. Even as all of these other priorities push down on me, I can’t shake the need to follow this Warriors team so closely.

Someday, the kids are going to grow up and move out. Curry is 35. Both Klay Thompson and Draymond Green aren't far behind. The clock is ticking, the dynasty aging.

Life goes so fast. It comes and goes in the blink of an eye. The rings and championships make the memories, but the people is really what this is about. The remarkable DNHQ family we’ve built here. All of the players that we’ve collectively watched grow from questionable rookies into the world changers that they became will retire sooner or later. I find myself unable to pull back emotionally, and I’m glad that I can’t. This season has been really weird, the team looks shaky as hell… and I wouldn’t trade this ride for anything.

Prediction

Warriors are hot on the road - time to extend the win streak!