Warriors could sacrifice eighth seed in favor of rest
The Golden State Warriors are the 10th seed in the Western Conference, one game behind the Los Angeles Lakers, who sit eighth.
However, with a tough play-in tournament run ahead, head coach Steve Kerr has revealed he could rest some of his team when it faces the Utah Jazz on Sunday.
"Oh hell yeah," Kerr said when asked if he's considering resting players on Sunday. "You prefer to stay at home. But if you look at what we're facing, it's a gauntlet. You've got to play two play-in games, and if you can win those two, you've got to play a playoff game 48 hours after that. I'm much interested in our ability to be ready for next week."
Resting players doesn't guarantee the Warriors will lose their game against Utah. Will Hardy's team has been inconsistent this season. They sit 12th in the West and are firmly outside the playoff picture. However, it does reduce the chances of Golden State securing a win, assuming Utah plays a full-strength roster.
Finishing as the eighth seed does provide an easier path to the postseason. Finishing ninth or 10th commits a team to two play-in games, both of which are win-or-go-home contests.
The Warriors have an aging roster. Their best players are all in the back nine of their careers. Kerr is likely focusing on keeping them healthy rather than fighting an uphill battle to overtake the Lakers.
Furthermore, the Warriors have enough big-game experience to feel confident about navigating the pressures of win-or-go-home situations. They will have a slight advantage over their opponents in both rounds of the play-in tournament because of their previous successes in big moments.
Still, Golden State came into the season with championship aspirations. If it fails to make the playoffs, the season will be deemed a failure. The front office will likely look to change the roster's construction. The Warriors core has a lot riding on the next week of basketball.
It will be interesting to see whether Kerr resting his players pays dividends or costs them a chance to make the playoffs. Fortunately, we won't have to wait too long to find out.
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