Golden State Warriors face uphill battle to break 8-decade title curse with sluggish start
The Golden State Warriors find themselves at a crossroads this season, sporting a record of 13-12. While this mark isn’t disastrous, it stands in stark contrast to the weight of history. No NBA team has ever clinched a championship after winning 13 or fewer games in its first 25 outings. In fact, only the 2005-06 Miami Heat, the 1953-54 Syracuse Nationals, and the inaugural 1946-47 Philadelphia Warriors have managed to secure a title with a 14-11 start, emphasizing the uphill battle the Warriors face.
Historical Context of Championship Starts
Historically, a strong beginning has been a hallmark of championship-winning teams. Recent Warriors title squads set the bar high with impressive starts. In their championship seasons, the Warriors boasted records that would make any contender envious:
The 2021-22 Warriors opened at 21-4.
The 2017-18 squad began 19-6.
The 2016-17 team mirrored the 21-4 start.
The 2014-15 Warriors were dominant, starting 22-3.
Among these, the 2021-22 Warriors, despite a midseason slump with a 7-16 stretch, finished with a respectable 53-29 record and secured the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, showcasing their ability to rally after a rough patch.
The Importance of a Top-3 Seed
The quest for a top seed cannot be overstated. In the past 55 years, only one team— the 1994-95 Houston Rockets—has won the championship while seeded lower than third. That Rockets team, despite being the sixth seed with a 47-35 record, made history and remains an outlier. Since 1980, championship teams with fewer than 53 wins in the regular season have been few and far between, including the 1994-95 Rockets, the 2005-06 Heat, the 2022-23 Nuggets, and the 2021-22 Warriors.
A Path Forward for the Warriors
The 2022-23 Nuggets serve as a model for the Warriors’ potential turnaround. That championship team started 14-10 but then surged, winning 19 of their next 22 games to reach a 33-13 record. For the Warriors, replicating such a successful stretch is essential, and the timing could not be better.
Currently, the team is healthier than it has been all season. With ten of their next 18 games against teams under .500 and 14 of the next 20 contests taking place at home, the Warriors have the opportunity to ascend the Western Conference standings.
While it may be challenging to secure a top-three seed by the All-Star break, especially with teams like Oklahoma City, Denver, Houston, San Antonio, and the Lakers already boasting 17 or more wins, a strong run from Golden State could position them favorably as the season progresses. The next month is critical for the Warriors, who must harness their potential to shift the narrative surrounding their title aspirations.
