The second half of NBA programming was launched on Wednesday, removing some of the mystery associated with an unprecedented 2020-21 season. The league wisely scheduled only the first half of the games prior to the season, leaving space in the second half for replacement games for COVID-related postponements, which were many.
As some teams need to invent more games than others, there are some peculiarities in the second half schedule. The Los Angeles Clippers, for example, need not leave Los Angeles from March 29 to April 13, as they play nine games at home in a 15-day period. Another feature of the calendar that may be central to the Western Conference playoffs dispute is the fact that the Golden State Warriors will play their last six games of the season at home, the longest home to close a season in the history of the franchise.
The Warriors entered Wednesday’s game against the Indiana Pacers in eighth place in the West, but the standings are absolutely packed. Golden State is just 1.5 games from fifth place, and just three games ahead of 11th place. It is safe to say that the fate of the team in the playoffs, or at least their sowing, will be determined over the last six home matches.
“It can be very beneficial. We will see how it goes,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr, of the six home games to the end of the regular season. “I hope we are in a good position to enter that house. But, there is a long way to go, so we will see.”
The Warriors face the three best teams in the West – Clippers, Jazz and Lakers – to start the second half schedule, but from there things get more navigable, concluding with those six home games against Thunder (twice), Jazz , Suns, Pelicans and Grizzlies. At that point, OKC might as well be in tank mode, Jazz and Suns can rest players with the postseason approaching, and Pelicans and Grizzlies may be Golden State’s main competitors in the lower half of the Western Conference playoff.
The favorable schedule prepares the Warriors to return to the postseason after losing the playoffs last year for the first time since 2012 due to a series of injuries, mainly to Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry. Sure, they have to get there first and stay healthy, but the Warriors have to like their chances if they are within attack distance when entering the final homeland.