The Warriors have a long way to go before they're in the playoffs. A win on Thursday against the Houston Rockets would all but ensure a play-in appearance, but there's a two-game gauntlet waiting for them against the Los Angeles Lakers, then likely one of the Mavericks, Kings, Pelicans or Suns.
If - and it's a big if - the Warriors can make it through that two-game gauntlet, Nick Friedell believes that there is a favorable matchup waiting for them on the other side.
In short, Friedell is not a fan of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder, a half-game back of the Denver Nuggets for the top seed. Asked who would be the most favorable of those three teams for the Warriors, he was unequivocal.
"Minnesota. I do not believe in that team at all," Friedell said. "I know what they've done in the regular season. I know Ant Edwards is a hell of a player who's only getting better.
"I am not in any way believing that Minnesota, who has never really won anything - they had that one year with Thibs and Jimmy Butler they got to the playoffs. How you go from alright, well, we've never won anything at all to yep, we're gonna be right there in the Western Conference Finals. I think that team is ripe for a first-round upset. I don't believe that they're going to be able to find their way this quickly in games that matter the most.
"You could say the same thing about the Thunder. I just think Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is unbelievable. And he is a guy who's only getting better in that star role in the middle of the country there for a team that not a lot of people know about still nationally.
"Denver, you don't want to mess with at all. To me, guys, that is the team to beat, not just in the West, but in the NBA. They just won. They've got Jokic. He's going to win another MVP. They know what it takes to win in the Finals. I wouldn't want any piece of them if you're the Warriors or anyone else."
If Golden State can manage to win the two-off gauntlet of the play-in and avoid Denver, Friedell is optimistic:
"But if the Warriors can get in through the play-in, and they can match themselves up with either the Thunder or the Timberwolves, and you have healthy Steph, focused Draymond, Wiggins playing at the level he's been at, you get Kuminga, and you start rolling through top to bottom what they have, I'd like my chances in that series if I were the Warriors."
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