Warriors Eye Playoff Push as MacMahon Ranks Them Second in West

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – ESPN analyst Tim MacMahon has named the Golden State Warriors as the second-best team in the Western Conference, highlighting their potential to climb the standings during the critical final month of the 2024-25 NBA season. MacMahon made his remarks on Tuesday’s episode of “NBA Today.”

“I’m going to go with Golden State here,” MacMahon stated. “Obviously, playoff Jimmy [Butler] is a thing because we’ve seen him before. But, more than anything else, Steph Curry last night, Steve Kerr talked about how tired he was. They’ve got to get him some rest and get his battery recharged. But he’s still playing at the peak of his powers. Him and Draymond Green, four-time champions, they have the talent and the pedigree to be the biggest threat to Oklahoma City [Thunder].”

The Warriors have seen a resurgence since acquiring Butler, but the depth of the Western Conference poses a significant challenge. Currently seated at No. 2, the Denver Nuggets managed to secure a win against Golden State even without their star center, three-time MVP Nikola Jokić. MacMahon referenced the Nuggets as a formidable opponent despite their recent lineup adjustments.

“Even without Jokić, the Nuggets are a tough matchup,” he added. “While rookie center Quinten Post has been impressive lately, the size and depth of other contending teams will play a crucial role in the playoffs.”

As the Warriors continue to integrate Butler into their offensive scheme, MacMahon emphasized the importance of reintegrating young forward Jonathan Kuminga. “His incredible speed and athleticism could give Golden State an edge against teams with size advantages,” he said. “However, relying solely on Butler for offensive production will not suffice.”

The Warriors, who have relied heavily on their stars in the past, face pressure to improve their bench performance if they intend to advance past the Western Conference semifinals. MacMahon pointed out that the familiar postseason narratives surrounding Butler, Curry, and Green may not hold as much weight as they once did.

MacMahon concluded, “It’s clear the Warriors must make marked improvements to ensure they can compete at the highest level. The pressure is on them to show they can adapt and overcome obstacles this postseason.”