We’re deep into the second half of the season, and the competition in the West has got Wild. It’s pretty much like a game of musical chairs. Just instead of music, there are a bunch of basketball players fighting for playoff spots. And the Warriors? They’ve clawed their way to the seventh seed. Hats off to head coach Steve Kerr and the squad for that. But they can’t afford to get too comfy there. The road is full of obstacles. One slip-up, and they could fall faster. But one step forward? They could be looking at a smooth ride into the postseason. But how? The Clippers are already holding tight to that spot. Well, there is a loophole. And it’s tied to three other teams.

Both the Warriors and Clippers are sitting at 32 wins. But the Clippers have played one less game. So, for Kerr’s team to move up, they obviously need to win their next three games. What could help is if the Clippers lose. It’s not a fantasy scenario. But it’s very much doable. A little luck and reliability in the next three games are the key to securing their future.

The following three fixtures for the Clippers are quite packed. They’ll be facing the Lakers again tonight after taking an L from them on Friday. And let’s be real, with the way the Purple and Gold are rolling with an 8-2 record in their last ten, it’s going to be tough for the Clippers. Next are the Suns. Now, that’s a tricky one. It looked like the Phoenix side got their groove back in their last game against the Pelicans, so they could make it interesting. A win for the Suns there surely wouldn’t make much of a difference for them but for Kerr and the Golden State that could be a relief. After the two road games, the Clippers will finally be back home against the Pistons, which could be a win on paper. So, the Clippers could end up 2-1 or maybe 1-2, but if they go 3-0, it could crush the Warriors’ hopes of surpassing them.

Although they had a good chance of stepping up with a win at Philadelphia, Steve Kerr chose to utilize his star player, Stephen Curry, less in the game. And the game ended up 126-119 in the 76ers’ favor but the coach stood by his decision.

Steve Kerr opens up about desperate Stephen Curry decision

The Sixers were on a nine-game losing streak and without their main man, Joel Embiid. On the flip side, the Warriors were entering the game with five straight victories. So, it somewhat looked like Steve Kerr and the team might have underestimated the Eastern side. How else could Stephen Curry’s extended absence be justified when Jimmy Butler was already out?

When Kerr was asked about his decision to limit the 4x champion’s minutes to 36 last night, he confessed, “We got three and four nights. I can’t play him 40 minutes. I don’t really want to play him much more than 34, 35, but I think he ended up around 36 tonight. So shortened his rest in the second, obviously a little desperate and hanging in there and we had a shot so we went for it. He’ll get his rest tomorrow and be ready to go in Charlotte.”

The plan was to rest him more in this matchup to keep him fresh. But when panic hit, Kerr brought him in to close the game. There’s no doubt that Curry played his part, putting up 29 points coupled with 5 rebounds, 13 assists, and of course, his electric dunk that stunned the entire NBA community. But even with all that, it still wasn’t enough to save the Warriors.

Nevertheless, if Kerr wants to secure a spot in the postseason tournament, he’ll have to be more careful otherwise, all their efforts could go to waste. Do you think the Warriors can surpass the Clippers this week? Share your thoughts in the comments below!