Many franchises seek to make a playoff push at this juncture of the NBA season. The teams in playoff contention are battling to make the playoffs or pursuing a higher seed for playoff match-up purposes. At the same time, NBA analysts and reporters analyze teams based on their records and final conference seedings. I’m no different. My focus is on a team we’ve become accustomed to making playoff runs. They have quietly gone under the radar this season and are written off as tile contenders by most this season.

Kevin Durant made his Phoenix Suns debut in a 105-91 victory against the Charlotte Hornets. He finished with an efficient 23 points with six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. Since acquiring Kevin Durant, many across the basketball world have the Phoenix Suns as the favorite to win the West. Phoenix Suns’ ownership and management made the Durant trade hoping to partner Kevin Durant with Devin Booker to create a lethal scoring duo alongside one of the best floor generals ever, Chris Paul. In the eyes of many basketball fans, it’s hard to picture this Suns’ team not making a deep playoff run.

Only someone foreign to basketball would doubt the greatness of Kevin Durant’s basketball ability, especially his offensive skillset. It is logical to conclude that the Suns are legitimate NBA title contenders. They’ve added Durant to a roster that includes Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and DeAndre Ayton. However, one team is perfectly constructed to turn this Suns’ project into a disaster.

Ladies and gentlemen, your defending champs, the Golden State Warriors!

If the playoffs were to start today, the Suns would face the Golden State Warriors in the first round. Many people have written the Warriors off as championship contenders; I refuse to do such a thing. A few weeks ago, ESPN’s First Take host Stephen A. Smith said this about the Warriors, “You certainly expect to see better than what you’re seeing from the Golden State Warriors. They are a disappointment. They really are.” This is how many analysts and reporters across the NBA feel about the Warriors this season; however, I respectfully disagree.

Last season, the Warriors finished the regular season as the third seed before winning the NBA Finals. They currently hold the fifth seed with a record of 32-30. Regular season aside, looking deeper at this Warriors team is essential.

The Warriors’ season began in a way they are not accustomed to, with drama. Before the NBA season, Draymond Green and Jordan Poole engaged in a heated argument, resulting in Green punching Poole. What I assume was already challenging to navigate became even more complicated when the footage was leaked to the public. After that incident, the Warriors’ chemistry displayed during their championship run in the season prior seemed to dissipate.

However, what the Warriors have going for them is familiarity. They are led by a guy who is all too familiar with this type of incident, head coach Steve Kerr. Before the 1995-1996 NBA season, Michael Jordan punched Kerr in the face after Kerr stood up to him in practice. Jordan apologized, and Kerr forgave, stating, “From that point on, our relationship dramatically improved, and our trust in each other.” The Bulls went on to complete another three-peat, with Jordan and Kerr hitting historical big shots during that run.

I am not suggesting that Draymond Green is the player that Michael Jordan was. However, as was Jordan for the Bulls, Green is the leader and motor of the Golden State Warriors.

Green has taken accountability for the lack of chemistry the Warriors have displayed for most of this season. “I have not been the leader I am and need to be for this team. We’ve struggled with accountability on the defensive end…. on the offensive end. That’s my role on this team, and I fell short in that area.” Green said of the Warriors’ struggles.

Since the all-star break, the Warriors have gone 5-1. They seem to be rebuilding their chemistry even with the NBA’s all-time 3-point leader sidelined with a leg injury. Speaking of injury, the Warriors’ season has been riddled with them. All-stars Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins have missed 26 games this season, with Klay Thompson missing 12.

If there is any positive in Curry and Wiggins’s absence, it’s that Thompson has been afforded more shot opportunities. The increase in field goal attempts has given Klay a sense of rhythm. Since the all-star break, Klay is averaging 27.6 points on 48% shooting from the field and 49% from three.

Taking all the Warriors have dealt with this season; one would assume a playoff play-in position for the Warriors. Instead, they hold the fifth seed in the Western Conference.

With Klay, Draymond, and Poole all finding their rhythm and rebuilding chemistry, the idea of adding Curry and Wiggins back to the lineup makes one wonder how deep of a playoff run the defending champs can make.

I’m not ready to predict a repeat for the defending champs. What I am willing to predict is an early exit for the Suns. Even with Durant, if the Suns face the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, the Warriors will win in a 7-game series. After all, the Warriors have the added fuel of Kevin Durant’s departure, which still lingers.