The Golden State Warriors are rolling into the 2026-27 season with pretty much the same crew that barely squeaked into the Play-In Tournament last year, finishing a dismal 10th in the Western Conference with a 37-45 record. And yet, somehow, the majority of Dub Nation is still expecting them to land a top-10 finish again this season. Talk about confidence!
Same Squad, Deeper West?
It’s been an incredibly quiet offseason for the Warriors, despite all the chatter and noise. Seriously, they’re basically running back the same roster that struggled last year. The only fresh face expected to really shake things up and play a large role in head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation is rookie first-round pick Yaxel Lendeboorg. That’s it! Meanwhile, the Western Conference is looking way deeper this season, not exactly making things easier for a squad that just barely made the cut last year.
Fan Faith Runs Deep
So, what gives with these sky-high expectations? In a poll of Dub Nation by SBNation Reacts, Warriors fans showed a surprising amount of faith. A whopping 47% of respondents actually expect the team to reach the Play-In Tournament, just like last year. Even wilder, 29% are betting on them to snag a fifth or sixth seed! Only 19% expect them to miss the postseason entirely, and a tiny 5% are dreaming of a top-four finish. This level of optimism is honestly shocking for a fanbase that’s been rightly justified in its complaints about a questionable supporting cast around what’s now an ageing core.
It’s going to be fascinating to watch how this plays out. Will Dub Nation’s faith be rewarded, or is this just wishful thinking for a team that made almost no moves in what appears to be an even tougher Western Conference? The regular season is about to kick off, and we’ll soon see if this largely unchanged Warriors team can defy expectations.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Golden State of Mind.
Leave a Reply