The Western Conference isn’t slowing down anytime soon, and ESPN’s Jay Bilas believes there’s only one way the Golden State Warriors can stay in the fight.
“Stay healthy and put yourself in a good position going into the playoffs,” Bilas told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole at the American Century Championship in South Lake Tahoe. “It’s crazy, one or two games throughout the year can determine whether you’re fourth or eighth. Heck, last year, the last three games of the year, Denver was either going to be fourth or in the Play-In. It was that close. Every game you play, and I know there are 82 of them and you’re not going to be your best all the time, but every game matters in the Western Conference. It’s brutal.”
Golden State’s injury history has already proven Bilas right.
“But because everybody’s so close, that means if you get in the playoffs, you have a chance. especially if you’re healthy,” Bilas continued. “And that’s what doomed Golden State this last year, [Steph] Curry had that injury. It didn’t matter if it was Curry, [Jimmy] Butler or [Draymond] Green, you get one of those guys hurt and you’re not going to win. It’s unfortunate, but you got to keep your guys healthy.”
That lesson has been learned the hard way across the league.
The Boston Celtics’ title defense fell apart when Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles, while the Indiana Pacers’ breakthrough season ended after Tyrese Haliburton suffered the same injury and was ruled out for all of 2025-26.
The Warriors know they can’t control injuries, but Bilas says their only chance is to “take it day by day” and survive the grind of another Western Conference gauntlet.
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