The Golden State Warriors have been a fixture in the NBA Finals for four years straight and if the various oddsmakers and prognosticators around the globe are to be believed a fifth appearance is on the horizon. FiveThirtyEight, Caesars Palace, the Westgate SuperBook, 5Dimes and many others all see Golden State as the prohibitive favorite to represent the Western conference in the NBA Finals with little stopping them from a third straight title, their fourth in five years.
Yet this time, coach Steve Kerr and his squad are coming to the playoffs in less intimidating fashion than in years past.