NBA Exec Hypes Warriors' Playoff Chances, 'I Would Not Want to Play Them in Any Round'

The Golden State Warriors look like a formidable foe heading into the NBA playoffs.

Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported that executives around the NBA view the confidence that the Warriors are playing with as something to fear and that they will not be a preferred draw in the postseason.

"The most important thing is their confidence, not their record. People think Steph and Dray don't need confidence, but they all do. [Andrew] Wiggins didn't always have that and you could tell. Jimmy has provided that," a West executive told Bontemps and Windhorst.

"I would not want to play them in any round," the executive said.

The Warriors are currently 47-33 and are tied for the sixth seed in the Western Conference. If they can earn the No. 6 seed, they will face the No. 3 seed in the opening round and avoid the play-in tournament.

While that figures to make them something of an underdog, the team has gone 22-7 since acquiring Jimmy Butler on Feb. 7.

Golden State has two games remaining and will need to finish strong to remain outside of the play-in tournament. If the Warriors finish sixth, they'll likely play the Los Angeles Lakers, who need one win in their next two games to clinch the No. 3 seed.