Well, it’s that time of year again. The postseason is approaching, and the playoff seeding is beginning to set. So, we’re approached with the age old question: Who’s taking down Golden State?

For the past 4 seasons, the answer has been “no one.” The Warriors have entered all those seasons as favorites to win it all, and this year appears no different. The Cavs shocked the world and all our expectations by overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the 2016 Finals, only to be punished the next two seasons by the Dubs.

However, although things look bleak, nothing is ever technically a sure thing. So, for fun, here’s a list of five teams that could (but probably won’t) end the regime of arguably the greatest basketball team ever assembled.

1. Toronto Raptors: The best the Eastern Conference has to offer (IMO), the Raptors have plenty of firepower to match Golden State. With the godly emergence of Pascal Siakam coupled with the acquisition of Marc Gasol, Kawhi and friends could surprise the Dubs. After all, Kawhi was giving the Warriors all they could handle in his last stint with the Spurs before the infamous play with Zaza Pachulia, so he’ll have some payback to exact on them if they were to meet in the Finals. But, they first have to get past the…
2. Milwaukee Bucks: Currently holding the best record in the NBA, the Bucks have steadily grown into one of the league’s best ball-clubs. A blend of good defense, great team chemistry, and solid outside shooting all mixed together could spell headaches for Golden State, who’s good, but not as deep as they’ve been in recent years. Oh yeah, and Giannis is Shaq reincarnated, so they have that going for them as well.
3. Houston Rockets: On to a familiar Western Conference foe, Houston is never an easy matchup for the Warriors. The two typically get together and have a contest to see who can make more threes, which Golden State usually wins. The Rockets are indefinitely less talented than they were last season from a roster standpoint, primarily in their loss of reliable wing defender Trevor Ariza. But, they still have a few things going for them in the fight against Warrior tyranny. For one, star guard James Harden is having his best season as a pro, averaging about 36 points per game. The Rockets have also beaten Golden State three times this season, their only loss coming in the closing moments of their fourth meeting. Perhaps they can put the Dubs on the ropes like they did last postseason, only this time they’ll be looking to finish the job.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder: Now before any Nuggets or Blazers fans riot, hear me out. Yes, OKC barely holds the 7th seed and Paul George is out. But, Denver only has one win against Golden State this season, the other two meetings ending in blowouts. Portland just lost Jusuf Nurkic indefinitely, which will not bode well come playoff time. Everyone else in the Western Conference I just don’t trust, if I’m to be betting on who could possibly upset the Warriors other than Houston. The Russ-PG combo can catch fire at any moment, and the likes of Jerian Grant and Dennis Schroeder have been nice supplementary pieces this season.
5. Golden State Warriors: Yeah, you’re reading this correctly. One of the biggest threats to Golden State…is themselves. There’s a couple things here. For one, the Warriors have had issues “staying interested” in regular season games after so much success over the years. They’ve mastered the ability to literally turn it on come playoff time, but maybe a possible first round series against San Antonio that they take too lightly could turn ugly. Their aforementioned lack of depth in comparison to recent years could also prove costly, as they’ll be relying heavily on the likes of Alfonzo McKinnie and Quinn Cook, to name a few. Lastly, they could implode internally; the KD-Draymond drama appears settled, but who’s to say that if a series turns sour that those things don’t resurface. Also, Demarcus Cousins is always a wild card of emotions and antics, which could negatively impact the team in a multitude of ways.

The gap between the Warriors and the rest of the league never been closer. There are weak spots in their armor, and it’ll be interesting to see how teams attempt to hit on those tender points. But, I’m here to tell you, I wouldn’t get your hopes up.

Long live the Kings. (No, not you Sacramento.)