ESPN’s Monica McNutt predicts Warriors will reach 2026 NBA Finals out of West

After the Warriors opened the 2025-26 NBA season with a 119-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena, could the gold-blooded franchise be back on its way to championship glory?With Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler steering the ship, ESPN NBA analyst Monica McNutt certainly believes so — with one caveat.“So, I was asked about my dark horse Finals — well, not dark horse — but Finals picks recently with Carmelo Anthony, and I actually kind of got the Warriors coming out of the West right now if they stay healthy,” McNutt told Mike Greenberg on Wednesday’s “Get Up” episode. “Now, here’s the thing. As much as we will point to some of the contenders in the West, you might say they’re young, right? But one of the youngest teams in the league is currently the reigning champs in the league.“And so, what does this look like? The [Warriors’] experience is undeniable. The work ethic is undeniable. The urgency in the case of Jimmy Butler is undeniable. But what does this team look like when we get to April? Because the mileage, it adds up.” Health is everything...