In October, it made sense. Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson was out until spring time if not the entire season. Stephen Curry had a broken hand. Half of the Warriors All-Star contingent was going to miss most of the 2019-2020 season. If there was ever a time to tank, this was the time. But then came a three-game winning streak punctuated by a Christmas Day victory over the Houston Rockets that pulled Golden State to within 6.5 games of a playoff berth.