WARRIORS-SPURS NBA FAN’S DREAM
Curry, Durant, Green . . . poor Leonard
Finally. Fans have been salivating for two seasons about the possibility of a matchup between the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs: the former the ascendant team in the West for the past few years, the latter the gold standard of excellence for two decades. But the Spurs have never played along, beaten two years ago by the Clippers and eliminated last spring by the Oklahoma City Thunder before they got a chance to see the Warriors. But it’s here now, and even if the Spurs are hurt and a year older they’re the still the Spurs, and this is a series NBA fans have long wanted:
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL No. 1 Golden State vs. No. 2 San Antonio
Game 1: Today at Oakland, 3:30 p.m. Game 2: Tuesday at Oakland, 9 p.m. Game 3: Saturday at S.A., 9 p.m. Game 4: May 22 at S.A., 9 p.m. Game 5: May 24 at Oakland, 9 p.m.* Game 6: May 26 at S.A., 9 p.m.* Game 7: May 28 at Oakland, 9 p.m.* *if necessary
ABOUT THE WARRIORS
Perhaps an Eastern time zone bias explains why almost everyone in this neck of the woods marvels at the accomplishments of the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the Warriors have rolled to eight straight wins and have barely broken a sweat doing it. . . . The questions: Can Draymond Green sustain shooting 51 per cent from three-point range, as he has so far in the post-season? Will the Warriors miss the presence of coach Steve Kerr, who is out with myriad health issues? And can Klay Thompson shoot better than 36 per cent from three, which is good but atypical for him? . . . The Warriors have so many weapons that even so-so efforts from Thompson and Stephen Curry don’t matter, because Kevin Durant can get 30 or more pretty much every night and Green’s shooting tremendously well. This is a juggernaut.
ABOUT THE SPURS
How do they do it? How do they lose point guard Tony Parker for the season, rely in large part on rookie Dejounte Murray and continue unabated? How do they sit all-world Kawhi Leonard with a sprained ankle for Game 6 of the second round against Houston and win on the road by 39? Because they’re the Spurs. And because Manu Ginobili turned back the calendar about a decade, and LaMarcus Aldridge snapped out of a funk and dominated the Rockets at times. . . . San Antonio is bigger with Aldridge and Pau Gasol, and they are going to have to carry more than their fair share of the load while also guarding the multi-faceted Golden State front-court. . . . And don’t count out the Gregg Popovich factor. The coach seems to have a knack for finding matchups to exploit. . . . Danny Green has had a solid post-season, but he’s going to have to be even better in this round.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
It might be this simple: Leonard can guard anyone, but he can’t guard everyone and the Warriors, if they’re running on all cylinders, simply have too many ways to beat you. Of course, the Spurs do Spurs things and that mystique cannot be discounted. It can’t, however, carry them all the way. PICK: Warriors in six