Golden State Warriors Mailbag: Spurs, McAdoo, Rest
Apr 5, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward
Kawhi Leonard(2) is defended by Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
@MaggiePilloton How concerning is the Warriors ugly loss to the Spurs? There is a good chance these two teams will meet in the playoffs.
— Nick Hjeltness (@NickHjeltness) April 7, 2015
@MaggiePilloton Is their a path to Championship without facing the Spurs? if not how can the #Warriors prove they can beat them on the road
— Jamie Faue (@BrickWallJamieF) April 7, 2015
Like for my San Francisco Giants Mailbag article this week, both Nick and Jamie submitted similar questions, so I will once again be answering both their questions in this one section.
The Warriors’ loss to the Spurs last week proved a point, but the one loss wasn’t overly concerning. The loss proved that, despite what some fans think, the Warriors’ trip to a championship this year will not be a cakewalk. To be more specific, the Warriors are going to have a tough time even getting to the Finals, as they will have to face several quality teams in the West to get there.
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The Warriors got a taste of their own medicine last week against the Spurs, and let me tell you, it was not tasty. The Spurs proved that even though the Warriors run a similar offensive scheme to the Spurs’ offense, the Spurs are more experienced at it and, despite their collective age, can make any team look silly, even the best team in the NBA, on any given night. The Spurs can still be lethal, and they proved that in their win against the Warriors last week.
When discussing the Spurs, you can’t look at their record, because it doesn’t adequately describe their talent and their ability to win another championship. The Spurs dealt with several injuries to several key players earlier in the season, but now they’re healthy, and they’re ready to pounce.
The Spurs present the most difficult task for the Warriors in the playoffs, and the Spurs proved that last week. Not only are the Spurs highly experienced and smart, but they’re also truly a well-oiled machine.
There’s a great possibility that the Warriors and Spurs meet in the playoffs sometime. The Warriors have failed to prove that they can win in San Antonio in the regular season, but they won there a couple years ago when the Warriors faced the Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals. Even though the Warriors would have home court advantage in a potential playoff matchup, they could have a tougher series with the Spurs than with an Eastern Conference team in the Finals, if they get there.
The Warriors shouldn’t be worried about one loss in the regular season, but they should be aware that the game against the Spurs last week provided them with a test as to if they’re truly ready to go on a championship run, because the Spurs might stand in their way.
The Warriors don’t have to prove anything to the Spurs in terms of their talent or experience. They do have to prove to themselves and to the rest of the NBA that they can beat an elite team like the Spurs, and they will have to prove that again if they want to win a championship.
Next: Will McAdoo Be a Factor in the Playoffs?