Golden State Warriors Roundtable: 5 Questions About NBA Playoffs
4. Which team (in the Western or Eastern Conference) will present the Warriors with the toughest matchup in the playoffs?
Nov 11, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against San Antonio Spurs guard
Tony Parker(9, left) and forward
Tim Duncan(21, right) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. The Spurs defeated the Warriors 113-100. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Brendan Kennealy: I think the easy answer to go to here is the San Antonio Spurs, as they have matched up well with the Warriors all year, but I am going to go with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizz have such a talented front-court, and if Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph can draw a couple fouls on Andrew Bogut, then the paint is theirs to own.
Nick Hjeltness: Cheating here by picking two, but the Grizzlies and Spurs both present an equally tough challenge. Memphis is as tough as they come, and a series with them would be physically exhausting. The Spurs are the champs until someone proves otherwise, and they are playing in peak form right now.
Brian Banifatemi: San Antonio. A big reason for that lands on Kawhi Leonard‘s shoulders, as everybody knows he is a defensive specialist and can lock up on anybody in the league. On top of that, the Spurs are the defending NBA champions and are catching fire at the right time, as they are winners of their last 10 games.
Marc Grandi: There is no question in my mind that the San Antonio Spurs are the Warriors’ biggest threat to the crown. However, the team does not feel that way and will never feel that way. Confidence is key in the playoffs, and they must maintain their focus on the task and team at hand — which may not necessarily be the Spurs.
Angelo Mendoza: San Antonio Spurs in the West, Cleveland Cavaliers in the East. I think Kawhi Leonard is going to prove quite the nightmare for the Warriors, and LeBron James is still the best player in the NBA. The key to a Warriors victory over each of these tough matchups will be finding a way to contain those guys, and that’s easier said than done.
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