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Golden State Warriors: Time To Regroup

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) helps Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) to his feet during the NBA game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) helps Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) to his feet during the NBA game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Golden State Warriors
January 25, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Spurs 120-90. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

The Spurs Factor

Of course, the Spurs are human too. Despite their league-leading defense and point differential that would stand as the largest in NBA history if the season ended today, Gregg Popovich is no fool. He knows the value of resting players for when it’s most important and if the Dubs keep far enough ahead, he’ll call off the dogs and settle for the No. 2 seed.

But Pop also knows San Antonio’s chances of advancing past Golden State in a potential Western Conference Finals matchup would be a lot more favorable if the Spurs could secure home-court advantage against a team that’s just as deadly at Oracle as the Spurs are at the AT&T Center.

As of right now, the Spurs would have to go 20-1 over their remaining 21 games to reach that 72-win pedestal. But to secure the 1-seed, all they’d have to do is carry on at this typical Spursian pace as long as they could find a way to protect home-court against the Warriors and possibly even steal a win at Oracle to take the season series.

Beating the Warriors three times in a season has been a tall task for the entire league, let alone one team. But both of the Warriors’ road contests against San Antonio come on the second night of a back-to-back, and the Dubs also play the Spurs twice in their final four games.

If the Warriors slip up and provide an opening, San Antonio will continue to lurk as a legitimate threat for the No. 1 seed.

Next: The Challenge

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