Golden State Warriors 5 keys to series vs. Spurs

1. Don’t underestimate the San Antonio Spurs. Ever.

The San Antonio Spurs are having a down year by their standards. They failed to win 50 games (or the equivalent) for the first time this millennium. They are without their All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard. Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Robert Horry are not walking through that door.

That doesn’t mean this team is no longer formidable, however, and it all starts at the top. Gregg Popovich is a Hall of Fame coach, one of the best in the business — if not the best. That means he will have a few adjustments, plays, wrinkles, etc. to help his teams gain an advantage.

Last season the Spurs lost Kawhi to injury in the playoffs and the Warriors rolled over an injured and incomplete San Antonio squad in the Western Conference Finals. This team is different — Kyle Anderson is a reliable starter, Dejounte Murray has been a defensive wizard at the point of attack, and both Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have defied age to contribute at least one more season.

Next: Power ranking all 16 teams in the 2018 NBA Playoffs

All that is to say that underestimating Gregg Popovich and his squad is foolish at the best of times, and especially in a situation where everyone has given up on the Spurs as a contender. Those teams that run into them — including, and potentially ending with, Golden State — will need to account for a number of unique factors with how the Spurs do basketball. They didn’t become a dynasty by sitting back.