Golden State Warriors: 3 takeaways from Game 1 vs. Spurs

The Golden State Warriors crushed the San Antonio Spurs 113-92 to open the 2017-18 postseason. Let’s take a look at what we learned as the Dubs began their title defense.

This year’s first round playoff series between the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs started a lot like the last year’s ended: In absolute blowout fashion. The Warriors won 113-92, an encore from their three straight double-digit wins to end the 2017 Western Conference Finals.

Many of the specific variables were the same too. The Warriors stars dominated. San Antonio was without its biggest star Kawhi Leonard, while its other star didn’t look like a star at all. The normally competitive, difficult-to-play against Spurs were rendered listless by the locked-in Warriors, and there is a temptation to already start thinking about Golden State’s next matchup.

Some things are different, however, that make looking ahead far more dangerous than last year. First off, this was Game 1. One Gregg Popovich Special in Game 2 and the Warriors lose home-court advantage to a team that went 33-8 on its own floor this year. Secondly, the Spurs aren’t the only team down a superstar, as Stephen Curry is unexpected to play all series. While last year’s Warriors entered their series with San Antonio as focused as any team ever has been, they were the farthest thing from it down the stretch this year.

As we look at three takeaways from the Warriors first game of the 2018 NBA Playoffs, we will examine why that focus seems to be returning.