Fansided

This is not the Warriors-Spurs matchup we wanted

By Ian Levy

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball while guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 14, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball while guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 14, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Stephen Curry dribbles the ball towards halfcourt, that youthful bounce filling every step. As he crosses halfcourt, Kevin Durant begins a slow curl up from the baseline, trying to drop Kawhi Leonard on a Klay Thompson screen, before sprinting up to set his own on Tony Parker. Leonard recovers a step behind, switching onto Curry to as he shimmies away from the tangled mass of Parker and Durant.

Leonard shuffles backwards, arms spread wide, eyes boring a hole in Curry. He’s close enough to contest a 3, far enough to prevent the blow-by. Curry feints, double-feints and then backs off to reset. The battle has begun.

And then…the smell of burning blueberry pop tarts hits your nose. A sliver of sunlight is splashing your face. It was all a dream. You used to read Highlights magazine.

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And you know it was a dream because you suddenly remember that Stephen Curry is still “in the early stages of side-to-side movement” and not expected back until at least the second round of the playoffs. And that Kawhi Leonard is supposedly not healthy, almost certainly frustrated and perhaps has already played his last game in a Spurs uniform.

The Spurs and the Warriors are matched up in the first round of the playoffs and nothing is what it’s supposed to be.

The Spurs and Warriors have dominated the Western Conference the three seasons prior to this — with only San Antonio’s 2014-15 campaign coming in under 60 wins. While the Warriors were busy winning 73 games and breaking a regular season record, the Spurs were lurking at 67 wins with a strength-of-schedule-adjusted point differential just as a historic. These were, somewhat clearly, the two best teams in the conference and arguably the entire league. And yet, they’ve never been able to have it out in the way their historical dominance and out imaginations have craved.

In 2014-15, as the Warriors were ascending towards their first title, the Spurs lost a heartbreaking seven-game first-round series to the Clippers, snuffed out by the ABSURD PLAYOFF HEROICS OF BLAKE GRIFFIN AND CHRIS PAUL. In 2015-16, the Spurs were the warm-up for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who honed their defensive strategies and communication and then used them to push the Warriors to the brink in the Western Conference Finals. That should have been the Spurs, finishing off the Warriors or losing control in epic fashion. Instead, the Thunder took their spot, lost the series, and lost Kevin Durant to the Bay.

Then last season, finally the Basketball Gods agreed to give us what we’d all been waiting for. The juggernaut Warriors, rolling towards redemption. The only obstacle in their path — the Spurs, the second-best team in the league, led by Kawhi Leonard in his all his two-way glory. Everyone remembers the Zaza Pachulia closeout, Kawhi landing awkwardly, obviously in pain. What is not as well remembered is the fact that San Antonio had a 21-point lead with just under eight minutes left in the third quarter when that happened. They had come out throwing haymakers, setting the tone for what was to be a one of those playoff series.

Kawhi did not return, and has played just nine games for the Spurs since. San Antonio gave up their 21-point lead, lost by two, then last the next three games in a row. It was a broom made of metaphysical middle fingers — to Kawhi, to the Spurs, to all the fans who just wanted to see what it looked like when two perfect basketball teams played perfect basketball against each other.

Perfect basketball is decidedly not what we’ll see today as the Spurs and Warriors begin their first-round series. Golden State without Curry is great, potentially incredible, but they are not Golden. The Spurs without Kawhi are a physical collection of savvy and compensation strategies. LaMarcus Aldridge’s post game and sweet, sweet jumper were enough to keep the Spurs’ playoff streak alive. It almost certainly won’t be enough to get them out of the first round.

Next: Is Donovan Mitchell ready for the Oklahoma City Thunder?

The Spurs and Warriors will play several competitive basketball games. The Warriors are on a mission and the Spurs are too proud not to throw up every barrier they can muster. The Warriors will probably win. Maybe they’ll get Curry back in the next round and keep rolling. Maybe they won’t. Whatever happens, it won’t be nearly as perfect as it could have been.

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