Warriors display home dominance over Spurs
By Paul Matli
The Golden State Warriors easily defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Oakland for the second time this season, confirming the trouble with playing the Dubs in Oracle Arena.
The Golden State Warriors are better than the San Antonio Spurs, at least at home, inside of Oracle Arena.
This is all that matters. With the win two nights ago, the Warriors clinched the number one seed and home-court throughout the playoffs. The Warriors proved that when they play their A-game no team is beating them once, let alone four times in a series.
Also with the win, the Warriors became just the second team all time to win 70 games, joining the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. They also kept the prospects of winning 73 games alive. They need to win the last four three games for this to happen. This includes winning in San Antonio on Sunday. We all know what a horror the AT&T Center has been for the Warriors.
Wouldn’t it be poetic justice if the Warriors win in San Antonio for win number 72?
The Warriors are better than the Spurs–some won’t believe it, but it’s true. The Warriors have killed the Spurs twice at home and threatened them in San Antonio, losing by just eight, even without Andrew Bogut and Andre Iguodala. A healthy Warriors team can win in San Antonio. If the Warriors do this it will be the last nail in the Spurs’ coffin.
The Warriors are in the Spurs heads. Gregg Popovich playing his full team proves this. When does Popovich play his full team this point in the season? Never. The reason why: he knows he can’t beat the Warriors so he wants to find out as much about them as possible. The more Popovich plays his starters, the more knowledge he will gain moving forward. If the Warriors have any weaknesses Popovich will figure them out.
Some Spurs fans could say this game didn’t mean anything to them and they are focusing on the postseason. Really, why wouldn’t you play hard in a meaningful game when you know the Warriors have the opportunity to clinch the number one seed?
That statement is an excuse. It’s people not wanting to admit the Warriors are better, both at home and on the road.
As great as the Spurs are, they don’t have the athleticism to match up with the Warriors. The Warriors can completely neutralize Tim Duncan as well having more than enough defensively to deal with Lamarcus Aldridge when they are healthy. The guy who will give the Warriors problems will be Boris Diaw, because of how big he is. This was evident when the Warriors played in San Antonio.
There’s not much to learn between now and Sunday, regarding how the teams match-up. The real test will be the Western Conference Finals, assuming both teams make it there. The Spurs have to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, who, despite all their flaws, match up well with San Antonio because of their great individual talent and athleticism.
Until these teams meet again, the Warriors made it clear who the better team was.