Written by Rob Mahoney at SI.com
Whatever discomfort the Warriors experienced in their March 19 loss to the Spurs appears to have subsided. The latest meeting between the NBA’s two definitive titans was a much more relaxed affair for the defending champions, who played comfortably with the knowledge of where and how to create quality shots. Golden State was focused and at ease. That tenor typically spells the demise of any Warriors opponent—even one as formidable as these Spurs. What was at one point a 23-point lead settled as a 112–101 victory for the top-seeded team in the Western Conference. It was the Warriors’ 70th win of the season, and only upon securing it did they lock up home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Call this a “film session” victory. Golden State’s execution spoke to their specific corrections–including, but not limited to, a significant change in Stephen Curry’s approach. Curry beat San Antonio’s switches on Thursday by driving and moving without the ball–two actions that are exceedingly difficult for mismatched bigs to defend. Gone was the temptation to create everything off the dribble; Curry gave up the ball early and often, realizing that his influence on an opposing defense was often far more vital than anything he might create on his own. Many Spurs were pulled into Curry’s orbit at the sake of some other responsibility. So out the passes went to a rolling Draymond Green, a sneaking Harrison Barnes, or a looming Andrew Bogut. Golden State’s offense stayed a step ahead by working around mismatches rather than grinding through them.
That Curry was able to make the adjustments he did was really a testament to the Warriors’ shared responsibility. Green proved essential as a facilitator, picking out teammates as they slid open without losing control. Barnes seemed to author a big play whenever a wayward possession fell to him. Bogut not only gave Golden State exactly what it needed defensively (his help was essential in keeping San Antonio off balance), but also as a finisher and high-post traffic controller. Klay Thompson worked for shots well within his right to make, though he ended up going 5-of-13 from the field thanks to numerous rim-outs. He kept his head up, regardless, to feed cutters and swing to shooters.
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