NBA Playoffs: First-Round Matchup Projections
(2) Golden State Warriors vs. (7) San Antonio Spurs
The Golden State Warriors (58-24) are on the hunt for their third title in four years, but their path through the Western Conference is looking harder than ever this time around. Not only have the Houston Rockets leapfrogged them for the conference's top seed, but the Dubs also have to face the San Antonio Spurs (47-35) -- a team that's usually looming as a threat in the Western Conference Finals -- in the very first round.
The Spurs are mired in a Kawhi Leonard controversy and just failed to reach 50 wins (or a lockout equivalent) for the first time since 1997, but they're still our eighth-ranked team by nERD (58.6), and a Gregg Popovich-coached team is always going to put up a fight.
| Outcome | (2) Golden State Warriors | (7) San Antonio Spurs |
|---|---|---|
| Win in 4 | 8.42% | 3.88% |
| Win in 5 | 19.10% | 7.10% |
| Win in 6 | 16.64% | 13.62% |
| Win in 7 | 19.74% | 11.50% |
| Win series | 63.90% | 36.10% |
