The Warriors stumbled out of the gate in a flaming cartwheel for Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals. They were rusty, out of sorts and nervous as the Spurs blew into Oracle Arena with the wind at their backs after blowing out the Rockets.
It looked like the underdogs were going to take Game 1 in a smash-and-grab. They took a lead as big as 25 points. In the Coach Gregg Popovich Era the Spurs were 316-0 when they did that.
That all changed with 7:55 to go in the third quarter and the Spurs leading, 76-55. Kawhi Leonard launched a corner shot inside the three point line and crumpled in a heap, aggravating the left ankle sprain that kept him out of the Game 6 win over the Rockets. He clipped the heel of the Warriors’ Zaza Pachulia, who came out to contest the shot.
A foul was called and Leonard made the free throws but then left the game and did not return. After that, it was open season for the Warriors, who went on an 18-0 run. They forced turnovers and Steph Curry broke loose on the way to 40 points. The Warriors came from behind and beat the Spurs, 113-111.
Postgame chatter was dominated by accusations that Zaza’s play was dirty, inferring he tried to hurt Leonard. Either Leonard was being diplomatic or he truly believed what he said, that Pachulia was simply contesting the shot as the shot clock was winding down.
Pachulia protested that he is an athlete too and would never try to do such a thing. Spurs fans remember how he tangled up with Leonard in last year’s playoffs and twisted his arm. He has a history of less than graceful and sometimes chippy incidents.
Zaza was whistled for a foul on the play, but claims that a Flagrant should’ve been called are ridiculous. It’s really hard to judge intent. Zaza had every right to contest the shot, but at times he can be as graceful as a ballerina hippo.
He wasn’t able to stop as he got into Kawhi’s space. He was actually turning around to see the shot and block out, so if he was trying to judge where Kawhi landed he was awfully lucky. To me it didn’t rise to the level of Flagrant.
Just as an aside, the Warriors have complained in recent years about opponents jumping into Steph Curry’s space as he launches three point shots. I may be wrong but I don’t remember anything beyond a shooting foul called in those cases, if a foul was called at all.
It’s also true that right before the Zaza incident Leonard landed on the foot. of teammate David Lee, and might have been on borrowed time, anyway. If it wasn’t the Zaza play, something else may have tweaked the tender ankle. We will never know.
The Spurs are actually 8-1 without Leonard this year and destroyed the Rockets without him in Game 6. On Sunday, however, the injury changed the game. It’s also fair to say that even without Leonard, there are few teams that would rebound from a 25-point deficit against the Spurs.
This might have been the Spurs’ best shot at Oracle. It’ll be very tough without Leonard to “steal” a win and even if Leonard returns, how effective can he be?
One thing is for certain: for people who are predisposed to dislike the Warriors , Sunday is more fuel. Should the Warriors bounce the Spurs without Kawhi, the “lucky” narrative will resurface like a Hatorade-guzzling zombie.
It’s unfortunate for the Spurs if Leonard is out and it’s a shame for hoops fans if the best players aren’t on the floor. For the Warriors there are similar worries for Andre Iguodala and his sore knee.
So leave the asterisks at home.