The new season begins now, and this is the Spurs chance to start over again and put a rough regular season behind them. This may be a re-match of last season’s Western Conference Finals, but it couldn’t be further from a similar situation (besides no Kawhi Leonard), and not just because this a 2 vs. 7 first round match-up instead of 1 vs. 2. Both teams are coming off what can be considered sub-par regular seasons, largely thanks to injuries.
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Series: tied 0-0
Spurs Injuries: Kawhi Leonard (return form injury management)
Warriors Injuries: Stephen Curry (MCL sprain), Patrick McCaw (back), Andre Iguodala (knee - expected to play)
A somewhat new situation for both teams
With Leonard missing all but nine games and his main back-up, Rudy Gay, missing 25 games, the Spurs put out their lowest win total (47) since 1997 (excluding the 1999 lockout shortened season, during which they still won at a rate equivalent to 60 wins and a championship).