2018 NBA Playoffs Preview: Golden State Warriors vs San Antonio Spurs, SWOT Analysis & Prediction 

#4 X-Factor

Golden State Warriors - Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant has another excellent season

Kevin Durant is one of the best players on the planet right now and is an offensive juggernaut. He has quietly put together another stellar season just like last year averaging 26.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists while making 51.6 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from the 3-point line (he shot 88.9 percent from the foul line, leaving him five free throws short of the coveted 50-40-90 threshold).

Multiple bodies in Danny Green, Kyle Anderson, and Rudy Gay are expected to be thrown at the 2017 Finals MVP, but with Kawhi (two-time defensive player of the year) out Durant should be able to exploit anyone the Spurs has to offer.

San Antonio Spurs - Gregg Popovich

Greg Popovich

Greg Popovich has had one of the best seasons of his career as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, taking this team to the playoffs. But without Leonard's two-way excellence, head coach Greg Popovich is going to have to put on a master class of coaching, which he is quite capable of, to create some sort of magic to have any chance to defeat this Warriors team 4 times in 7 matches.