SAN ANTONIO — Kevin Durant does not need to be told that Golden State should have a muted celebration after winning the Western Conference finals.
Durant is fully aware a tough challenge waits for them. It’s why Durant signed with the Warriors and why Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green embraced him at the expense of their own stats.
“We have a bigger goal in mind,” Durant said.
Golden State has a chance to earn its second championship in three years after sweeping the San Antonio Spurs with a 129-115 victory Monday night.
The Warriors became the first team in league history to open the playoffs 12-0, which gives them a week of rest before their third straight finals appearance.
Golden State will host Game 1 of the NBA finals on June 1 against either Cleveland or Boston. The Cavaliers hold a 2-1 lead in the East finals, but Curry suggested the Warriors are expecting a rematch with LeBron James and company.
“We all know, obviously, who we’re going to play,” Curry said. “We’ll be watching the Eastern Conference finals to see how that unfolds. But it will be easy to start this new chapter and really just lock in on what’s in front of us.”
Facing Cleveland would resurrect chatter of Golden State’s collapse in last season’s finals, which saw the Cavaliers rally from a 3-1 deficit to win the franchise’s first championship.
“This year is a totally different year, different group, different journey,” Curry said.
The biggest difference is the addition of Durant, who came as a free agent from Oklahoma City.
His presence has given the Warriors a deep and talented roster headlined by four All-Stars in Durant, Curry, Thompson and Green. But Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich said to credit talent as the sole reason for Golden State’s current run is disrespectful.
“They’re really talented, but that’s not everything that describes them,” Popovich said. “This is maybe the best defensive team in the league on top of everything. So, they don’t just play with talent. They execute at the defensive end of the floor. On offense, no team is more unselfish finding the open man and that sort of thing.”
The Warriors have shown their strength by blasting through the playoffs in the normally rugged West. And as good as the offense has been, it’s the defense that’s been key, holding San Antonio, Utah and Portland to 102 points.
MAGIC: Jeff Weltman brought in a familiar face to help him try and turn the franchise around.
Hours after Weltman was formally announced as president of basketball operations Tuesday morning, he named longtime NBA executive John Hammond the club’s new general manager.
The two worked together in Milwaukee years ago.
Hammond replaces Rob Hennigan, who was fired last month after the Magic missed the playoffs in each of his five seasons.
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