Matt Steinmetz

There will be a lot made about whether the Warriors can fight off the San Antonio Spurs for the No. 1 seed. And rightfully so. What looked like a sure thing a couple of weeks ago is now in doubt. The Kevin Durant injury, poor shooting and a tough schedule have conspired to make the Warriors losers of 5 of their past 7.

With the Spurs’ victory over Atlanta on Monday, San Antonio tied the Warriors for best record in the NBA at 52-14. But the Spurs already hold the tie-breaker because they won the season series over Golden State.

Regardless of whether the Warriors end up with the top seed or No. 2 seed, one thing seems certain: This year’s run to an NBA title is going to be more difficult than any of the previous two.

LINK: HOW MANY OF THESE PLAYERS CAN YOU NAME?

Even if they get the top seed, things are setting up to be more challenging, certainly because Durant figures to be coming back from injury, and also because you could make the case that the quality of potential opponent is superior this year.

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My mom and sister were cleaning out the old rec room a few weeks back and found this basketball collage I did back when I was a kid. I figured this would be a fun way to test your basketball knowledge a little bit.

LINK: SPURS BLOW OUT WARRIORS; WAS STEVE KERR RIGHT FOR RESTING PLAYERS?

How many players/coaches can you name from these 16 photos — Left to right, top to bottom. There are actually one or two I’m not sure of so any help would be greatly appreciated. Answers underneath. And technically, it would 15 players and one jackass.

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The Spurs are much better at playing this game than the Warriors. And it showed on Saturday night. San Antonio beat the Warriors 107-85 at AT&T Center — a game in which both teams were without multiple star players.

The Spurs were playing without Kawhi Leonard , LaMarcus Aldridge and Tony Parker. The Warriors were playing without Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala. Oh, and Kevin Durant, who has been out for two weeks with injury.

LINK TO “WARRIORS WRAPUP,” FROM WARRIORS’ LOSS TO SPURS ON SATURDAY.

Playing their eighth game in their eighth different city over the past 13 days, Warriors coach Steve Kerr chose to rest four players. The thinking is understandable, but the timing doesn’t work out so well.

On “Warriors WrapUp,” the postgame show on 95.7-FM, Chris Townsend and I got into it over the Warriors’ decision. He said that it was a “travesty” and that the Warriors “threw the game” against the Spurs. I said that was ridiculous.

LINK: BLAST FROM THE PAST: HOW MANY OF THESE PLAYERS CAN YOU NAME?

Some talking points from the show:

–Stop blaming the players for this sitting out or saying “players are soft.” For the most part it’s not players begging out of these games. It’s the coaches and front offices employing the tactic of sitting out.

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