When the San Antonio Spurs announced that Kawhi Leonard was out for Game 3 of their Western Conference Finals series against the Golden State Warriors, nothing changed for Shaun Livingston.
The 12-year league veteran understands that their opponents are still dangerous and could pull off the upset even without their franchise player. He even said that every time an opposing team's star will not suit up, it can be considered a “trap game.”
Asked Shaun Livingston if this is a "trap game" w/ Kawhi out. He said: "any time the best players out it's a trap game".
— Rosalyn Gold-Onwude (@ROSGO21) May 20, 2017
The Spurs proved that they are capable of winning without Leonard, when they eliminated the Houston Rockets in a blowout in Game 6 of their conference semifinals matchup. With LaMarcus Aldridge, Danny Green and Pau Gasol leading the charge, it still gives head coach Gregg Popovich a formidable lineup he can use to surprise the Warriors with a win on Saturday night.
However, it will still be a very tall order for them, especially with the dominance of the Dubs in this postseason so far. They swept their first two opponents and proved they deserve to be the top seeded team in the west.
Livingston's mindset may just be what the Warriors need to remain focused on the task at hand and not to be overly confident heading into the matchup. It also shows how much respect he has for the Spurs, and how mature he is now as a player now.
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