2015 Finals Klay: 15.8 points, 41% FG, 30% 3P
2022 Finals Klay: 17.0 points, 36% FG, 35% 3P
Klay would most likely not be the reason, or one of the reasons, the 2007 Spurs would handle the 2022 Warriors but lose to the 2015 Warriors.
I still contend style of play and being able to adjust defensively plays a huge role in determining a winner between 2007 Spurs and 2022 Warriors. , the 2015 Warriors on average attempted a dozen fewer three pointers than their 2022 version. The game with three point shooting has evolved even just the last few years after the Warriors got onto the championship scene. It’s a different game. It’s a different way to defend. Conceptually, in the Spurs championship window, Pop always focused on the corner three, actually at both ends. Get open corner looks, defend and stop the opposing team in the corners. Teams shoot the three from everywhere now and from all positions and from 35+ feet out. It’s an absolute different defensive scheme in today’s game. You can’t funnel the ball to the corners, overplay the corner jumper and force baseline drives anymore. Especially with everyone and their mama using the side-step maneuver, overplaying the corner three just means a shot fake gets them a more wide open three once they side step or an equally open three from the elbow with a quick swing pass.
Someone mentioned it earlier, it’s not really about the individual match-ups like Duncan v Draymond or Parker v Steph. It’s more stylistically, how does each “team” defense play and adjust and game plan against offenses they are entirely not used to playing. For me at least, that’s what I focus on in the hypothetical match-up.