This is how it should be. A series five years in the making.

The Warriors and Spurs were destined to meet eventually. Their 2013 showdown in the Western Conference semifinals felt like the first installment of a new rivalry. The Warriors were on the rise then. Now they are the NBA standard bearer.

This is going to be fun. Some thoughts …

Game 1 is a trap for the Warriors.

They are well rested. But they will have had five straight days off by the time they tip Sunday. And the Spurs come to town with two days rest, coming off a thrilling series win, and are super underdogs.

No Tony Parker. Kawhi Leonard’s at whatever percentage on that sprained ankle. This is a set up, a lot like the first game of the season.

You can already see the Warriors jacking up dagger threes and going for highlight passes, amped by the Game 1 and looking to send a message to San Antonio. And you can already see the Spurs taking those long rebounds and turnovers into a lead, turning up the pressure on the Warriors.

San Antonio’s bent on execution is the ultimate exam in mental toughness. They are a machine that requires being machine-like.

If the Warriors are rusty, undisciplined and cold shooting, the Spurs could steal Game 1.

Simmons’ revenge

Speaking of Simmons, this match up will be lots of fun. You know what I’m talking about if you have already read Chapter 1 of Golden.

Klay Thompson X-Factor

The Spurs have defensive options for Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. They have trio of good defenders to throw at Steph Curry: Jonathon Simmons, Danny Green and pesky Patty Mills. And while Kawhi Leonard will likely draw the Kevin Durant assignment, he is an option if Curry dominates.

On top of that, San Antonio is really good as a unit with their rotation, help and hustle.

Thompson is uniquely positioned to make them pay. They need a productive offensive series from him, including a couple of explosive games.

Thompson has scored 20 twice in the eight playoff games. He is shooting 40.7 percent, on pace for his lowest in the playoffs.

Thompson making shots takes pressure off the Warriors and forces San Antonio to alter their game plan. He won’t have Tony Parker to pick on, as usual, but he won’t have to expend his energy guarding Parker either.

Even more important than Thompson making shots is him taking good ones. He can’t shoot his way out of a slump by forcing bad shots, because San Antonio will feed on those poor possessions.

Big or no big?

The Warriors definitely want the tempo up. But the Spurs are as good a team as any at milking their size. They have a lot of it, and don’t sleep on Dewayne Dedmond, who has the kind of athleticism that hurts the Warriors.

So how much will the Warriors use big men? Will we see lots of Draymond Green at center for the sale of pace? Or will the Warriors keep a big on the floor to not be so vulnerable on the boards.

The Rockets took advantage of the Spurs bigs for most of the series. San Antonio struggled with Pau Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge on the court together — until Game 6. Do the Warriors want to go small, force the Spurs to do so, too (or bait Popovich into staying big to pound it on the Warriors?) Or keep a big on the court so as to take advantage of the slow Aldridge-Gasol tandem?

Expect the Warriors to keep the same patterns initially, which is saving the small lineup for the end of quarters. Which means all three centers will get their shots.

But this doesn’t feel like a Zaza Pachulia series. And if you were ever worried about JaVale McGee being exploited, you should be now with Gregg Popovich on the other sidelines. David West can pull the Spurs bigs out, but it’s questionable whether he can defend those veterans in the post.

This is going to be something to watch all series. McGee played Well against Rudy Gobert, the best center the Warriors have faced. Maybe he ends up the answer in the long run.

Coaching matters

Mike Brown, advised by Steve Kerr, vs. Popovich. Two against one … so it might be fair now.

The Warriors have a significant talent advantage. So they should win this series, could do it handily.

But Popovich raised both of these lads. Does that give him the advantage? Or them?