Golden State Warriors head back to California with home-court advantage after splitting the first two games with San Antonio Spurs 1-1. We’ll have live scores and coverage from 10.30pm AEST.
In many ways, this is a series of contrast.
One of the most experience coaches vs one of the least, big(ish) vs small, run-and-gun vs methodical and structured, and young vs old.
Let’s take a quick look back at the first two games before looking ahead to game three.
In game one, San Antonio came back from 16 down with 4:20 remaining to win by two in double overtime.
At the end of double overtime, Manu Ginobili launched a dumb and potentially game costing three with 45 seconds remaining.
He then proceeded to make the game winning three, redeeming himself, sending Popovich through a furious rollercoaster of emotions within the space of 47 seconds, and winning the game, all in one fell swoop.
Curry exploded for another huge quarter, with 22 points in the third and 44 points in the game. He also played all 58 minutes, a highly questionable decision by Mark Jackson, to put it politely.
In Game 2, the Warriors ended their 30 game losing streak in San Antonio. The last time they’d won in the Spurs’ building, Harrison Barnes was four years old.
Klay Thompson was the story of this game. He came up big with a career high 34 points, including a giddy 8-9 from three.
The Spurs gave up 11 three pointers in each of the first two games. It’s almost hard to blame the Spurs, seeing as Thompson and Curry need approximately 5 millimetres to get a shot off (and still somehow make it).
For Game 3, the series shifts to the Oracle Arena aka the ROARacle (no website pun intended).
Look to see if Golden State continues to exploit Tony Parker. Parker lacks size and has defensive limitations when guarding Golden State’s bigger and/or high scoring guards.
At times the Warriors were just giving the ball to whoever Parker was guarding and going to work.
However Gregg Popovich is the master at making adjustments, stay tuned for his counter move.
Golden State’s success has a lot to do with Harrison Barnes. He’s a guy who might do nothing one night, and then go for 20 points and 10 rebounds the next.
Despite an inconsistent season, he’s improved dramatically since being moved to power forward (15 points and 6 rebounds per game) in Golden State’s post David Lee injury/small ball system.
Another thing to keep an eye on is the battle of the boards. Despite being undersided, Golden State beat San Antonio on the boards in game one, grabbing ten more rebounds, and matched them in game two.
San Antonio will continue to struggle against the white hot shooting duo of Curry and Thompson, unless one of them is right off their game.
The Curry/Thompson induced perimeter paranoia for the Spurs may free up a little bit of space for Bogut, and if San Antonio’s defensive rotations aren’t near perfect, look for the guards to find him open down low, or vice versa as Bogut is a fantastic passer.
Golden State takes home court advantage to a whole new level. While it may have less of an effect on the veteran Spurs, it certainly has a huge effect on the Warriors. Those young guys just feed off of it like crazy.
With their running, dunking, high-volume shooting style, they’re a team built to play in front of that crowd.
This is going to be a lot of fun, join in the conversation below.
Alan
Roar Guru
Yes San Antonio back on top!
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
That's all from me for now. Game 4 is on Monday. Thanks for reading.
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Some final stats of note: Parker: 32 points in 35 minutes 13-23 FG. Duncan:21 points & 10 rebounds, including some big time clutch baskets in the post. The Spurs shot 50.6% from the field. The league's best shooting back court couldn't shoot:Curry 5-17 (16 points), Thompson 7-20 (17 points). Despite being the smaller team, GS grabbed 16 O boards as opposed to San Antonio's 8. Bogut had 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
A question mark now hangs over Curry's health.
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Parker going off & Manu finding his form were also huge, as was Danny Green's fantastic defence on Curry.
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Guarding Duncan with single coverage/Landry & going cold on offence in the clutch both really hurt GS.
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Fans filing out as we have or first Patty Mills sighting. SA 102 GSW 92, full time
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Mark Jackson opting to guard Duncan with single cover, with the undersized Landry no less. Talk me through that thought process, Mark. SA 97 GSW 90 0:34 Q4
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Duncan fade away in the post & GS struggling to score. Wheels starting to fall off for GS, especially on offence. SA 97 GSW 90 0:34 Q4
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Curry is 2-19 when being guarded by Danny Green in this series, according to ESPN. SA 93 GS 88 2:30 4Q
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Leonard open under the basket from the inbounds play. Inexcusable from Golden State. SA 93 GS 86 3:11 4Q
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
GS are just ice cold. & Now Currys really hurting. Rolled his ankle for the 400th time. Really hope he's okay. SA 88 GSW 79 6:09 Q4
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Classic Duncan in the post. Knocks a shot right in Boguts face. SA 88 GSW 79 6:09 Q4
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
The game has become less free flowing on both ends. Both teams trying to crack down on D, offence stagnating, and SA in particular opting for high pick and rolls over their trademark ball movement, as Hubie Brown noted on the call. SA 85 GSW 79 6:54 Q4
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Danny Green & Parker with back to back threes. Defending the perimeter would be a grouse idea, Golden State. SA 85 GSW 78 8:43 Q4
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
It's intense even watching this game, making sure I stay hydrated. Spurs 79 GSW 78 3:19 4Q
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Spurs with multiple unforced errors. Super costly, 7 straight by GS on the other end & Thompson with a three, Bogut with a swat, Draymond Green with a 3 point play banker. Massive momentum swing, fans losing their collective minds. Spurs 79 GSW 78 3:19 4Q
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Harrison Barnes having his first quiet game in a while. You'll take that from a rook in the playoffs.
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
MANU WITH THE 3. Spurs on an 11-0 run before GS finally score. SA 76 GSW 67 0:49 3Q
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Ginobili's been missing for last quarter or two, but showing signs of life with that funky 3 point play that Alan Nicolea would've surely enjoyed. SA 73 GSW 65 2:11 3Q