NBA Playoffs 2013: Spurs’ Balance Will Lead Them to NBA Finals
The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the NBA‘s most physical teams and best defensive units. The Golden State Warriors were one of the most dynamic offensive teams in the league. The Los Angeles Lakers were, uh, probably the NBA’s most dysfunctional.
But in every conceivable way, the San Antonio Spurs are balanced. And that is why the team is primed to reach the NBA Finals this season.
You want good offense? The Spurs were fourth in the NBA in scoring in the regular season (106.1 PPG) and second in the postseason (102.8 PPG). Seven players on the roster averaged 9.5 points or more, led by Tony Parker (20.3 PPG).
And the team has multiple players capable of coming up huge in the clutch or able to facilitate the offense.
Parker does it all. Manu Ginobili is just as capable of beating a team with a timely shot as he is setting up his teammates. Tim Duncan is still an efficient offensive player. Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green have been making huge shots all postseason long.
You want good defense? The Spurs allowed just 96.6 points per game during the regular season, 11th-best in the NBA. They’ve actually been better in the playoffs, allowing just 93.0 points per game. In Duncan, Tiago Splitter and Boris Diaw, the team can crash the boards, and, as a whole, the squad plays great team defense.
But perhaps most importantly, everyone knows his role and executes it perfectly.
In Game 6 against the Warriors, future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan—arguably the best power forward in NBA history—was benched for much of the fourth quarter. Did he complain? No. Did he sulk on the bench? Nope. Did he do weird impressions of Kobe Bryant? Didn’t happen.
The point is, a player who could easily have a huge ego put it aside and trusted his coach, Gregg Popovich. If you don’t think the rest of his Spurs have teammates noticed that, or if that sort of attitude doesn’t become infectious, you are sorely mistaken.
San Antonio has experience, humility and players that fulfill specific, important roles. The Spurs are clinical offensively, and they work hard on defense. Somebody always seems to come up with a big shot. In a word, they are balanced.
And that balance will lead them to the NBA Finals.
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Big Boys vs. Gunner Guards: Who Rules the NBA in 2013 Playoffs?
If you’re building an NBA team designed to succeed in the 2013 playoffs, do you go with the big boys or the gunner guards?
Most teams in the history of the Association haven’t had the luxury of employing both fundamentally different sets, which makes determining the superior group an important endeavor. Some squads go to work with a traditional big man wreaking havoc in the paint, while others are content to let fly from outside.
Both strategies can certainly work, especially if you merge the narrower “gunner guards” idea with the broader small-ball ideals.
That said, which has reigned supreme in this specific postseason?
Let’s take a conference-by-conference look.
Western Conference
The Memphis Grizzlies are the best example of a team that thrives because of its presence in the paint. Marc Gasol is a true seven-footer, even if he possesses more versatility than physicality down low, and Zach Randolph is a tough-as-nails power forward.
Behind the two behemoths in the middle, the Grizz have advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Of course, they’ve had help from Mike Conley, Tony Allen and a number of other smaller players, but it’s the big guys who make things go.
Each of Memphis’ four most-used lineups during the postseason involve both Gasol and Z-Bo. The next three feature Darrell Arthur playing with one of the two aforementioned studs.
In fact, the first lineup that only utilizes one true big man is the one using Mike Conley, Tony Allen, Quincy Pondexter, Tayshaun Prince and Marc Gasol. This group has played only eight total minutes together during the series against the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Small ball simply doesn’t exist in Memphis. And it’s not used too frequently by the team’s opponents in the Western Conference Finals: the San Antonio Spurs.
As Sports Illustrated‘s Rob Mahoney pointed out, Gregg Popovich was extremely hesitant to play small ball during the regular season because it would have worn out Tim Duncan. But thanks to the growth of Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs are able to occasionally go small and leave the breakout San Diego State product as the second-biggest man out on the court.
In particular, Leonard has rebounded far better than most players his size, showing off good instincts and incredible strength. You can see those skills manifest themselves in these three defensive rebounds, but pay close attention to him out-muscling Festus Ezeli for the final board.
The most-used lineup in which Leonard plays the 4 sees Popovich use Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Danny Green, Leonard and Tim Duncan. It’s been used for 38 minutes during the postseason, making it the second-most common lineup.
However, it still seems like a bit of an aberration.
In each of the three other lineups that San Antonio has used for more than 30 minutes—including the No. 1 lineup, which has 83 minutes of action—Leonard lines up at small forward. In fact, that’s his position in six of his eight most-used groupings.
The Spurs are occasionally going small, but that’s not their primary strategy. Using the big boys is still the most common decision.
Out West, there were most assuredly a few teams that employed the guard-first stratagems. Mark Jackson’s Splash Brothers come to mind immediately, as does the Denver Nuggets’ tendency to play Andre Miller and Ty Lawson together.
The Houston Rockets loved going small and surrounding Omer Asik with a bevy of shooters, and Eric Bledsoe and Chris Paul were quite difficult to stop at the same time when Vinny Del Negro used a two-point-guard lineup.
What do they have in common? They’ve all been eliminated from contention for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
It’s telling that the two teams competing for a berth in the 2013 NBA Finals are ones that use big guys first and foremost.
Eastern Conference
It’s not so simple in the East.
The Miami Heat are clearly the class of the conference, and they’ve adopted a smaller lineup. It’s one that helped win a championship in 2012, but it doesn’t exactly feature gunner guards.
Instead, Miami goes small by having LeBron James play power forward rather than his more natural spot at small forward. James is big and physical enough to handle opposing 4s, and his developing postgame allows him to fill the more traditional big-man role on offense as well.
With Chris Bosh and center and James at power forward, the Heat are undoubtedly using a small lineup quite successfully. However, they’ve still recognized the necessity to match up against big units.
That’s where Chris Andersen enters the picture.
Birdman gives Miami the ability to match up against the big boys because he can capably defend opposing centers while letting Bosh and LeBron slide over a spot to their more natural positions in the lineup. Expect to see this quite often if the Heat have to worry about Roy Hibbert in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Hibbert and David West definitely count as big boys for the Indiana Pacers, and Frank Vogel doesn’t really like to go small. This would be different if he had a healthy Danny Granger at his disposal, but that’s not the case.
Indiana’s primary backup bigs are Ian Mahinmi and Tyler Hansbrough. Usually you see either Hibbert or Mahinmi line up at center, and they’re typically joined by West or Hansbrough at power forward.
In fact, the most-used five-man squad without two of the four aforementioned frontcourt players features D.J. Augustin, Gerald Green, Paul George, Jeff Pendergraph and Tyler Hansbrough. During the postseason, that group has played a grand total of eight minutes together.
There’s no small ball in Indiana, but that’s one of the few exceptions in the Eastern Conference. Even the Brooklyn Nets liked to occasionally go small by having Gerald Wallace play power forward.
The New York Knicks use a similar strategy to the one employed by the Miami Heat. They often shift Carmelo Anthony to the 4 and then bring on an extra backcourt member. Iman Shumpert, for example, tends to play minutes at small forward.
Just as is the case with the Western Conference, there is no hard-and-fast rule in the East. The best team happens to play small ball a lot, but even the Heat rely on the big boys at some point.
As for the Association as a whole, although guards like Stephen Curry, Tony Parker, Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Nate Robinson tend to steal the headlines, the bigs are the ones who have been owning this postseason in particular.
Of the five remaining teams, three rely predominantly on their big men: the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers. The other two—the Miami Heat and New York Knicks—prefer going small but recognize the necessity of matching up with an opponent’s size.
We may often complain about the relative dearth of old-school big men who play with their backs to the basket, but it’s still the frontcourt members who are helping teams advance.
The guards can gun threes all they want, but it’s the teams with size that are moving on in the march toward a championship.
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George Hill first to face NBA concussion rule in playoffs
George Hill will need to pass a bar of mental and physical tests to be cleared to return.
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NBA Playoffs 2013: Biggest X-Factor for Teams Making Trip to Conference Finals
You might need stars to win championships, but you can’t win unless you have a balanced team.
The Miami Heat figured that out after losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals. Having the Big Three wasn’t enough to guarantee postseason success. Credit the Heat’s management as it has built a much stronger team, and one certainly capable of lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy for a second year in a row.
It’s much the same situation for the other two teams that have punched their respective tickets to the Conference Finals.
The San Antonio Spurs have Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker to lead what is a well-balanced team. Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies have a strong supporting cast to help Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley.
Here are X-factors for each of the three teams in the Conference Finals. These guys can’t single-handedly win a series, but their performances off the bench can be pivotal to their team’s survival in the playoffs.
Miami Heat: Norris Cole, PG
With so many stars on the Heat, it’s amazing that so much of Miami’s NBA Finals chances can hinge on a player like Norris Cole.
Cole was good in the first round, but he really found his form in the Conference Semifinals against the Chicago Bulls. He went for 18 points in Games 2 and 3. Cole’s season high was 16 points, and that came when Miami rested its main starters against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 15.
ESPN’s Tom Haberstroh put it best regarding Cole’s performance in the playoffs:
Having the trio of Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade is great and all, but it’s guys like Cole who can make the difference between postseason exit and a second straight NBA title. He can be counted upon to knock down open shots. Cole is the kind of shooter who can help to open up the floor for Wade and James.
Memphis Grizzlies: Quincy Pondexter, SF
Quincy Pondexter had a relatively undistinguished regular season. He only averaged 6.4 points a game. Pondexter has been nothing if not consistent in the postseason, putting up 6.5 points a game.
In the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers, Pondexter‘s production off the bench really helped out the Grizzlies. In three of their wins, he went for double digits.
Against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Pondexter hasn’t been asked to do as much, but he still went for about 6.6 a game.
When Pondexter shot, he made it count. He’s knocking down 45.3 percent of his shots in the playoffs, including 42.9 percent from three-point range.
Memphis won’t be relying on Pondexter to win its games against the Spurs, but a couple of key three-pointers can go a long way for the Grizzlies.
San Antonio Spurs: Gary Neal, PG
On one hand, it has to be a little frustrating backing up a point guard like Tony Parker. You’re stuck behind one of the best point guards in the NBA. Don’t look for Gary Neal to complain, though, as he’s been a nice option behind Parker and filled in to starting duties when necessary.
Although Neal’s numbers have dropped from the regular season to the playoffs, a lot of that can be contributed to Parker playing more minutes and Neal playing fewer.
What’s a bit disconcerting is that Neal is only shooting 35.0 percent from the field, including just 25.0 percent from behind the arc.
He’ll need to find his shooting stroke in the Conference Finals. The Grizzlies are so strong inside the post. Neal’s offense off the bench can be huge.
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Winners and Losers of the 2nd Round of the NBA Playoffs
With the second round of the NBA playoffs coming to a close, it’s time to reflect on the winners and losers so far this postseason.
Which players got dealt a crappy hand?
Which teams made their mark on NBA history?
Tune into the video above to see the biggest winners and losers of the second round, and make sure to hit us up with your own picks in the comments section below!
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NBA Playoffs 2013: Highlighting Hottest Players Left in the Field
Winning playoff games in the NBA requires a team effort, but inevitably the team that ends up winning the championship has the hottest player in the league on its side.
For the purposes of this column, we’ll be looking at the best player left in the playoffs in three different categories: hottest guard, hottest forward and hottest big man.
These players are playing excellent ball under pressure, and as a result their teams are still alive and kicking in the 2013 NBA playoffs.
Hottest Guard: Mike Conley, PG, Memphis Grizzlies
Stephen Curry was brilliant this postseason, but his Golden State Warriors couldn’t stop the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.
Conley has been just as impressive for the Grizzlies, and he’s moving on to face the Spurs in the Western Conference finals.
The Grizzlies point guard has raised his game to another level during his team’s postseason run. His points (17.6), assists (7.6) and rebounds (4.8) are all up, and he’s actually turning the ball over less in the playoffs than he did during the regular season.
With an ability to create his own shot, Conley keeps defenses off balance because he can also make big plays when driving in the lane. He can beat teams by scoring inside, but he’s equally adept at hitting open teammates outside when the defense sucks into the lane to stop him.
As good as Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph have been, Conley is the catalyst for Memphis’ postseason success.
Honorary Mention: Tony Parker, PG, San Antonio Spurs
Hottest Forward: LeBron James, SF, Miami Heat
As if any other forward could possibly be ahead of James right now…
Truth be told, no other player compares to James at any position. He’s simply the best player in the world, and he’s been phenomenal during the playoffs this year for the Heat.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls specifically game-planned against James. They tried to clog up the lane and force him to rely on his teammates, but he still managed to have his way on the offensive end more often than not.
James is averaging 24 points, 7.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per contest. He’s hitting nearly 52 percent of all his field-goal attempts, which is remarkable for a player who shoots as many outside shots as he does.
The most impressive aspect of James’ game these days, however, is his ability to dominate on the defensive side. He’s a formidable presence in the paint, can run down anyone from behind on fast breaks and is adept at getting into passing lanes for timely steals.
Nobody compares to James right now, and it appears he’s ready to win another championship in 2013.
Honorable Mention: Carmelo Anthony, SF, New York Knicks
Hottest Big Man: Tim Duncan, PF, San Antonio Spurs
It’s hard to believe that Duncan is still capable of playing at such a high level at his age. Duncan is 37 years old, but he’s outplaying young men who are darn near half his age.
Even on nights when Duncan isn’t hitting his shots, he seems to somehow conjure up 16-plus points and 10 rebounds. To this point in the playoffs, “The Big Fundamental” is putting up 18.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, one block and one steal per game.
Watching the old man perform with such consistency from night to night is a study in perfect mechanics and peerless character. He’s always in the right place at the right time, always stays respectful of his opponents and the referees and still takes instruction as if he were a rookie.
He’s a dominant presence on both ends of the court, and until he retires, the Spurs will be a title contender every single year.
Honorable Mention: Zach Randolph, PF, Memphis Grizzlies
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Stephen Curry’s Superstar Status Safe After Magnificent Run Through the Playoffs
The Golden State Warriors‘ magical run through the 2013 NBA playoffs has come to an end, as the San Antonio Spurs won 94-82 during a series-clinching Game 6. In turn, the most invigorating story of the season has ended.
Even still, Stephen Curry‘s superstar status is safe after a magnificent run through the playoffs.
Curry’s final performance of the 2012-13 season saw him go for 22 points, six assists, four rebounds, one block and a steal. With no other Warriors topping 15 points, it was yet another performance in which Curry stepped up and nearly led Golden State to an improbable victory.
Even in defeat, however, Curry’s reputation is intact.
The postseason always presents a player with the opportunity to break out, thus making the official leap to elite. This year, the basketball gods bestowed that honor upon Curry and thus showed the world what Warriors fans have been saying for years.
Curry is legitimate.
And now we’re left to wonder, how was he not an All-Star?
For those questioning whether or not Curry can sustain this level of success, let’s do a bit of a review. Not only for the postseason, but for the regular season as well.
In turn, we’ll realize that Curry’s postseason performance wasn’t a fluke—it was a statement.
Regular Season in Review
The 2012-13 NBA regular season began with one of the worst performances of Stephen Curry’s career, as he went for five points and three rebounds on 2-of-14 shooting. It didn’t get much prettier during the first month of the season, as Curry’s 19.4 points were met by a field-goal percentage of 43.0.
And that was the end of that.
From November 29 to December 5, Curry rallied off four consecutive games with at least 20 points and 10 assists. He proceeded to shoot 48.2 percent from beyond the arc during the month of December, setting up a January for the ages.
Curry averaged 23.5 points and 6.3 assists on a slash line of .459/.471/.905—and it kept on getting better.
Despite being snubbed from the All-Star Game, Curry proceeded to average 25.4 points on a slash line of .479/.484/.925 during February and dropped 24.9 points per game in March. That includes a 54-point performance on Feb. 27 in which he shot 11-of-13 from three-point range.
A performance that came under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.
Less than two months later, Curry dropped 47 points at the Staples Center against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Prior to the 2013 NBA playoffs, I wrote an article titled, “It’s Time to Admit Stephen Curry Is Officially an NBA Superstar.” The reception to the article was that the label was premature, as Curry was not on the level of the proven ones.
This comes despite Curry setting an NBA record by making 272 three-point field goals—the playoffs quieted all skeptics.
Postseason for the Ages
During Game 1 of the Golden State Warriors’ first-round series against the Denver Nuggets, Stephen Curry underwhelmed. He finished with 19 points and nine assists, but did so while shooting 7-of-20 from the field.
Apparently, Curry is at his best when he starts slow.
During Game 2, Curry went for 30 points, 13 points, five rebounds and three steals on 13-of-23 shooting from the field. As a result, Curry led the Warriors to an upset of the Nuggets in Denver.
As for why that’s significant, the Nuggets hadn’t lost at home since Jan. 18.
Curry followed that performance with 29 points and 11 assists in Game 3, and 31 points in Game 4. With the opportunity to clinch the series in Game 6, Curry posted 22 points and eight assists on four three-point field goals made.
Status solidified.
During Game 1 of the Warriors’ series against the Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs, Curry dropped 44 points and 11 assists. At that point, no one in their right mind was left questioning what he had to offer.
Even as the Spurs overcame his heroics, one thing was clear—the NBA community has embraced Curry as a genuine superstar.
The World Weighs In
The most surprising aspect of Stephen Curry’s success was the fact that the NBA community embraced him as one of the game’s elite. Perhaps no individual was more vocal about that success than Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace.
MWP’s Twitter feed was the most vocal of all.
Can you make a valid case against that claim?
The scariest aspect of Curry’s success is that he appears to be improving at every turn. Not only is he improving, but this is the first time in his developmental process that he’ll be able to go through the offseason in good health.
Are you scared?
You should be.
If that’s not enough for you, then you must learn to respect Curry’s work ethic and motor on the court. Outside of the fact that he gives every part of his being to making an impact, Curry displays the most important aspect of a superstar’s mentality.
The will to get back on the court and make his mark.
Who’s ready for 2013-14?
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NBA Playoffs 2013: Analyzing Fastest Rising Young Stars from Postseason
The 2013 NBA playoffs have been a showcase for some of the game’s most promising young stars—some of whom not receiving the proper attention before the postseason got underway.
There is a particularly captivating trio that have led their teams to more success than was expected at the outset. Each player has shown grit, toughness, clutch play and made an impact on both ends of the floor throughout.
Below is a breakdown of three studs 25 years old and younger who have fared well and should only continue to improve.
Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors
Not only can Curry shoot, but he is as crafty as anyone at creating space off the dribble and also taking opponents to the rack in those situations.
Curry isn’t the most formidable player in terms of physicality, yet he finds a way to consistently finish around the rim. Oh, and that’s not even to mention how fantastic he is at passing. There have been fewer true combo guards in recent memory.
What has been most impressive is how well Curry has improved as a defender, and how he’s gutted through injuries to both ankles to still be out there for his team, which is already shorthanded without David Lee.
ESPN Stats & Info highlights how resilient Curry has been to the pain he’s experienced:
Though his shooting percentage is beginning to decline in the Western Conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs, there’s no question Curry is an All-Star player.
It’s mind-boggling that Curry wasn’t selected to the prestigious squad, but he isn’t likely to be snubbed for many years to come.
Paul George, SF, Indiana Pacers
The sheer athleticism that George brings to the table is staggering, and he only continues to develop into a better all-around product.
George has struggled to find his shooting groove in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks, but has contributed so vitally in many other areas.
What George does isn’t always evident in the box score. He can handle the ball well, shoot nicely and throw down thunderous dunks. The reason the Pacers entered Thursday with a 3-1 lead is because of George’s prowess as a defender, which has helped shut down the likes of Carmelo Anthony.
ESPN’s Chris Palmer points to a historic achievement George notched in the regular season:
The NBA’s leading scorer, Anthony, is shooting just 32 percent when George guards him in this series, which is truly phenomenal (h/t ESPN).
For the postseason, George is averaging 18.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and five assists from the 3 position while playing a treacherous amount of minutes. It’s impossible to discount him as a future max contract-caliber player.
Mike Conley Jr., PG, Memphis Grizzlies
There may not be a more underrated point guard in the NBA than Conley, who has been quietly improving since being the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 draft.
With phenomenal lateral quickness, Conley can get past anyone off the dribble and shuffle his feet against even his most athletic counterparts.
Check out the company he joined in dominating the Oklahoma City Thunder in a Game 2 triumph (h/t ESPN Stats & Info):
The least respected aspect of Conley’s game, though, has been his baffling efficiency with the basketball. Conley has averaged 7.6 assists to just 1.9 turnovers per contest in these playoffs—a 4-to-1 assist-turnover ratio.
That’s a large reason why the Grizzlies find themselves in the Western Conference finals, awaiting the winner of the Spurs-Warriors series.
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NBA Playoffs 2013: Predicting Winners for Thursday’s Round 2 Games
Two hard-nosed clubs seek to close out their high-profile opponents Thursday as the action-packed 2013 NBA playoffs continue.
With their balanced attack, the Indiana Pacers seek to finish off Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden. Coach Mike Woodson’s club is just trying to find a way to score more efficiently and live another day.
In the West, Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs visit Oracle Arena as the Golden State Warriors fight to extend the series to a seventh game.
Will Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith find their groove and resuscitate New York? On a similar note, can the Splash Brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson get back in the saddle?
Find out as I predict the fate of both games.
Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks
Ever since their 26-point win in Game 2, the Knickerbockers have looked more like a No. 8 seed than a No. 2 seed.
The Pacers dominated the paint in the next two contests, turning ‘Melo and J.R. into one of the most inefficient duos in playoff history.
It took Anthony 23 shots to score 24 points in Game 4, and his sidekick Smith took 22 shots to score 19.
Paul George and Lance Stephenson are slowing them down to a screeching halt, and it’s killing New York’s ability to put points on the board. There simply isn’t enough firepower from the Knicks’ supporting cast to beat Indiana when Smith and Anthony are struggling..
The Pacers are owning New York on the boards, and Game 4 was a perfect example of their three-headed monster controlling the game: George had 14 rebounds, Roy Hibbert had 11 and David West had 10.
With their backs against the wall at home, the Knicks will surely put forth a better effort in Game 5, especially on the offensive end.
However, it might not matter if the Pacers can rule the paint and thwart ‘Melo and Smith’s attempts.
Kenyon Martin and Amar’e Stoudemire will both play a bit better at home, along with the rest of the Knicks’ second-tier players.
That being said, I don’t envision Pablo Prigioni or Jason Kidd helping out much, because they don’t match up well against the quicker, stronger Pacers backcourt. With teams like Indiana, defensive intensity rarely changes from game to game, which means it will be competitive, if not victorious, in Game 5.
The factor that will push the Pacers to clinch the series is the offensive output of West. He’s due for a 17-to-23-point night like the one he enjoyed at MSG in Game 1.
This one will be higher scoring than the games in Indy, but the Knicks won’t be any happier when the clock hits zeros.
Prediction: Pacers 97, Knicks 90
San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors
Neither team has won two games in a row in this series, and that’s not going to change in Game 6.
After choking down the stretch in Game 4, the San Antonio Spurs completed the first true blowout of the series in Game 5.
It was a quintessential Gregg Popovich victory, as his crew unloaded 30 assists. Five players reached double figures and 11 players took part in the scoring party.
While Tony Parker was terrific (25 points, 10 assists), Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were on the other end of the spectrum. See Curry’s 4-of-14 shot chart below (via NBA.com):
Back in Oracle, the Splash Brothers will be infinitely more productive, and that will help open things up inside for the likes of Andrew Bogut and Carl Landry. The combination of inside-outside production will be enough to keep the Dubs in the game late, which is all they can really ask for.
San Antonio will be hungry to finish off the Warriors, so superstars Tim Duncan and Tony Parker will be their usually excellent selves.
Meanwhile, it’s highly unlikely that Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green will combine for 33 points as they did in Game 5, so that should serve as an equalizer.
If the Warriors can clean up their defensive act, including a better-coordinated effort against Parker, they can be even or ahead entering the fourth quarter.
And if it’s close in the final minutes at Oracle, I like Golden State’s chances.
Prediction: Warriors 101, Spurs 95
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2013 NBA Playoffs: 5 Keys for a Golden State Warriors Win
The Golden State Warriors find themselves with their backs against the wall, down 3-2 to the San Antonio Spurs. After being drubbed 109-91 in Game 5 Tuesday night, adjustments must be made if they hope to bring the competitiveness back to a previously tight series.
With elimination looming and their season on the line, here are the five things that must happen if they hope to extend the series one last game.
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