Spurs fans are split on series vs. Warriors after Game 2 loss

Written by Jeff Garcia on .

The San Antonio Spurs lost Game 2 to the Golden State Warriors last night in San Antonio as the series (1-1) shifts to Oakland for Game 3. The Warriors not only stole homecourt advantage, they also snapped a 30-game losing streak in San Antonio and look confident heading back home.

One can point to numerous reasons why San Antonio dropped Game 2 from allowing themselves to have to climb out of another double-digit deficit (16 points), no answer to stop Klay Thompson (34 points) and Stephen Curry (22 points) to poor performances from Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

But as the scene shifts to Oakland, are Spurs fans concerned about the series and San Antonio's chances to advance? Apparently feelings are split.

After the game, I asked fans on Twitter their feelings about the series. Here is what some fans are feeling after the Game 2 loss.

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Davis Bertans discusses his season in Europe, upcoming trip to San Antonio

Written by Trevor Zickgraf on .

Last week, we told you that San Antonio Spurs 2011 draftee Davis Bertans would be traveling to San Antonio this summer to work out with the Spurs coaching staff.  It's the second year the European sharpshooter has made the trek to the Alamo City for some extra training. 

Recently, I exchanged emails with Bertans on his season with BC Partizan, his expectations for working out with the Spurs this summer and some other fun stuff.

Check out this Project Spurs' exclusive interview with Bertans and get to know him a bit better.

Bertans on his biggest improvement this season:

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With the Warriors starting a pair of aces, it's time for Spurs to play their wild card

Written by Jesse Blanchard on .

AT&T CENTER — One hour and a half before Game 2 tipped off, Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson sat down before the media and confidently laid all his cards on the table.

“I’ve got the greatest shooting backcourt that’s ever played the game,” Jackson said with the confidence of a gambler ready to take the house for all its money. “Call my bluff.”
 
Mark Jackson is representing pocket aces in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, and the San Antonio Spurs have been around long enough to know the Warriors aren’t bluffing. They know a great hand all to well when they see one, having slow played three kings over the past 10 years.
 
The playoffs, given its best-of-seven format, the quality of the teams remaining, and importance of subtle adjustments between games, are often compared to a chess match between players and coaches. But a chess match assumes that both sides enter a game with equal pieces, leaving the superior tactical mind to carry the day.
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Spurs fortunate series is tied with Warriors

Written by Paul Garcia on .

AT&T Center – Imagine Danny Green didn’t hit the game-tying 3-pointer that sent the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors into overtime Monday night. Imagine if Manu Ginobili didn’t hit the game winning 3-pointer in the Spurs’ game one win over the Golden State Warriors.

Had the above happened, the Spurs would have been heading into game two Wednesday down 0-1 already in the series.

And then came game two.

“They played much better than us and miracles don’t happen that often. We didn’t deserve Game1 either,” said Ginobili Wednesday after his team fell to the Warriors 100-91.

“So we really have to do a better job over there (at Golden State) because we don’t have a chance if we play like this.”

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Warriors party like it’s 1997, end 16-year curse with Game 2 win in San Antonio

Written by Michael A. De Leon on .

Klay ThompsonThe last time the Golden State Warriors won a game in San Antonio, Tim Duncan was a senior at Wake Forest, Stephen Curry was 8-years-old, while his father, Dell, was averaging 14.8 points per game for the Charlotte Hornets.

30 games and 16 years later, the Golden State Warriors finally have another win in San Antonio, staving away a second straight comeback attempt by the San Antonio Spurs in the AT&T Center, winning 100-91 and tying up the series at one win apiece.

"I truly believe that trials and tribulations are transportation for where you're going. Game 1 made us better. We didn't panic. We made plays,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson said.

While the Spurs were able to come back from a 16-point deficit in Game 1 to get the in in double overtime, they did their best yet again but fell short.

After the Warriors were up by 19 points in the third quarter, the Spurs went on a 14-2 run, with Kawhi Leonard taking advantage of mismatches and the Spurs matching the Warriors’ intensity.

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Popovich: Splitter, Duncan “ready to go” for Game 2 vs. Warriors

Written by Paul Garcia on .

AT&T Center – After missing two playoff games with a sprained right ankle, San Antonio Spurs center Tiago Splitter will play against the Golden State Warriors in game two of the second round of the Western Conference playoffs according to Spurs head Coach Gregg Popovich Wednesday evening.USA Today Sports

“They’re good to go,” said Popovich in his pregame press conference of Splitter and Tim Duncan, who had the flu in game one. Duncan, has rid himself of the flu altogether according to Popovich.

Though Splitter is returning to the lineup, Popovich said Boris Diaw, who scored an efficient seven points in game one, will continue to start for San Antonio. On the flipside, Warriors head coach Mark Jackson said he too would start the same starting lineup.

When asked exactly how many minutes Splitter would log in his return, Popovich responded, “17.5” minutes. The “17.5” wasn’t to be taken literally though, as Popovich explained coaches don’t always know how much minutes players can play when returning from an extended injury.

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Matchup of the Game For Game 2: Spurs vs. Warriors

Written by Jose Grijalva on .

The matchup of the game for Game 2 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals will be between San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry.

In Game 1, Curry went off on the Spurs scoring 44 points on 18-35 FG shooting (6-14 in 3-point shooting) and was the main reason Golden State had a 16 point lead late in the game that later disappeared. Stephen Curry seemed to make every shot he threw up, even the impossible ones that he made look routine. It didn't matter if Danny Green or Tony Parker defended him, he kept his confidence throughout the game and carried the Warriors on his back. This changed dramatically when Gregg Popovich sent his best defender, Kawhi Leonard, on him for the latter part of the game and it showed. Leonard's physical gifts bothered Curry and look for that to happen again, especially if the Warriors' point guard gets hot from the field again.

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5 things to watch: Spurs vs. Warriors Game 2

Written by Jeff Garcia on .

The San Antonio Spurs (5-0) will look to defend homecourt against the Golden State Warriors (4-3) tonight at the AT&T Center for Game 2 of their Western Conference Semifinal series.

The Spurs are coming off a thrilling double-overtime comeback 129-127 win in Game 1. Tony Parker finished with 28 points to lead the Spurs while Manu Ginobili nailed he game-winning three-pointer to wrap up the Game 1 win. Warriors' Stephen Curry finished with 44 points to lead Golden State.

 Momentum is on the Spurs side while the Warriors'' mental focus will be in the spotlight tonight.

And as the Spurs look to give the Warriors their 31st loss in a row in San Antonio, here are five things to watch for during tonight's contest:

• The Spurs became just the second team in the playoffs to shoot 50 percent-or-better from the field and three-point territory in the same game, as the Spurs shot 51.2 percent from the floor and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc vs. Lakers in the first round.

• In the third quarter, Warriors' Stephen Curry is averaging 12.3 points on 69.6 percent from the floor and 65.4 percent from three-point line.

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Leonard's defense on Curry key in comeback

Written by Trevor Zickgraf on .

So that was kind of weird what happened in Game 1.  It's not every day you see a 16-point deficit turn in to a double overtime victory.

Still, that happened and while there wasn't one silver bullet that sparked the comeback, it did help that Stephen Curry stopped making shots in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter. 

Part of Curry's woes had to do with Kawhi Leonard switching on to him, making it difficult for him to get some clean looks.  After the game, Tony Parker praised Leonard's efforts to contain Curry after he went bananas in the third quarter.

"Kawhi was huge. We tried to alternated between Danny (Green), Kawhi and myself to try to give him different looks and make it tough on him. You just try and do the best you can," Parker said. "He's a great shooter. I thought Kawhi in the second half, especially in  the fourth quarter, did a great job on him."

Stephen Curry is a problem, but Spurs must answer Klay Thompson first

Written by Jesse Blanchard on .

In the midst of his first playoff run, and a brilliant one at that, the Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry has emerged as one of the most uniquely USA Today Sportspotent threats in the NBA.

Among all NBA players, perhaps only Kevin Durant can access such a dangerously accurate shot in such a variety of ways. Coming off screens, in transition, spotting up for catch and shoot three-pointers, and even dangerous off the dribble in isolation, the moment either player crosses half court the defense must mark them as a threat to shoot, regardless of the situation.

While Curry lacks the length and athleticism of Durant, he compensates with elite ball handling and premium court vision and passing. He also possesses one very important advantage that Durant currently lacks, one that could make a difference in his series against the Spurs: the Warriors protect Stephen Curry as much as they rely on him.

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