Although it was an away game, losing this game still made Popovich very unhappy.
Because he knows that this is their best chance on the road!
Generally speaking, the first game is the away team's best chance to win, because everyone is unfamiliar with it at this time and is most likely to win by surprise - especially against a young team!
But if you lose, you lose, and there is nothing Popovich can do.
To put it bluntly, it is due to strength. The gap is too big and there is nothing anyone can do.
Of course, Popovich also made some mistakes. He started with twin towers, which was a very bad start.
The Warriors have always started with one big and four small. They strive for speed and accuracy. In this case, using the twin towers will be a big disadvantage.
Although the Spurs will have a chance if they play well inside, the possibility is too small!
The Warriors' defense is the best in the league. They have the strongest forward defensive group, and they also have a great interior defender in Bogut!
If the Twin Towers don't perform well, they will be defeated immediately!
Even if the twin towers perform well, as long as the opponent's outside line is normal, it will be difficult to gain an advantage!
This is also the reason why opponents generally don't use twin towers.
Not surprisingly, Popovich changed the starting lineup in the second game. He took Split and replaced him with Ginobili.
There are also one senior and four juniors, three outside shooters, Danny Green, Leonard, and Ginobili are responsible for opening up the space. Parker and Duncan pick and roll. If Ginobili cannot be opened, he will take over the second wave of offense.
This lineup can be said to be the Spurs' strongest offensive lineup.
Even in terms of perimeter defense, this lineup is very strong.
The Warriors' starting lineup remains unchanged.
The two teams are fighting each other from the beginning. If you dunk, I will immediately return a three-pointer!
The pick-and-roll of Parker and Duncan is very difficult to defend, so one has to be put in. Although Danny Green and the other three are not as good as the Splash Brothers, their three-pointers are not bad, at least they are not inferior to Barnes and Hayward.
To sum up, the Warriors are stronger on the outside, while the Spurs are better on the inside. At the same time, the Spurs' cooperation is more tacit.
Bogut only came to the Warriors this season, and his cooperation with Curry is not very tacit. Moreover, apart from Curry, the Warriors can only rely on Hayward to attack with the ball. He is still one step behind Ginobili.
Little by little.
Hayward is much better than Ginobili in the regular season, but when it comes to crunch time in the playoffs, the veteran can still be relied upon.
Fortunately, Curry is not only a ball-handler, his off-ball movement is also top-notch. The Splash Brothers' off-ball movement is also one of the Warriors' main offensive methods.
Let Hayward be a facilitator and splitting up the arc is no problem.
If nothing else works, with his height advantage, Hayward can still make strong shots, which is also his advantage.
Those who are as fast as him are not as tall as him, and those who are as tall as him are not as fast as him!
The two teams were playing inextricably, and the score was rising sharply.
The Spurs were extremely well prepared, felt hot, and played extremely efficiently on the offensive end.
This group of veterans is extremely disciplined and experienced, and at the same time, their desire to win is stronger than that of the warriors.
Duncan is already 38 years old and can't play for two years. Ginobili is also 37 years old, and even Parker is 32!
The GDP combination is the foundation of the Spurs. If they break up, the Spurs' competitiveness will not be guaranteed.
So the Spurs really want to win a championship in the next two years!
Even one will do!
But they know that if they want to win the championship, the Warriors are the mountain they must overcome!
This Warriors team is both offensive and defensive, with excellent defense and particularly ferocious offense. Popovich knows that if he wants to defeat the Warriors, he can only improve his offensive efficiency, and there is no other way.
You can't guard against this Warriors by relying solely on defense!
The average offensive level is useless!
So in the past two years, they have been honing their offense and adding outside shooters.
The Spurs played great, and the Warriors were no slouch either.
This is the Oracle Arena. At least the referees will not favor the Spurs. The Warriors have the advantage in terms of strength, so they are not afraid anyway.
Danny Green feels hot, and Ginobili never misses a key moment like this. Even Leonard threw in two three-pointers!
Needless to say, the Splash Brothers on the Warriors' side. Although the Spurs defended heavily, they could still find gaps and hit three-pointers.
Although the shooting rate is a bit lower than usual, and although there are not many opportunities to take shots, as long as the two of them move and have the opportunity to take action, the Spurs' defensive focus will be on the two of them, and the defensive pressure on their teammates will be much less.
Because most of the defensive pressure is on the Splash Brothers, Barnes, Hayward and Bogut have many opportunities, but these three are not very good at shooting and their shooting percentage is average.
Bogut was even blocked twice by Duncan at the basket!
Soon, after the first quarter, the score was 36:33, with the Spurs leading by 3 points.
The score can be said to be evenly matched, with no difference between the two.
Deng Fang was not worried, but Popovich on the sidelines looked serious and frowned.
In order to face the Warriors, the Spurs have brought out everything.
Even so, the Spurs are only ahead by three points!
What to do with the substitute?
The second quarter started quickly. The Spurs started with Mills, Belinelli, Leonard, Diaw and Splitter.
Leonard played the entire first quarter and now he has to continue playing.
There is no other way, no one is available, so young people can only continue.
This is already the strongest substitute the Spurs can come up with.
The Warriors still have a five-small lineup, with Barbosa, Azubuike, Iguodala, Middleton, and Tucker playing.
Tucker defends Diaw. The two are a little different in height, but their wingspans are not much different. Tucker has no problem in terms of strength.
As for Split, the pincer attack is over!
Even if you suffer a little loss on rebounds, you can make up for it on the offensive end!
Just asking you, who does Split defend against?
Five of the Warriors are outside the three-point line, can you get out?
If I come out, I will attack you; if you don’t come out, I will kill you!
Even in terms of rebounding, since Split, who has no offensive ability, is on the court and the Warriors have to shrink their defense, they don't suffer much.
The Warriors' bench was average in the last game, but this time the Spurs are not so lucky!
In less than 4 minutes, the Warriors went ahead by 6 points at 11:2!
Popovich quickly called a timeout.
After the timeout, the Spurs started the game, Leonard rested, and Mills continued to play.
Parker and Mills played in the backcourt, and Danny Green was pushed to the 4th position!
Deng Fang did not hesitate this time and also brought the Splash Brothers up. Barbossa and Azubuike took a break.
The strongest five kids come on stage!
Since the Spurs lacked a top defensive player and the backcourt was very short, Clay, who was more than a head taller than Mills, suddenly got a good shot!
In 5 minutes, Klay made 4 of 6 three-pointers, coupled with Curry's 2 of 3 shots, Tucker's 1 of 2 shots from the corner, and Iguodala's two dunks, the Warriors had another small climax.
come out!
The Warriors' lineup is extremely fast and does not suffer from average height. They take decisive action when opportunities arise, making it difficult for the Spurs to defend.
The Spurs' touch was not as hot as in the first quarter. Compared with the two, the point difference quickly widened!
Popovich called a timeout again, but it was of no use.
The gap in strength cannot be determined by tactics alone.
Soon, at the end of the second quarter, the score became 75:56, with the Warriors leading by 19 points!
