San Antonio Spurs/Golden State Warriors Game 3 Analysis
16 Wins A Ring Writers offer 3 different perspectives on Game 3 results: Golden State 120 — San Antonio 108
Golden State Analysis by: David Brandon
What Worked:
Pretty much everything.
San Antonio just doesn’t have the scoring to keep up. It was iffy with Kawhi and Tony Parker (and now David Lee,) all out with injuries. Without them, it’s pretty much impossible.
David West was excellent off the bench making really smart passes and playing excellent defense. Klay Thompson finally got his shot going a little bit. That should come in handy in the Finals. Durant and Curry were their normal selves. JaVale was terrific, especially to start the game. He doesn’t have a lot of stamina but in limited minutes he’s been unreal. He was 6 for 9 with 16 points.
Having Iguodala back is nice. He didn’t do a ton, but at the very least getting him back into game shape is a good thing.
But really, this is practice.
Lessons Learned:
It’s still baffling that they don’t run more pick and roll, but it doesn’t really matter.
It’s still frustrating how much they turn the ball over on careless plays, but it doesn’t really matter.
It’s still weird that they insist on occasionally running punchless bench lineups without Curry or Durant, but it doesn’t really matter.
They need to keep feeding JaVale. With Lamarcus Aldridge at center, the Spurs just could not stop him, and the Spurs are going to have to play some decent minutes with Aldridge at center. With Zaza out, he’s going to get some decent run at center, and keeping him involved has paid big dividends.
They’re just better. No one wants to watch any more of this. Wrap it up and move on to the Finals.
Game Four Adjustments:
Take care of the ball a little better. They had 21 turnovers, which is bad even for a high-pace team like the Dubs. A lot of those were on goofy, boneheaded passes where they were going for the home run play instead of the single.
And don’t let Green or Curry get in foul trouble early. Both got caught on some silly reach-ins. It didn’t matter tonight, but in the likely event we get Warriors vs Cavs Part 3 this Finals, it’ll be an issue.
Game Four Prediction:
120–103 Warriors. Let’s all go home.
San Antonio Spurs Analysis by: Rich Condon
What Worked:
The Spurs faithful were treated to a vintage Manu Ginobili performance, who scored 21 points in 18 minutes on the evening. Ginobili, who’s 39, is the second-oldest player in the NBA behind 40 year old Vince Carter. There aren’t going to be many more of these games from one of the more unique players in NBA history.
This is the first time since Kawhi went down that the Spurs looked like they belonged on the same floor as the Warriors. They finished with 22 assists on the night, grabbed 53 rebounds (15 on the offensive glass), scored 62 points in the paint, 23 points on the break, and scored 25 points off 21 Golden State turnovers.
Lessons Learned:
Unfortunately, they still lost by 12. Without Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker, the two primary playmakers for the Spurs on offense, San Antonio doesn’t have a prayer. Kawhi Leonard especially hurts as he was able to limit Kevin Durant’s offensive output. Durant scored 33 points in Game Three, 19 of which came in a backbreaking third quarter for the Spurs. It didn’t matter which Spur was guarding Durant either; he got his on all of them.
None of the Spurs starters could get into any sort of rhythm against the Warriors stingy defense:
LaMarcus Aldridge: 18 points on 7–17 from the floor, 1–2 from three
Patty Mills: 7 points on 2–10 from the floor, 1–4 from three
Danny Green: 7 points on 3–11 shooting, 1–5 from three
Jonathan Simmons 14 points on 7–17 shooting 0–4 from three
Kyle Anderson, who replaced Pau Gasol in the starting lineup, shot 3–3 for 6 points in addition to 9 rebounds and five assists in 20 minutes.
Game Four Adjustments:
If this were a movie, Kawhi Leonard would walk into the Spurs locker room tomorrow, or in the morning of Game Four, and would walk up to Coach Popovich and start rolling his ankle, saying he was pain-free. You know, like the scene in D2: The Mighty Ducks when Adam Banks is able to rotate the hockey stick without any pain in his injured wrist.
Leonard would suit up for Game Four, shut down KD, score 35 points, and the Spurs would be the first team to beat the Warriors in the postseason. The Spurs, led by Kawhi Leonard, would go on to become the first team ever to come back from a 3–0 deficit and stun the Warriors before going on to sweep the Cavaliers in the Finals.
But, unfortunately, this is real life. The biggest decision Coach Popovich has to make is whether it’s even worth it to chance further injury to Kawhi’s ankle and the rest of the Spurs’, or if he would be better served getting the youngsters some more playoff experience.
Personally, I think the Spurs owe it to Manu to go for it, especially if Kawhi is healthy enough to play Game Four.
Game Four Prediction:
I’m hoping the above Kawhi Leonard-Adam Banks comparison comes true, if anything just to have some sort of drama in what’s been about the worst playoffs in recent memory (Darren Rovell called the NBA the National Blowout Association on Twitter last night.) Assuming it doesn’t, Golden State completes the sweep, going 12–0 in the Western Conference playoffs, and await the Cavaliers to finish their sweep of the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference.
Neutral Analysis by: Cory Hutson
Why Golden State Won:
Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant. Steph Curry! But mostly Kevin Durant.
KD demonstrated why the Warriors were willing to take a risk changing up their all-time great team, as well as how the hobbled Spurs have nobody who can check him. 33 points would have been a lot for the whole game, never mind the three quarters it actually took him to get that far.
While their defense wasn’t up to its usual standards for most of the night, the Warriors were happy to get into a shootout with the Spurs, one that San Antonio had little chance of keeping up, despite standout performances from the likes of Manu Ginobli.
Why San Antonio Lost:
It sounds like a broken record, but this series really shows why Kawhi Leonard turns the Spurs from a good team into a great team. The Spurs are doing the best with what they have, but they were already at a talent deficiency entering the series.
If there’s a disappointing factor for San Antonio, it’s that their defense hasn’t really shown up. Naturally, Leonard would help on that front, but nothing about the Spurs’ game plan seems to be slowing the Warriors down. Perhaps their only solace is that they’re forcing the Warriors to beat them with individual shot making, but that’s little consolation when Kevin Durant is bombing on you all night.
Game Four Adjustments:
There’s two approaches: the dream or the realistic approach.
If San Antonio really wants to give this a shot, really wants to give it their all with their season on the line, they’ll find a way to get Kawhi out there and see if they can take a game off the juggernauts of the Western Conference.
…But, if they’re honest with themselves, they might decide to play this conservatively and do everything they can to preserve Kawhi’s health. Multiple ankle sprains within weeks has to be a big concern for the Spurs’ medical staff, and with the series clearly out of reach, San Antonio might wave the white flag, at least as far as their best player is concerned.
I would guess the latter is what’s gonna happen, but this is the playoffs. Maybe pride will push them to try to go down swinging.
Game Four Prediction:
The Warriors appear to have no weaknesses, at least versus the Leonard-less Spurs. After a close call in game 1 and two convincing wins since, there’s little reason to expect San Antonio to close the gap. If I’m predicting that Leonard sits in Game 4, then I’m also predicting another easy win for Golden State.
