Did we count out the Spurs?
By Alex Eddy
Even in defeat, there’s one thing that we learned from Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals – that we can’t count out the San Antonio Spurs
Although the San Antonio Spurs had a heart-wrenching 113-111 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 1, we found out that we can’t count out the Spurs in this series just yet. No one is picking San Antonio, but we have to give them a chance.
The Spurs were unbelievable in the first half, outscoring the Warriors by 20 at the halfway mark. Kawhi Leonard had 18 points at the break, and LaMarcus Aldridge added 17 of his own. The Spurs played great team defense in the first two quarters, and they ultimately forced 19 turnovers for the game, which led to 31 points.
San Antonio, who allowed the second fewest points per game in the regular season, held the Warriors to 42 points in the first half.
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However, Leonard’s ankle injury in the third quarter was the turning point in this game. Once he left the game, the Warriors went on an 18-0 run, and that opened the gates for the prolific Warriors’ offense.
The Warriors outscored the Spurs by 11 points in each of the final two frames, ultimately coming out wth a two point victory in the end. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry took full advantage of the Leonard injury, as they went on to deliver 74 points combined.
This loss will not be easy for the Spurs to recover from. They practically controlled this entire game, and it was extremely unfortunate for Leonard to leave with an injury. However, the Spurs still have a chance in this series (even without Leonard).
They have the best coach in the game, and Gregg Popovich has the experience to comeback from heart-stabbing losses. Remember, he helped the Spurs grab a revenge ring against the Miami Heat in 2014.
He produced a great gameplan for today’s game, despite the defeat. They also have LaMarcus Aldridge, who has been nothing short of sensational recently. He was mostly nonexistent in the series against the Grizzlies and the beginning of the Rockets’ series, but has really showed up of late.
He had his best game of the playoffs in Game 6 against the Rockets in the absence of Leonard, scoring 34 points and adding 12 rebounds. He had 28 points and eight rebounds in Game 1.
Aldridge becomes the go-to guy when Leonard is not on the floor, and the Spurs can run their offense through him. The Spurs beat the Rockets by 39 points without Leonard. Yes, the Warriors are a completely different animal, but the Spurs are the best organization for the “next man up” philosophy.
Whether it is Jonathon Simmons, Dejounte Murray, Patty Mills, Manu Ginobili, or another player, someone always shows up in the face of adversity.
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The San Antonio Spurs might have lost Game 1, but this series is far from over. They may not have Leonard for Game 2, but they have the right coaching and the right mindset to come away with a possible victory.