Warriors Proving to Be Legit
Added on May 09, 2013 by Scott in
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Watching the first two games of the Western Conference Semifinals series between the Warriors and Spurs, it’s abundantly clear that the former is the better team. So far. If not for a defensive breakdown and Manu Ginobili’s overtime heroics in Game 1, San Antonio would be heading to Oakland down 0-2. There’s a lot of basketball left to play in this series, but the Warriors can’t be taken lightly anymore.
Golden State’s success can be defined in two words: Stephen Curry. The budding superstar entered the postseason on a hot streak and has done nothing to disprove the notion that he is the league’s most lethal shooter. His 44 point, 11 assist effort in Game 1 was the best individual playoff performance to this point and a thing of beauty to watch. The Spurs used different players to guard him but found no answers.
What makes Curry even more potent is his willingness to take a backseat to others. Klayton Thompson was in the zone on Wednesday, but rather than force his own shot, Curry let his backcourt mate take the scoring reigns. The end result was a crucial Game 2 victory.
The Warriors can’t come close to matching San Antonio’s experience. However, they are younger, faster and more athletic, which makes them problematic for older, slower opponents. As long as they continue to play without fear and utilize an energetic pace to their advantage, they will remain a threat.
The fact that they’re getting it done without their best inside scorer and rebounder, David Lee, makes their efforts even more impressive. Lee is still healing from a torn hip flexor and his availability going forward is in doubt. His absence has allowed head coach Mark Jackson to employ a smaller, quicker lineup versus a team that finished 21st in rebounding.
The action now shifts to Oracle Arena, where the Warriors went 3-0 in the opening round, and defeated the Spurs twice during the regular season. With increased exposure come increased pressure. How Golden State responds in the next two games will go a long way in determining how far they can advance.
