Game Info
- Tip Off: 6:30 PM PT
- Television: TNT
San Antonio Spurs Team Profile
- Offensive Efficiency: 105.9 (2nd in NBA playoffs)
- Defensive Efficiency: 97 (4th in NBA playoffs)
Scope the Opposition: 48 Minutes of Hell.
Preview: One of the most exciting settings in the postseason is the swing game.
With the series tied at two games apiece, Game 5 comes with a lot of intrigue. The obvious discussion topic is the availability of Stephen Curry.
Although no one doubts he will play tonight, there are some concerns involving the amount of minutes he will see as well as his effectiveness during that timeframe. This is unquestionably one of the most interesting subplots in the series so far but it pales in comparison to another one: the Golden State Warriors have looked like the home team in San Antonio.
Lost in the fact Golden State suffered a huge heartbreaker by losing Game 1 on the road is the notion they outplayed the San Antonio Spurs for roughly 44 minutes.
Game 2 mirrored the first contest in some respects but the Dubs pulled out the head-to-head matchup on the road. In San Antonio, the duo of Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes played like world-beaters.
Their production as well as the open looks they generated for their teammates made it as such that Golden State’s offensive execution looked crisp and on schedule practically on every possession.
So far in the Western Conference semifinals, the Warriors are scoring 108.4 points per 100 possessions on the road according to NBA.com’s advanced stats tool. This obviously comes with a big caveat: Curry played both games in San Antonio operating with great mobility.
At present time, the Warriors have no such luxury. Jarrett Jack will have to play bigger and better much like he did in Games 2 and 4.
The good news for Warriors fans is that he’s proven he can be counted on occasionally in contests with pressure at its highest.
Also, the use of Harrison Barnes against Tony Parker should alleviate some of the scoring responsibilities that fall on the shoulders of the Warriors’ leading scorer.
Keep in mind, consistently attacking Parker with Barnes (when he switches in the pick-and-roll) will wear down the Frenchman and limit his effectiveness down the stretch.
Provided the Dubs maintain their offensive flow and complement it with Andrew Bogut’s defensive brilliance, Mark Jackson’s group should be in position to steal Game 5 late.
Questions or comments? Feel free to leave them in the comments section or you can contact me by email at [email protected].