Switching Spurs Make Life Miserable for Warriors’ Sharpshooters
There have been more snow days in San Antonio over the last two decades than there have been times Tim Duncan has started a game on the bench. But a team that demands lineup adjustments like the Golden State Warriors might come around once every ice age.
The Spurs elected to start Boris Diaw over their 39-year-old big man (a young man in Andre Miller’s eyes) to combat the Andrew Bogut-less Golden State Warriors, and it paid off — though it came with a fairly startling reality: Should we be so lucky to see these teams face off in the Western Conference Finals, Duncan may be unplayable in any small-ball lineup.
Is this a surprise? I wouldn’t say so. It’s why the Spurs went out on the limb of trading Tiago Splitter in their effort to acquire LaMarcus Aldridge. They knew they had to become more mobile in the front court. Duncan played eight minutes in the game, including a DNP in the second half. But the plan worked.
San Antonio executed quite well in a throwback 87-79 win, crowding the Warriors’ perimeter offense and not allowing any of their lethal shooters to get open looks. Well, to be more specific, they did not let Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson get space. The MVP got just seven open looks (defined as a defender four or more feet away), via NBA.com’s SportVu player tracking. His Splash Brother had just five such looks.
The Spurs switched everything. EVERYTHING. The Dubs tried to create the mismatches they love — off screens, off the ball, in pick-and-rolls — and it didn’t work. There was no planting Kawhi Leonard or Danny Green on Steph or Klay. There was no stubborn strategy of playing to the typical strengths of their defense — funneling perimeter scorers toward the interior. San Antonio didn’t hold off in employing an approach we’ll see in the postseason. The Spurs went after it, slowing the pace to 90.16 possessions per 48 minutes (Golden State averages 101.98 — AFTER Saturday’s game). It was a playoff-type pace.
San Antonio chose to force anyone without a brotherly nickname to beat them. The Warriors have other players capable of doing damage, but they feed off the momentum their two best players inject into their veins. There was no such momentum to be found in this game.
It must be said: Golden State was tired after a recently difficult schedule. It wasn’t exactly evident — that team always plays with energy and a frenetic style that leaves typical opponents breathless — but the Spurs weren’t at their best either. Still, this is the type of game San Antonio is built to withstand. It should also be said: This is the type of game we’ll see come playoff time.
Side note: For all the criticism Aldridge gets on the defensive end, he offers something the Spurs haven’t had in a long time. He’s known as an offensive player, but his ability to extend to the 3-point line defensively and make players shoot over his nearly seven-foot frame — and he closes out very well, forcing guys to have to drive into the teeth of the defense — gives San Antonio an additional luxury against the Warriors. They want to shoot. They want to exploit mismatches in the front court with Draymond Green at the power forward and center position. Aldridge, who, again, is widely criticized in this capacity, makes that difficult. He’s a much better defender than most people want to acknowledge.
When you get to the point of two teams like these squaring up, where each is historically great in multiple facets, coaching adjustments are going to be paramount. The Spurs adjusted beautifully after the debacle in Oakland nearly two months ago. Golden State will adjust accordingly going forward — best believe that. But San Antonio made a point in this game.
Steph and Klay, you won’t get open looks, so you’re going to have to hit shots with a hand in your face. Draymond, you’re going to have to make more plays as a scorer than you’re accustomed to. Everyone else, you’re going to have to hit shots in a half-court setting without momentum — the Spurs aren’t going to let the pace get out of hand.
And let’s be clear: What’s most dangerous about the Warriors is, when it comes to all the aforementioned players and situations, they’re perfectly capable of accomplishing all of these tasks.
When these teams face off again, Golden State will be better. San Antonio will need to be better, too. But for at least one night, the Spurs showed the outcome to this season is far from inevitable. They’re more than capable of beating the Warriors in a series because they have the pieces to do so, even if it means Duncan will be relegated to a bench role.
We’re less than one year removed from Timmy being the most important piece of an offense in a first-round playoff loss to the Clippers, but the Spurs never intended for it to play out that way. Life is different now. It’s not a stretch to say, with the inclusion of Aldridge and the ascension of Leonard, this is the best team San Antonio has ever fielded.
And yet, crazily enough, they may be forced to play the best basketball they’ve ever played in order to make a run at a sixth title. The Warriors are unlike anything they’ve faced, but tonight’s game offered a look at why they may be able to deal with them.
That’s what makes this fun, isn’t it? Gregg Popovich said over the All-Star break, he’s watched more film of the Warriors than any other team he’s ever faced. For all the advantages Golden State has, that’s one in the San Antonio column. The strategy he employed on Saturday worked quite well, and rest assured, he’s far from done tinkering.
Spurs - Warriors may turn out to be one of the best matchups the NBA has ever seen, and the games have only just begun.
Until next time, let’s all just take a breath. This is far from over.
