Game Details
WHAT: Round 1, Game 3 — Warriors up 2-0 in series
WHEN: Thursday, April 19; 6:30 p.m PST
WHERE: AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
WATCH: TNT, NBCBA
LISTEN: 95.7 The Game
Blog Buddy: Pounding the Rock
Injuries
The injury report is still Steph Curry and Patrick McCaw. David West sprained his ankle on Monday night but was available to return to the game.
JaVale McGee is the one name to keep an eye on today. He is questionable for tonight.
Injury report for tomorrow night's game at San Antonio: JaVale McGee (left quad contusion) is questionable. Stephen Curry (left MCL sprain) & Patrick McCaw (lumbar spine contusion) are out.
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) April 18, 2018
On the Spurs end, Kawhi Leonard is still marooned on a secret island. He is out for the remainder of the playoffs.
Road Warriors
San Antonio is 33-8 at home this season, the third-best home record in the NBA. The Spurs adjusted their game plan from Game 1 to Game 2 on defense — they bruised the Warriors. We should expect that a home court advantage acts as another booster for San Antonio in Game 3.
We know the Warriors will always turn the ball over. In both playoff games, they’ve turned the ball over 15 times, their regular season average. If the Dubs can limit their turnovers under 15, I see no reason for concern given their play in the first two games.
Patience is a virtue
After the Warriors destroyed the Spurs in Game 1, San Antonio entered Game 2 with a renewed mindset. They bullied the Warriors on defense in the first half and it looked like they’d take the Dubs down to the wire. Fortunately for Golden State, Klay Thompson continued his hyper-efficient playoffs, clowned the Spurs’ defense in the second half and the Warriors never looked back.
In Game 2, the Warriors were excellent at waiting for their moment, shooting smart shots, and playing focused defense all game. If the Warriors are losing by 6 heading into the last quarter, it’s okay. Game 2 told us that even if San Antonio plays better for longer stretches of time, the talent chasm between the two teams is just too wide.
Andre Iguo-Curry
Steve Kerr turned to Andre Iguodala as the starting point guard this series for his defense and level-headedness. Kerr got more than he bargained for though.
Since the NBA Playoffs began (and really since the All-Star break), Iguodala’s performed on a different gear than the first half of the regular season, especially from the three-point line. In the first half the season, Iguodala shot 22.9% from three. In the second half, he has shot 41.2%. His field goal percentage is also up 10% in the second half. This is all to say that the Warriors will take any contributions they can get on offense outside of Durant and Thompson, and Iguodala is a crucial component of the team right now. With Curry infiltrating the offense and with the aid of additional bench contributors, Iguodala’s offense can fade into the darkness. Not right now. A road game in San Antonio demands Andre Iguodala’s offensive talent, and he expects to play a role.
Who can help LaMarcus Aldridge?
LaMarcus Aldridge came to life on Monday with 34 points and 12 rebounds. While Patty Mills (aka future Quinn Cook) played a formidable sidekick with 21 points, the Spurs shot 4-28 from three. That’s horrific. We forget that the Spurs are ranked 26 in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage at 35.2%. That said, a Warriors sweep is inevitable if San Antonio can’t shoot for their average.
Danny Green was scoreless in Game 2. In Game 1 he scored 6 points. Kyle Anderson averaged nearly 8 points a game in the regular season. He’s averaged 0.5 points in the first two playoff games. If the Spurs are going to challenge the Warriors in San Antonio, either Green or Anderson will need to step up, hit some shots and continue to play strong defense.
I AM A KLAYTHEIST
Never forget that Klay Thompson is a Warrior.
We, as fans, probably take Kevin Durant’s mid-range game for granted, but Klay Thompson has been the x-factor thus far in the series. Last summer, the Ringer put together this wonderful mockumentary on Klay Thompson. By its end, you might just call yourself a “Klaytheist.”