The Golden State Warriors are already up 2-0 in the Western Conference Finals and the San Antonio Spurs will again be without Kawhi Leonard in Game 3. That doesn't bode well for the Spurs chances of pulling an upset. Can Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich work his magic or will the Warriors superior talent be too much overcome? Here's a preview and prediction for tonight's game:
Game Info:
When: 9 P.M. ET
Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
TV: ESPN
Spread: Warriors by 9
O/U: 213
What They're Saying About The Golden State Warriors:
Warriors asst. GM Travis Schlenk candidate for Hawks’ front office (SF Chronicle)
Zaza Pachulia out, Andre Iguodala probable for Game 3 (San Jose Mercury News)
Was Klay Thompson an All-NBA Snub Victim? (Number Fire)
What They're Saying About The San Antonio Spurs:
Kawhi Leonard and Gregg Popovich announced as finalists for NBA awards (Pounding The Rock)
Spurs fan sues Pachulia, alleges 'serious injury' (ESPN)
Manu Ginobili on Spurs in Game 2: “We felt sorry for ourselves" (San Antonio Express-News)
Key To The Game: Those Classic Warriors Runs
There isn't a team better in the NBA than the Warriors than going on soul-crushing runs that explode at moments notice than the Golden State Warriors. One minute, they'll be up a few points and the next it's a 15-point game. That's what happens when you have Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green on the court together. The Warriors are usually good for several of those runs each game, but much like crashes at the Daytona 500, the real threat is the "Big One."
The big one happened in Game 1 when the Warriors went on an 18-run to rally from down 25 points. That huge run came as part of a massive second half that was preceded by Leonard's injury. The big run came early game 2, when the Warriors went on 19-3 run in the late first and early second quarter.
Without Leonard, the Spurs won't be able to handle those back-breaking runs. For the Spurs to pull the upset, they'll need to stunt those Warriors runs and play steady basketball all game. A few stretches of bad basketball from San Antonio could be enough for the Warriors to pull away.
Prediction: Warriors win 120-100
At the very least, let's hope Game 3 isn't the same level of blowout Game 2 (of both the Western and Eastern Conference Finals) series was. At home, the Spurs should play a bit better and hang around longer. But without Leonard, their best player, the Spurs simply don't have the firepower to run with the Warriors' stacked squad. It looks like the NBA is any of another blowout playoff game.