What The Spurs Need To Do To Win Game Three

Mar 24, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Danny Green (4) signals a play against the Houston Rockets during the second half at the Toyota Center. The Rockets won 96-95. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

As Game Three looms, there are some adjustments that the San Antonio Spurs can do to win game three against the Los Angeles Lakers.  The news keeps getting worse and worse for them as they are faced into a 0-2 deficit without their star player in Kobe Bryant and yesterday, news came out that Steve Blake will miss the rest of the playoffs with a hamstring injury.  Steve Nash and Jodie Meeks may also miss game three, due to a hamstring and ankle injury.

San Antonio has been playing great this series as their bench is taking center stage with their stellar play.  Every San Antonio may have their broom out and are talking sweep, we are playing on the road and we tend to have our issues.

Below are some adjustments I feel the Spurs can take into account in order to put the Lakers on the shelf until next season.

• Continue Strong Presence In Post.  San Antonio bigs are doing a great job on making life rough for the Lakers and their big men.  Lakers as we know will ground and pound the ball into both Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard.  Matt Bonner to me has been the game changer as he too is taking a beating from Howard, but standing his ground.  As we have heard by now, Howard has accused the bigs of flopping.  I guess getting elbowed in the head and falling to the ground is a flop.
• Danny Green Needs To Step Up.  If the time for him to step up isn’t now I am not sure when that will be.  With the Lakers lineup as thin as it is, Green should be able to get back on track and bring his confidence up.  Spurs fans have seen a confident Danny Green can do what he wants on the floor.  Spurs need to set screens for him so that he can come off and fire away, with his quick trigger, he does not need much room to get a shot off.
• Don’t Overthink While On The Road.  I am a little more at ease knowing that Lakers are losing players left in right, but still in the back of my mind know the road woes the Spurs have.  San Antonio has to continue to play the way they have, what has them in their 14th consecutive post season.  Play San Antonio basketball, don’t change because you are now in Los Angeles.
• Stay Healthy. Don’t Get Hurt.  This has to be one that playoff teams are hoping they don’t happen to them.  As the news broke today, Russell Westbrook will miss the rest of the playoffs with a torn meniscus.  Gregg Popovich and the coaching staff have to ensure that the players are healthy and do not over play them in situations.  The players cannot be timid when calling a timeout, be aware of what could happen, which is how Westbrook’s season ended, he was calling a timeout leaving himself vulnerable and Patrick Beverly lunged in for a steal, the rest is history.