Spurs Keys To Victory For Game 5 Against The Warriors

May 12, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) holds onto a rebound in front of San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in the fourth quarter in game four of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Spurs 97-87 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday, game four, where were you?  Like many, you were probably at your favorite Bar and Grill establishment watching the San Antonio Spurs control the Golden State Warriors.  Everything was looking just right, and going the Spurs way, Ginobili came off the bench to hit shots, which was a good sign, the defense was doing one hell of a job on Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.  As stated, everything was feeling right.

Until the second half.

Still at your favorite establishment, a little drinking probably turned into a lot of drinking.  When your drunk you don’t feel or possibly remember anything.  Any of you doing this?

It was a game that now is in the past and we don’t need to look back on.  We have though learned some lessons in that game and now have turned it into areas in which we can improve on to ensure a game five win.

May 12, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green (4) grabs a rebound next to Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) in the second quarter in game four of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Rebound.  The San Antonio Spurs in game four were out-rebounded 65 to 51.  The Warriors did a great job putting bodies on the Spurs.  On the defensive end, the San Antonio Spurs did not do a good job boxing out anyone.  Warriors grabbed 19 offensive rebounds.  They [Warriors] also did great on the defensive boards, finishing with 46.  In game five, San Antonio has to make sure they turn and find a body and throw everything they have into that person so no rebounds are grabbed, on the defensive and more importantly the offensive side.

Ball Pressure.  Spurs defense did a heck of a job on the shooters of the Warriors, I am speaking of Klay Thompson and Steph Curry.  Even though Curry finished with 22, he shot 15 times and hit just seven shots.  Thompson on the other hand went 5 for 13 for 10 points.  The ball pressure has to be there.  The Spurs forced the Warriors to turn the ball over 18 times.  When they force turnovers, they have to turn them into points.   

Pick-N-Roll Defense.  It has to get better. Simple as that.  The Warriors are a type of team with great shooters and they don’t need any kind of space to put up a shot, Curry and Thompson have both proven this all series long.  What I saw in game 4 that I could not understand what we were doing was, when Tony Parker or any other guard would get picked, we would go over the top but the help defender would sag off the player setting the screen, why?  We have to show that we are there and make the shooters that the Warriors do have, do something else with the ball, force them to put it on the ground and attack the basket where more help will be.

May 12, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) steals the ball from San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) in overtime in game four of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Spurs 97-87 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Free Throws.  Spurs have to make sure that they are taking advantage of the gimmies.  The Spurs on the season shot 79.1 percent from the line during the regular season.  In three out of the four games this season, they have shot worse and have made many scratch their heads.  In game four the Spurs went 14-of-25 from the line for 56-percent.  What has been the most surprising, Kawhi Leonard’s meltdown at the line.  During the season, a 82-percent free throw shooter has missed half of his 22 attempts.

Get On The Floor.  What the Spurs didn’t do that they lacked in game four was getting on the floor for the 50/50 balls.  The Warriors were all over the floor, they want those balls, they live off of hustle and reaction from their crowd.  The Spurs have to be aggressive on the floor, go for every loose ball like their life depended on it.  Danny Green in game four had a shot of a loose ball that could of possible changed the game for the Spurs, instead of dropping down on it, he tried to reach for it which led to Jarrett Jack seeing the ball on the floor to dive on it, he wanted it more.  This is how San Antonio needs to come out in Game 5.