What The Spurs Must Do To Win In Denver
By Michael Rehome
Mar 27, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee (34) dunks during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT
The last meeting between the San Antonio Spurs and the Denver Nuggets ended in a thrilling fashion, with Tim Duncan putting in the game winner as he hit a jumper while he was fouled. San Antonio escaped with a one point victory.
There were many areas in this game that the Nuggets were so good at that the Spurs cannot make the same mistake this time around.
The Denver Nuggets are a young powerful team that can surely put up some points as well as make you pay for not taking advantage of opportunities that they may give you.
The Nuggets out-rebounded, out passed and simply outplayed the Spurs back on that March 27th meeting. One player that came out and gave the Nuggets the boost they needed was JaVale McGee.
Check out his stat line from that game: Twenty-five points, eleven rebounds, 3 blocked shots, 10-of-11 shooting from the floor, 25 minutes of play. He was the factor.
It was one final play from the Spurs that catapulted them to the win. I came to the conclusion that San Antonio should of lost that game. They could not run with the Nuggets. They could not counter with their bench play.
The way I see it, the Spurs are going to have to turn their attention and get help from other areas in this game in order for them to knock off the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.
The Pepsi Center this season has proven to be a tough place for opponents to win in. The Denver Nuggets are 35-3. They have won 20 consecutive home games.
For San Antonio, they have won four of their last six trips to the Pepsi Center. The Denver Nuggets this season have a record of 22-1 against the Western Conference. For San Antonio to continue their success at the Pepsi Center, they are going to have to do the following:
Start Strong, Finish Strong.
There have been times when the Spurs will start the game off strong and look good but then they fizzle out when they need to keep going. Going back to that game on March 27th, San Antonio struggled through 4-of-14 shooting.
With Tony Parker still out with an injury, San Antonio has not taken care of the ball. As stated, Nuggets like to run, Spurs cannot give them easy opportunities.