The Morning Tip-Off

The Morning Tip-Off is where we scour the internet, to bring you all the San Antonio Spurs news from different outlets, all on one page.

Tiago Splitter is doubtful for Game 1… – Rotoworld

Tiago Splitter (ankle) is doubtful for Game 1 against the Warriors on Monday.

Splitter, if reasonably healthy, could be a huge X-factor in the series because Golden State has only one good interior defender in Andrew Bogut, who is easily hobbled. Boris Diaw is also questionable to play.

Jackson talks series with Spurs, Parker, Popovich and more – Project Spurs

The one thing that jumps out immediately is that they’re the No. 1 fast-breaking team in the playoffs so far. You think about the Spurs and you think they execute you to death, obviously Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, Ginobili off the bench and the great role players. But they forced the tempo against the Lakers. I’m sure that was a game plan strategy, but we are going to make sure that…

David Lee may play meaningful minutes against San Antonio Spurs – Contra Costa Times

“It depends on how he’s feeling and what the doctors and training staff and everybody else says about it,” Jackson said. “But he’s excited about it, and if he’s healthy, and he can give us something, I will certainly utilize those minutes properly.”

Spurs’ target acquired — it’s the Warriors – Spurs Nation

Bleary eyed, and with what appeared to be about two days’ growth of gray stubble on his cheeks, Popovich emerged from his office around noon to offer initial impressions of the Spurs’ next opponent.

“They’re in the second round for a reason,” Popovich said.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors NBA playoff preview – USA Today

Why San Antonio will win: The Spurs’ aging stars will have had over a full week of rest by the time this series begins. The surprising play of the Warriors’ Jarrett Jack and Draymond Green is likely unsustainable, and San Antonio has the shooters (Matt Bonner, Danny Green) to counter Golden State. Plus, never bet against Gregg Popovich in a coaching battle.

Why Golden State will win: If Curry and Klay Thompson keep shooting the lights out, even San Antonio’s much-improved defense won’t be able to do much. The injury to Tiago Splitter makes the Spurs’ front line vulnerable, and if Andrew Bogut keeps up his level of play from the first round, he’ll be a handful for Tim Duncan. And the home-court advantage at Oracle Arena is arguably the best in the playoffs.

The unprecedented season of Stephen Curry – 48 Minutes of Hell

And most big-time scorers do a lot of damage from the free-throw line, but not Curry. The diminutive star attempted more than twice as many 3-pointers per game (7.7) as free throws (3.7) while setting the record for made threes in a season. He also hit more shots from deep (272) than free throws (262) this year. In fact, 43 percent of his field-goal attempts came from beyond the arc; just 23 percent of his shots came from anywhere inside the paint.

And what’s more, his 3-point-shooting percentage was higher than the 45.1-percent mark he averaged from the floor in general, not something you often associate with a guy who averaged nearly 23 points in 78 games played. Roughly 67 percent of Curry’s shots were jumpers, yet he still managed an effective field-goal percentage of 54.9 and a true-shooting percentage of 58.9. But while the old adage says ‘you live by the jumper and you die by the jumper,’ Steph survives by his, and he hasn’t become any less lethal with the end of the regular season.