The Morning Tip-Off

May 16, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (21) hugs center DeJuan Blair (45) after the win against the Golden State Warriors of game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Golden State Warriors 94-82 to win the series. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

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. Here are your links for May 17th:

In Pop Duncan Trusts – 48 Minutes of Hell

I’m going to start with a few facts and then go from there. Gregg Popovich sat Tim Duncan for the last 4:28 of the San Antonio Spurs’ 94-82 Game 6 win over the Golden State Warriors. The Spurs had a two point lead when Duncan sat down and won the game by 12. During the regular season, Duncan was seventh in MVP voting and second team All-Defense.

Spurs Ramp Up Defense To Beat Warriors, Advance To Western Conference Finals – Pro Basketball Talk

The Warriors had a great run, but their magic ran out. In a hard fought, defense driven effort the Spurs defeated the Warriors 94-82 to advance to their 2nd consecutive Western Conference Finals.

Golden State battled all night, trying to stave off elimination but simply didn’t have enough.

 Spurs Eliminate Warriors, Will Face Grizzlies In Western Conference Finals – Project Spurs

Like last season, the Spurs are one their way back to the Western Conference Finals after eliminating the Warriors 94-82. Unlike last year though, the Spurs have shown the ability to be a defensive force as they held the high scoring Warriors, who came into the series averaging 107 points per game in the playoffs, to 98 points in the series.

Spurs Prove Too Much In Game 6 As Steph Curry, Warriors Bow Out – Sports Illustrated

Instead, on this night, the Spurs won with Tiago Splitter (14 points, 6-of-8 from the field), Kawhi Leonard (a double-double) and waves of defense. As they had since Game 3, the Spurs hounded the Warriors shooters off the 3-point line, sending what Popovich termed “a half double” at Steph Curry almost immediately after he crossed midcourt. The Spurs’ rotations were quick and on point, their perimeter defenders relentless. The result: the Warriors managed only one three-point attempt in the first quarter and finished with 38.8 percent shooting from the field for the night. Afterward, a worn-down looking Popovich credited the Warriors. “They really tested our defense,” he said. “It was a tough series.”

Spurs Move Past Warriors, Will Face Grizzlies In West Finals – Pounding the Rock

After a hard fought, 94-82 victory, the Spurs have advanced to the Western Conference finals by beating the Warriors 4-2 in the semifinals. The last game, like the series, wasn’t particularly pretty but the throwback Spurs got it done with defense and will face the Memphis Grizzlies in the West finals.

Spurs Top Dubs, Onto West Finals – Bleacher Report

The 2013 Western Conference Finals are set, as the San Antonio Spurs advanced past a feisty Golden State Warriors team in Game 6, 94-82, Thursday night.

It took nearly every ounce of energy and talent the Spurs had to put the West’s Cinderella six-seed to bed for good.