Spurs seek defensive rejuvenation in rematch against the Warriors

There's no denying the loss against the Warriors on Wednesday hurt, but luckily, the Spurs have a chance at redemption. Despite the loss to their Western Conference competitor, the Spurs still sit comfortably within the top of the conference. While many things have gone right for the Silver and Black, there are still many kinks to work out.

Some of the Spurs' greatest weaknesses were highlighted in their 125-120 loss to the Dubs. The Spurs rank second in the NBA in defensive net rating, yet they looked flustered playing against the battle-tested Warriors. Heading into the rematch, the pressure will be on the defense to prove who they really are.

The Spurs must slow down Steph Curry

The Spurs let Steph Curry shoot all over them, amounting to a season-high 44 points. It's no easy task to slow down the Curry show, but the Spurs can most certainly do a better job.

The biggest issue that led to Curry's heroic night was Stephon Castle's foul trouble. To begin the match, Castle was doing an excellent job defending the All-Star, but as soon as he picked up a few meaningless fouls, his night was over.

By the time the third quarter arrived, Castle lost his primary duties defending Curry, and when he did receive the assignment, he had to play more relaxed. This led to a monstrous quarter for the sharpshooter in which he dropped 22 of his 44 points of the night. Had Castle and the other defenders loosened up, the Spurs could have very well won this game. This cannot happen again.

Castle and the Spurs must come prepared to run against the speedy Curry. Above everyone else, the future Hall of Famer excels at moving off the ball; the Spurs must be ready to counter that. If Castle can stay out of foul trouble and be glued to Curry all night, the Spurs will have a much easier time winning this game. The Warriors live and die by the sniper; slow him down, and you can win.

Defending the 3-point line must be a priority for the Spurs

What is the one thing that the Warriors have done for years better than anyone else? Shoot three-pointers. They created a dynasty of the three-ball and became synonymous with the shot. Although they aren't the same as they used to be, they still present a significant challenge.

The Spurs' defense has been dependent on stopping the interior attack and forcing teams to shoot outside shots; you can't do that against this Golden State squad. The Warriors know how to take advantage of teams' weaknesses, and that was clear on Tuesday night when they shot an absurd 57 three-pointers.

To win this game, the Spurs must readjust their offense to stop beyond-the-arc shots. Mitch Johnson must trust Wembanyama to sit alone in the paint while the other Spurs defend the perimeter. If the Warriors get some easy looks inside, then so be it. No matter what, the Warriors cannot be allowed to shoot that many threes again.

How the Spurs' defense performs will make or break their success in this matchup. The offense proved itself mighty in the last matchup as both Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama posted triple-doubles. While they may not do that again, they will certainly come to play. Anger will fuel this Spurs squad as they seek both an NBA Cup victory and revenge over the Warriors.