S.A. Spurs @ G.S. Warriors
Time: 9:30 PM CT (TNT)
Spread: GSW -9.5
Total: 205.5
Odds c/o 5dimes
SERIES PREVIEW AND POSITIONAL ANALYSIS
The San Antonio Spurs are typically a tough out in the postseason, but being without superstar Kawhi Leonard has made Gregg Popovich’s team a bit “run of the mill.” The Spurs lost Game 1 big as the Golden State Warriors rolled 113-92 on its home court.
NBA oddsmakers at 5dimes expect much of the same in Game 2 as the offensively-challenged Spurs do all they can to remain in a tough series against Golden State, an indefinably loaded squad, even without two-time MVP Stephen Curry.
Golden State turned to none other than fellow “Splash Brother” Klay Thompson in game one, as he led the team with 27 points on a stellar 11 of 13 shooting night, including dialing up 5 of 6 from downtown. Kevin Durant was solid if not “quiet,” with 24 points, seven assists and eight rebounds in a subtly brilliant performance. Sometimes Durant’s impact is so subtle it is not overtly obvious he is queuing the Warriors’ massive runs.
Draymond Green was two boards shy of a triple-double with 12 points, 11 assists and eight boards. Green’s defense was, as usual, dominant, and he held LaMarcus Aldridge to just 14 points while coming up with three blocks/steals. Perhaps the statement that Green has to score more for Golden State to dominate in this series in my series preview was overstated: Draymond is fine just “Doing Draymond,” and if he can have the effect he has continually had while shooting minimally is just as well.
Of course, Green did shoot more—13 field goals in total to be exact, but there is no sense maintaining the pretense that a low-scoring Green is an ineffective Green. He is a jack-of-all-trades talent and he showed it forcefully in Game 1.
The Spurs are simply outclassed in this series, and as noted it really would require Aldridge returning to something close to the form he once showed in Portland for this series to be anywhere near close. But with Green’s staunch defense that is all too unlikely to actually happen. Only three Spurs scored in double-figures in Game 1, and San Antonio shot just 40 percent from the field overall. The Spurs also got just 11 combined points from veterans Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, both of whom may be making their respective swan calls as the Spurs pass the backcourt torches off to Dejounte Murray and Danny Green.
Green barely shot the ball in Game 1, though, and Murray was not overly aggressive either. Without someone absolutely playing out of their mind for San Antonio, this is going to be a sweep, and getting just six points from Pau Gasol stands as yet another black mark from an aging team, a team without its best players— and a team against the three-time repeating Western Conference Champions.
There is simply too much talent on the Warriors deep roster for the Spurs to keep pace, and while it does not stand outside of the realm of possibility that the Spurs manage a win when the series shifts back to San Antonio, Game 2 should be another Warriors’ rout.
