Spurs-Clippers Preview
For a series many expected to be the most competitive of the first round, the opening game was far from a thriller. A wealth of playoff experience can only help the San Antonio Spurs regroup from that one-sided affair, though being down heading into a Game 2 is fairly unfamiliar territory.
"They're still the defending champs, and they're going to be the defending champs every night," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "We have a lot of confidence in our team, but you just have to stay humble and respect who you're playing."
Having struggled to get baskets inside with DeAndre Jordan roaming the paint while Los Angeles had no such issues, San Antonio may need to be more accurate from the outside Wednesday night to avoid going home in an 0-2 hole.
That's a deficit the Spurs haven't faced since 2010 - also the last time they opened a Western Conference series on the road - when they were swept by Phoenix in the second round. They hadn't even lost a Game 1 since 2011, winning 11 in a row before falling 107-92 in Los Angeles on Sunday.
The Clippers took command with a 20-7 run in the third quarter and led by double digits throughout the fourth.
"We're still being positive, we still have an opportunity to steal one," Spurs guard Danny Green said. "... We're on the road, it's a new thing for us. Since I've been here, we haven't lost many Game 1s either, but things happen. If you wanna be a championship team, you gotta win on the road. You gotta adjust and adapt."
They'll have to adjust to Jordan's imposing presence when driving the lane. The Defensive Player of the Year candidate turned away seven of the 10 shots he faced at the rim, including four blocks, and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Manu Ginobili called Jordan "maybe the most athletic center in the history of the game."
"He's just very intimidating, there's no way around it," Ginobili told the NBA's official website. "It's something that we know, and it forces us to change our shots."
Ginobili was 3 of 10 from the field, Green shot 2 of 11 and Boris Diaw 2 for 12. That trio combined to shoot 3 of 18 from beyond the arc as the Spurs went 10 for 33 (30.3 percent).
"We know we gave up a lot of open shots, and most nights they're gonna make 'em," Chris Paul said. "So there's a lot of things that we need to clean up."
The Clippers also hit 10 3-pointers but only attempted 18 and shot 51.3 percent overall while taking advantage of the Spurs missing a solid defensive presence inside.
Center Tiago Splitter often provides that but played only 10 minutes in his first action in two weeks after being out with an injured calf. Backup Aron Baynes didn't offer much help, getting regularly victimized by the aggressiveness of Paul and Blake Griffin.
Griffin had two thunderous dunks on Baynes and blocked two of his layup attempts in the decisive third quarter. The All-Star forward had 26 points while Paul scored 32, consistently driving the lane for good looks.
"Me and Blake talked about it before the game, the team goes as we go," Paul said. "We sort of feed off each other."
Slowing them down might be easier if Splitter plays more, but now San Antonio has another injury concern. Tony Parker will play in Game 2 but tweaked his ankle Sunday, finishing with 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting and one assist.
The Spurs shot 36.6 percent but are more concerned with improving defensively, though they've let the Clippers average 112.3 points in the past four meetings. Los Angeles has won the past three.
"Can't fix making shots, but we can definitely play defense better," Green said.
Rivers feels similarly, expecting San Antonio's shooters to be more effective in Game 2.
"I think we can play better. I think we're gonna have to be if you want me to be honest," Rivers said at Monday's practice. "We can't count on them missing wide open 3s."