軍人s, 刺激(する)s series filled with familiar story lines
OAKLAND, California (AP) - San Antonio 刺激(する)s coach Gregg Popovich has 開始する,打ち上げるd into the mind games ahead of its Western 会議/協議会 決勝戦 series against the Golden 明言する/公表する 軍人s.
So, what will he do to 準備する his 弁護 to stop the high-飛行機で行くing 軍人s?
"Pray," Popovich quipped Saturday before the 刺激(する)s 出発/死d Texas for the Bay Area.
Houston ロケット/急騰するs 中心 Clint Capela (15) shoots as San Antonio 刺激(する)s 今後 LaMarcus Aldridge (12) and guard Patty Mills (8) watch during the first half in Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-一連の会議、交渉/完成する プレーオフ series, Thursday, May 11, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Stephen Curry could only chuckle at that one.
"Gamesmanship," Golden 明言する/公表する's Curry said, "I love it."
Popovich doesn't have his old coaching pals マイク Brown or Steve Kerr f ooled. Brown spent part of last season working 非公式に と一緒に Popovich and is now coaching Golden 明言する/公表する in place of the 病んでいる Kerr, who …に出席するd practice Saturday for the first time in more than three weeks as he 回復するs from his 最新の 手続き to 修理 a spinal fluid 漏れる that left him 取引,協定ing with debilitating symptoms.
"That's Pop," Brown said with a laugh. "He's doing a lot more than praying 権利 now. He knows what he wants to do against us."
As 支配的な as the 軍人s have been 広範囲にわたる through the first two 一連の会議、交渉/完成するs of the プレーオフs, praying might not 傷つける either.
Kevin Durant doesn't care who is on the 法廷,裁判所 for San Antonio, he knows that Popovich will have his group ready 完全にする with a few surprises in the playbook.
Tony Parker is out the 残り/休憩(する) of the way with a 脚 傷害. Kawhi Leonard is not at 100 パーセント because of a tender ankle. Tim Duncan is long ago retired.
"They're a machine," Durant said. "They just keep going at you, no 事柄 who's on the 法廷,裁判所. They run their system. 類似の to us, I feel like, where a guy goes 負かす/撃墜する, somebody steps in."
San Antonio 完全に 取り去る/解体するd James Harden and Houston 114-75 in Game 6 on Thursday night behind LaMarcus Aldridge's 34 points and 12 回復するs to の近くに out the series as All-星/主役にする Leonard sat out nursing an 負傷させるd left ankle he 傷つける in a Game 5 overtime 勝利,勝つ.
Golden 明言する/公表する has barely been 実験(する)d so far this postseason, going 8-0 against Portland and Utah.
Sure, it was nearly seven months ago when the 刺激(する)s (機の)カム to town and 完全に spoiled Durant's much-hyped debut - a 129-100 whipping in the season opener - with the 軍人s after his scrutinized 出発 from Oklahoma City.
"That seems like years ago to be honest," KD said. "Both teams have gotten so much better."
The 刺激(する)s are 支援する in the Western 会議/協議会 決勝戦 for the first time since winning the 2014 肩書を与える.
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Associated 圧力(をかける) Writer Raul Dominguez 与える/捧げるd from San Antonio.
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San Antonio 刺激(する)s guard Manu Ginobili, 権利, 得る,とらえるs a loose ball from Houston ロケット/急騰するs 中心 Clint Capela during the first half in Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-一連の会議、交渉/完成する プレーオフ series, Thursday, May 11, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2017, とじ込み/提出する photo, Golden 明言する/公表する 軍人s 長,率いる coach Steve Kerr looks on in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets in Denver. 病んでいる Kerr …に出席するd the 軍人s' practice Saturday morning, May 13, 2017, returning to the 床に打ち倒す for the first time in more than three weeks. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, とじ込み/提出する)
FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2017, とじ込み/提出する photo, Golden 明言する/公表する 軍人s' Kevin Durant (35) 反応するs after a foul called against him during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, in Oakland, Calif. Durant looks at LeBron James from afar and marvels at how the Cavs main man keeps finding a way to take his game to another level, year after year. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, とじ込み/提出する)
FILE - In this Dec. 25, 2016, とじ込み/提出する photo, Golden 明言する/公表する 軍人s' Stephen Curry is fouled by Cleveland Cavaliers' Channing Frye as Kyrie Irving, left 後部, defends during an NBA basketball game in Cleveland. Both the 軍人s and the Cleveland Cavaliers are undefeated in the プレーオフs, and appear to be 長,率いるing to a 決勝戦 rematch. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, とじ込み/提出する)
FILE - In this Dec. 25, 2016, とじ込み/提出する photo, Cleveland Caval iers' LeBron James 運動s against Golden 明言する/公表する 軍人s' Kevin Durant during an NBA basketball game in Cleveland. Now, as James, Durant and their チーム仲間s wait on the next 対抗者 for the 各々の 会議/協議会 決勝戦, the world is watching as they move their unblemished, 8-0 teams ever closer to an 心配するd Cavs-軍人s rematch that might finally come to fruition at last in a 事柄 of weeks. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, とじ込み/提出する)