Gregg Popovich: Turnovers and Kevin Durant hurting San Antonio Spurs – NBA Playoffs Update
Gregg Popovich has identified two key problems for the San Antonio Spurs that have seen them lose the last 3 games against the Oklahoma City Thunder; Turnovers and Kevin Durant. His own side’s carelessness with the ball and the superb form of mercurial Thunder
forward Kevin Durant, are hurting Spurs who are now down 3 – 2 in the Western Conference Finals.
The Spurs started out the series with confidence and poise and outplayed the younger Oklahoma City team in the first two games, going up 2 – 0. Since then, the complexion of the Western Conference Finals has changed as OKC and Durant have simply taken over.
Gregg Popovich has given plenty of credit to the Thunder for the way they have played, and admits that they simply have some very talented basketball players on the roster. He was though critical of his team and the turnovers they have committed, saying
that OKC didn’t need San Antonio’s “help”.
“They don’t need our help,” Popovich said Tuesday. “It’s enough to make you kick yourself.”
The Spurs averaged 13.6 turnovers per game during the shortened 2011 – 2012 NBA season and maintained that average in the playoffs as they steamrolled everyone in their way. The last 3 games though have seen the average turnovers shoot up, and it’s the cause
of major frustration for Popovich.
“It’s frustrating and maddening more than anything, because we’ve played so poorly as far as handling the basketball. (The Thunder) deserve a lot of the credit for that. But it’s also uncharacteristic of our guys.”
Other then San Antonio’s own shortcomings, the Thunder have simply been magnificent in the last 3 games. Much of that is down to Kevin Durant, with the 3 time NBA scoring champion simply ripping the defence apart at will.
Gregg knows that he is a factor and said that OKC will have the advantage of such a pure scorer over anyone in the league.
“They’re always gonna have that weapon. Nobody else has that kind of weapon,” Popovich says. “Well I don’t care about anybody else. We don’t.”
The Spurs are heading to Oklahoma City to ward off elimination in game-6 of the Western Conference Finals.
Tags: