San Antonio Spurs to face off against Los Angeles Clippers in the second round – NBA Playoff Update
Six days after the San Antonio Spurs swept past the Utah Jazz in the first round playoff series they finally know who they will be facing in the second round. After the Clippers blew out the opportunity to clean up their series twice, they were eventually able to advance into the second round after the 7th game against the Memphis Grizzlies tonight.
This is only the third time in the Clippers franchise history that they have been able to advance into the second round of the playoffs and will look to continue winning against the mighty Spurs when their series kicks off at the AT&T Center on Tuesday.
Both sides will however have two different approaches before heading into the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Spurs, who have had about a whole long week to recuperate before the second round will come into the series, fresh, well rested and ready to go.
"We earned ourselves this break," Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said Sunday. "Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't."
Their last game time action came on Monday and they have had the longest break in this short spanned post season. Gregg Popovich was relieved that his players will enter the Western Conference Semifinals more fresh than the Clippers and also because he no longer has to prepare plan for two teams, rather than one;
"It drives you a little crazy preparing for two teams at once. One day you think somebody's going to win, and then it changes, and then it goes back and forth," Popovich said. "Those guys really went after each other and played a great series. At least we know now who we're playing."
The Spurs have spent the whole of last week working on their conditioning and working towards staying in rhythm as sometimes too much rest can take its toll on your game as well. They closed out the regular season on a winning streak of 10 games, and prolonged it to 14 in the playoffs. Come Tuesday, they will be very confident and start off as the clear favourites.
On the other hand, Clippers have just put down the Grizzlies after a gruelling and physical 7 game series, and it is sure to take its toll on their players. They already have their main players suffering from niggles - Blake Griffin suffered from a knee injury; Chris Paul has a hip and finger injury while Caron Butler is nursing a fractured hand – and against the Spurs, things are only going to get tougher.
On the positive side though, Clippers is the team in a playing momentum and can exploit the little bit of rust that the Spurs will experience in Game-1.
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