Kevin Durant is confident Golden State’s struggles down the stretch might be just what makes the defending champions dominant on the postseason stage again.
Maybe not quite 16-1 this time around
Zach Hyman Jersey , sure, yet plenty capable of another remarkable run.
”I always knew everybody on our team had a good spirit, a good energy for the game,” said Durant, the reigning NBA Finals MVP. ”We might have lost some games and had some tough stretches but that doesn’t define everybody here as an individual player. I’m kind of positive on, optimistic on each of these guys and how we approach the game no matter what the score of some of those games. I’m glad we can kind of learn from those tough times and continue to move forward.”
The Warriors have been hurt and humbled. Beaten handily and beat up hard. Two-time MVP Stephen Curry is expected to be sidelined the entire first round with a knee injury. Four All-Stars – Curry, Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson – were out together at times, too.
On Saturday afternoon, Golden State begins its championship quest with Game 1 of the best-of-seven first round against the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena.
”We learned a lot,” coach Steve Kerr said. ”Every experience that you gain you can learn from. This has been such a chaotic month with all the injuries and the meaningless games. We’ve been frustrated. We haven’t performed very well. The good news is we have performed well for four years, so we know who we are. We know what we’re about. We know this team well, we know the Spurs well, so we know what we have to do. We’ve got to go do it. The last month is meaningless now. Everything starts over.”
Some of that is what Kerr gained from Spurs coach Gregg Popovich: ”You take whatever is in front of you and you embrace it.”
Here are some key story lines for the Spurs-Warriors series
Connor Brown Jersey , a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals swept by Golden State:
A SPECIAL FRIENDSHIP
Kerr hardly played during four seasons with San Antonio late in his career.
Still, Popovich is one of his favorite people – even if he wants nothing more than to eliminate his dear friend.
”Pop doesn’t like to see me lose. I like to see him lose. He’s had way too much success already,” Kerr ****ed. ”I think sometimes Pop needs to be humbled a little bit. So I’m looking to really rub it in and enjoy if we’re able to beat them.”
Kerr added: ”I want Pop to win against anybody else. We’re that close. He’s my mentor and he’s somebody I feel incredibly strongly about in terms of who he is and what he did for me in my life, and what he’s doing for my son right now.”
NO CURRY OR KAWHI
Golden State has gone without Curry for 16 of the last 17 games as he worked back from another injury to his troublesome right ankle only to sprain the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in his return March 23.
Curry is scheduled to be re-evaluated Saturday yet Kerr noted that ”he’s not close to playing.”
The Warriors also aren’t expecting to see Spurs star Kawhi Leonard. He played in only nine regular-season games because of a lingering right quadriceps injury.
DEFENSIVE SWAGGER
Durant and Green insist it’s time to start taking defense more seriously.
”Now we can focus in on what we always do good here, it’s flying around on defense, moving the basketball,” Durant said.
The Spurs realize the challenges.
”They are smart, they are long,” Manu Ginobili said. ”They are very quick to switch back to the matchups they want. They’ve got a lot of long wings that recover very quick. … There’s a reason why they’ve been winning so many games.”
SPURS STRUGGLES
While the Warriors endured a stretch of seven losses in 10 games, the Spurs dealt with their own eight-game skid down the stretch.
And San Antonio went just 14-27 on the road.
Even if the Spurs’ 2017 series with the Warriors was swift, this is a fresh chance.
”It’s a new year,” LaMarcus Aldridge said. ”This team has fought and put ourselves in a position to be here. Last year is last year.”
CENTER BY COMMITTEE
It might be Zaza Pachulia. Maybe JaVale McGee. Or Kevon Looney. David West will get his minutes, too.
Each offers something uniquely different as the Warriors go with a center-by-committee approach.
Kerr isn’t saying which big man he will start – he’s not giving Popovich any early clues. And Kerr said he and Spurs staffer and son, Nick
Youth Tyler Pitlick Jersey , are cutting off communication for a couple of weeks.
—
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Nobody has more sacks in the last seven seasons than Denver Broncos star Von Miller, who has dumped the quarterback 83 1-2 times since his Rookie of the Year debut in 2011.
Miller’s sole sack of Seattle’s Russell Wilson, whom he’ll face for just the second time Sunday, came in 2014, eight months after the Seahawks throttled the Broncos in the Super Bowl with Miller sidelined by a knee injury.
Neither player seems particularly enthusiastic about facing the other in the season opener at Mile High Stadium.
“Russell’s elite,” Miller said Thursday. “Nobody likes playing Russell Wilson . He’s just elite, best of the best. As a pass rusher, you want a guy that when you get to him and you touch him, he’ll lay down for you. Russell’s the complete opposite.
“He’s probably THE most elusive quarterback out there. So, nobody likes that, especially if you’re a sack guy.”
Miller’s been a big fan of Wilson ever since seeing him outshine Matt Flynn in an exhibition game at Denver in Wilson’s rookie season.
“I feel like he’s been great since his first couple of starts in the preseason, when was that, 2012
Nate Schmidt Jersey , when he just went off in the preseason? I think he’s been great. He really hasn’t looked back since then,” Miller said. “He’s a great quarterback. He’s done everything the right way, one of those guys who you want your kids looking up to. So, Russell Wilson is a great quarterback and I’m looking forward to playing against him.
“Not really.”
Wilson is just as effusive in praise of Miller.
“He’s one of those guys that’s a game changer,” Wilson said. “He can make some plays. I think the best thing for us is knowing where he is and playing smart football. When you’re playing LeBron James, or you’re playing guys like Kobe Bryant or Steph Curry, they’re going to make their plays.
“He’s one of those guys for sure.”
Miller always fancied himself more of a Dirk Nowitzki.
“Yeah, I thought I was Dirk,” Miller ****ed. “It’s great, especially coming from a guy like Russell. I already told you what type of player he is and what he means to the National Football League. So, for him to have those words for me are amazing.
“I still don’t look forward to playing against him,” Miller stressed. “But it’s going to be a great game on Sunday.”
Teams have long schemed to keep Miller from destroying their offensive game plans like he did in Super Bowl 50 with a pair of strip sacks of Cam Newton.
They tilt protection his way, chip him with tight ends and otherwise force him to beat double teams most of the time.
The addition of first-round draft pick Bradley Chubb should ease some of that attention .
The fifth overall selection in the NFL draft, Chubb earned a starting spot opposite Miller but the Broncos have the best depth at that position in the league and can also unleash former first-rounder Shane Ray and Shaq Barrett on quarterbacks.
“Von’s still going to get chipped
Roberto Luongo Jersey , and early on they’re going to obviously test Bradley (to see) if he can win one-on-ones away from Von. If he does that, then we’ll get more fair protections,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. “But most teams are still going to turn to Von and chip Von. If they don’t, he’s going to take over the game.
“But it helps having Chubb opposite and having Ray opposite and even with our NASCAR package having our four pass rushers on the field. That’s always a good deal, too. It creates more one-on-ones.”
Chubb knows all about Wilson, who started three dozen games at NC State before transferring to Wisconsin.
“I actually got a chance to meet him when I was there at a game, so it was pretty cool,” Chubb said. “I didn’t watch him in college but now as a professional I see he makes plays with his feet and with his arms. He’s a great player.”
His interaction with Wilson basically consisted of asking for a selfie.
“It was more of a quick-type conversation. I came downstairs and he was right there and I said, ‘Hey, can I get a picture really quick?’ Took the picture, then he had to be on his way,” Chubb recalled.
He’d love to run into Wilson again Sunday in Seattle’s backfield along with Miller.
Indianapolis Colts Elite Jerseys 