Keys to Ending the 16 Year Drought

     I don't know about the rest of the fans, but I know I can't wait to witness The Golden State Warriors end their 16 YEAR losing streak at San Antonio. I'm just itching about the fact that I was only FOUR years old the last time we went into San Antonio's house and beat them. I never said it was going to be an easy task, but I fell like it's possible to steal one in this upcoming playoff series. There are just a few keys the Warriors must follow in order to capture one in the Lone Star State. The first key is that we would be lucky if their center, Thiago Splitter, misses game one. He may not be a household name like the big three that they've got. But this guy sure can be crafty. He's almost like a seven foot Ginobili. That's where we could get lucky with Thiago, because sometimes he tries to play too "cute" and that could play to our advantage with our physical centers. The second key to pulling out an upset win is that we need to start "fast." By "fast" I don't mean playing a speedy tempo to the point that we get sloppy. My term "fast" means shooting out the gates right at the tip. Let's not wait until the second half to start playing Warriors basketball as that was the case in some of the games against Denver in the past series. Yes Stephen Curry, I'm calling you out this series. We can't have you all of a sudden catching fire only in the 3rd quarter. We need a consistent effort from you throughout the game if we want to have a chance against this fundamentally sound team. Don't let the return of David Lee effect your play. So let the Warriors fans see the torch get lit in the 1st quarter and sustain it through the whole game. Another key is whether or not David Lee is at 100% because whoever is starting at the Power Forward position will have a tough matchup against Tim Duncan. I can't see Carl Landry or a smaller Harrison Barnes stopping the "Big Fundamental" only because Timmy is too smart for them. He has so many moves in his arsenal that he could beat us with. It's like this guy doesn't age at all. He's only getting better while his age is only getting older. That's part of this key, stopping the Spurs' Big 3. Tony Parker will give Curry fits as will Curry to Parker vice-versa. But I feel like that matchup will be balanced out. As it's two very talented players going against each other will only play out to be a great matchup to watch. The matchup I'm worried about is how we are going to stop Ginobili. At his age, he's still probably one of the best crafty players in the league. From his "euro step" on the fastbreak to his shifty moves while playing him face up. He's proven to still have some legs under him after driving and dunking on Dwight Howard in the Quarterfinals Series. I have very low expectations of Klay having any kind of success guarding the Argentinian. I rather see someone more athletic like Harrison guarding Manu, but Kawhi will just take advantage of Klay and outplay him as well. But, Jarrett Jack may be able to handle Ginobili. But this still leaves Klay as the odd man out and without a man to guard. And this is where it could play out perfectly because remember now, Manu comes off the bench as their sixth man, which is exactly like Jarrett Jack. This means that Klay would be guarding their 3-point specialist, Danny Green. I feel very comfortable with our 5 up against theirs. But there are other variables other than just the players and they are the turnovers. We must limit them in order to be victorious. We need our X-factors to shine and pull through. In this series the X-factor has got to be Harrison Barnes because he showed us a glimpse of what he's really capable of in the series against Denver. We'll be in the same position as we were in the Denver series, trying to steal one in San Antonio. That is very much easier said than done. But I've laid out all the keys that the Warriors must follow in order to get an upset win in San Antonio. Let the chips fall where they may and we are all headed for another amazing playoff series that will top the one against Denver.