The Golden State Warriors have their backs against the wall for the first time this postseason; tonight they will host Game 6 in their building against a San Antonio Spurs team that smells blood in the water.
The Spurs have done a better job of containing Stephen Curry than the Denver Nuggets did. From Round 1 to Round 2, Curry's scoring is down two points, his 3-point percentage is down seven points, he's dished out 2.3 fewer assists, and his field goal shooting is down seven points.
These numbers don't mean Curry is struggling by any means, but he has been slightly less electric in a series that demands the highest possible voltage. In the meantime, his counterpart Tony Parker has risen up to the challenge of facing the red-hot Curry. Parker is averaging 24.4 points per game in the semifinals (two more than Curry), 5.8 assists and five rebounds.
Tim Duncan has also had a bit of a throwback series, averaging a double double against the overmatched and undersized power forward rotation of Carl Landry and Harrison Barnes, with 19.6 points and 11.2 boards.
Despite their veteran savvy and know-how, this will not be an easy closeout by any means. They must travel to Oracle Arena, one of the arenas in the NBA most renowned for it's atmosphere. They must win consecutive games in the series, something neither of these squads has done yet. Finally, the Warriors are 4-0 coming off losses in the 2013 postseason, largely thanks to a never-say-die mentality instilled in them by head coach Mark Jackson.
"We're never going to quit. We're never going to die. We've got a lot of fight left. This isn't the end," Landry said. "Actually, we're excited about having the opportunity to play in a Game 6. Everybody in that locker room is excited and ready."
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