The Associated Press
HOUSTON–The San Antonio Spurs are thrilled to be in the Western Conference final for the first time since winning the NBA title in 2014.
But they won’t have much time to celebrate with a series against the well-rested Golden State Warriors starting on Sunday.
In fact, they barely were going to give themselves two hours to bask in their 114-75 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 6 last night before looking ahead.
“We’re just going to enjoy this one right now until midnight, at least,” said Danny Green.
“I think this one prepared us for the next one,” he added. “They’re a fast-paced team that likes to shoot on the perimeter.
“We have to communicate even better and be more perfect because it doesn’t get any easier.”
While San Antonio fought through six games with the Rockets, the Warriors have been off since wrapping up a sweep of the Utah Jazz on Monday.
Along with the fatigue factor, there also are questions about the their lineup heading in Game 1 given all-star Kawhi Leonard sat out last night after rolling his left ankle in Game 5.
Spurs’ coach Gregg Popovich didn’t provide many details about Leonard’s injury yesterday.
When asked if he protested when he chose to sit him, Popovich replied, “He’d rather play.”
But the injury still seemed to be bothering Leonard quite a bit after the game when he headed to the bus still walking with a noticeable limp.
The Spurs certainly will need his stellar defensive skills to contend with a Warriors’ team that not only swept the Jazz, but also eliminated the Trail Blazers in four games in the first round.
“We understand that the team we’re now facing is the most dangerous team in the league with a lot of weapons,” said Pau Gasol.
“You have to prepare for this team a different way.
“The challenges they present, in some ways, are similar to Houston as far as the ability to shoot the ball from the three-point line,” he noted.
“But they have different personnel overall.”
The Spurs know that limiting Golden State’s three-point shooting will be a key in the next round, just as slowing Houston from long range was in the conference semi-finals.
Houston averaged 20.5 three-pointers in its two wins and just 13 in the four losses.
Although the Spurs won two of three regular-season meetings with Golden State, they know this series will be much more difficult than their previous meetings this season.
But they’re ready for the challenge.
“We’re hungry, we’re not satisfied,” Mills stressed. “This was a good series and we’re moving on, but we’re not satisfied.
“Everyone is focused in on what we’re trying to achieve here.”
