Golden State Warriors: 5 Keys to Beating the San Antonio Spurs

Eliminate Turnovers

May 8, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives to the basket as Golden State Warriors guard Jarrett Jack (left) and Stephen Curry (right) look on during the first half in game two of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at the AT

Turnovers cost Golden State Game 1 and came very close to costing them Game 2.

Jarrett Jack has been (and will continue to be) the scapegoat for the Warriors’ turnover woes. He was responsible for three of the Warriors’ nine turnovers in Game 2, which left the door open for San Antonio’s near comeback in the third and fourth quarter. He also played a significant part in the disastrous fourth quarter of Game 1 when he took bad shots and forced isolations as the primary ball handler.

Jack has the unfortunate tendency to dribble into his defenders from the top of the key, attracting double teams in the lane before his team can establish an easy exit strategy, i.e. kicking it out to Curry and Thompson or throwing an inside pass to one of the big men. If he can ignore his lesser instincts (and Curry can avoid getting stripped), Golden State will have an easier time controlling the pace of the game for sustained stretches.