Golden State Warriors: 5 Takeaways From Second-Round Loss To Spurs

1. The Battle of the Point Guards Decides

May 16, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) congratulates San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) after game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Spurs defeated the Warriors 94-82. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Somehow, some NBA fans find it easy to forget about Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs.  They aren’t terribly fun to watch with their sound fundamentals and their tradition of title contention and winning…wait, what?  Yeah.

And at the helm of the three-headed beast that keeps this machine running is the youngest of the three, Tony Parker.

Before the series started, Curry and Parker could have been called the key matchup for the series. As good as Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili are, as good as Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes are, these two are what makes it all run and fit together.

Curry, with his elite offensive prowess, passing ability and toughness even on fragile ankles, hold the Warriors together.  Last year, fans saw them without him; it isn’t a pretty sight. He led the team averages in points and assists per game all throughout the season and the playoffs.

Problem is, Curry’s defense is missing something.  The best perimeter defender on the team is Thompson, and when Parker and Ginobili are on the court against Thompson and Curry, the one matched with Curry is going to be less defended.  That’s just how it is.

On the other side, we have Parker, who is newly 31 years old.  His quickness is just about blinding on the court, he can hit shots from just about anywhere inside of the three-point line and feeds his longtime teammates with terrifying efficiency.  He may be getting up there in age, but he’s crafty at its best, and a more evenly balanced guard than Curry is right now because he defends better.

Parker is more experienced too. If you want to see what he can do, look no farther than Game 6. He missed nearly every shot he took, but managed to ice the game with not one, but two three-pointers.

It was a big back and forth, but it looks like Parker took this one.