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

3. Sometimes, experience just wins out

May 16, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich (center) instructs power forward Tim Duncan (21) and point guard Tony Parker (9) against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter in 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

Let’s crunch some numbers.

Times the Spurs have missed Playoffs since drafting Tim Duncan: zero

Division Titles since the Southwest division was created in 2004-5: six

NBA Championships since Duncan was drafted: 4 (1999, 2003, 2004, 2007)

Add that to three sure-fire Hall of Famers all over 30 and having fantastic seasons on top of that age, and you’ve got the recipe for one of the most balanced and fundamentally talented powerhouses of the modern era of professional basketball headed by one of the best coaches of All-Time.

That adds up to a wealth of experience that can be difficult to overcome.  The Golden State Warriors almost did.  They almost took the Spurs out at their home arena in Game 1, and then pulled it off in Game 2.  Take Stephen Curry’s tweaked ankle out of the picture, and maybe Game 3 goes their way.

This series was closer than most experts saw it being.  The Warriors made this series their proving ground, and they did a fantastic job of showing their resilience. But sometimes, you  just can’t run and gun your way past pure experience.