San Antonio Spurs: 3 takeaways from Game 1 vs. Warriors

2. Spurs need to own the boards

As the second-oldest team in the NBA with an average age of just over 28, the Spurs are not a team that prefers to push the pace. Rather, they like to slow the game down and execute their plays to perfection, pounding the ball inside and giving themselves opportunities for offensive rebounds.

The Spurs weren’t able to compete in the battle of the boards, as Golden State pounded San Antonio on the glass to the tune of a 51-30 rebounding advantage, including 10-3 on the offensive end.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr implores his players to run in transition in order to get open looks for his shooters, and owning the glass gives them the ability to do that.

Grabbing offensive rebounds takes away Golden State’s elite transition game and gives the Spurs extra possessions while securing the defensive rebound takes way second-chance points for a team that is already so dangerous offensively.

If San Antonio can’t control the glass, it’ll be forced to play at Golden State’s breakneck pace, something it simply doesn’t have the personnel to do at a high level.