SAN ANTONIO - Nasapawan ng historic run ng Golden State Warriors, isasalang ng Spurs ang kanilang bagsik sa NBA Playoffs.
“We didn’t play the way we did this season just to be on vacation after a few games,” sabi ni Spurs guard Manu Ginobili. “It’s exciting. The pressure, the responsibility, the fact that we have another shot at making something big happen. We are very excited about that.”
Tumabla ang Spurs para sa seventh-best record sa NBA history sa kanilang 67-15 baraha para makuha ang No. 2 seed sa Western Conference sa likod ng No. 1 Warriors.
Bago ang kanilang inaabangang faceoff sa Warriors para sa kanilang ikatlong NBA Finals sa huling apat na seasons ay kailangan munang simulan ng Spurs ang kanilang first-round series laban sa seventh-seeded na Memphis Grizzlies.
Nagkaroon ng mga injuries sa kanilang players, nahawakan ng Grizzlies ang No. 5 spot bago naipatalo ang siyam sa kanilang huling 10 laro.
Muling aasahan ng Memphis sina veterans Zach Randolph at Tony Allen para sa kanilang ikaanim na sunod na playoff appearance.
Inaasahang makakahugot sila ng suporta mula kina Vince Carter at Matt Barnes.
“Everybody is beatable,” ani Carter. “You just have to have that, I don’t want to say ‘perfect’ night, but you have to have that special night.”